Coming off a junior year in which she averaged over 14 points and 6 rebounds per game, Owasso High School basketball player Makenna Yokley has even bigger goals for her senior campaign.
“I would like to average a double-double my senior season while also increasing my FG% and 3P%,” The 6-foot-1 power forward said, “but more importantly, I believe that you should always leave something better than when you found it. I hope to expand my leadership role on the team and help lay the foundation for the next wave of Owasso Lady Rams so that they know the standard.”
Yokley expects the Lady Rams to be a state tournament team in 2024.
“It will be interesting to see how the OSSAA changes impact playoff pairings,” Yokley said. “However, we will be more experienced this year than last, and we are hungry to prove ourselves. We want to be in position to host regionals. Then, come March 7th, we definitely see ourselves on the floor at Lloyd Noble, not in the stands.”
The to-be senior has spent her summer break sharpening her game with Tulsa JYD, a local basketball club which she has played for during her high school career.
“I am training and doing skill work a couple of times a week on top of team practices and tournaments. I have been working on improving the range and release time of my outside shooting, as well as other aspects of my game,” Yokley said. “[Owasso teammate] Alex McGarrah joined JYD this spring, so we are getting lots of reps together. I am excited to see how this benefits our Owasso team this coming season.”
Though she holds her experiences in summer basketball and in showcases dear, Yokley said there’s nothing like donning her maroon Owasso uniform before a home crowd.
“School pride is an extremely important aspect of any athlete’s game, including mine. At Owasso, all athletes participate in a Champions Challenge, where we acquire points based on participation and involvement within our school community,” Yokley said. “I especially enjoy it when we visit our local elementary schools. Those kids look up to us and often show up for our games. It gives you a boost when you see those faces cheering you on!”
“I was that little kid once with the dream of playing varsity basketball for Owasso, so I always feel proud to represent our school!”
VYPE: Who are some teammates from the past who have made a great impact on you?
Yokley: Laila Hamilton suffered a season-ending injury at the start of summer workouts last year, and therefore had to miss her senior year of basketball. Despite this, she showed up every day to practice, even when we had 6:30 a.m. weights, knowing that she wouldn’t play. There are teams deep in the season when athletes get tired and exhausted from the grind. Laila set the example of what it means to show and be a dedicated teammate.
