Edmond POW: Mahlon Jones, Santa Fe…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Sometimes you try to ‘save’ certain stories for just the right time. That’s exactly what I was trying to do with Santa Fe senior Mahlon Jones.
He’s such a good kid – intelligent kid, that I was hoping to give him the spotlight at last weekend’s state tournament.
The Wolves, of course, were eliminated in overtime in the semifinals against eventual-champion Putnam City, but it wasn’t because of Jones.
Jones made a dramatic leap from his junior to senior year. And to go with Drew Hall, the two were the unquestioned leaders of the team.
Coach Shawn Schenk is absolutely baffled as to why more schools aren’t taking a look at Jones. What impresses me more than anything else for Jones is the tenacity he shows on defense. He shows up every night on that side of the ball.
So while he didn’t get to be the ‘focus’ of a championship story and the Wolves didn’t win the title, he earns the Edmond Player of the Week.
Other team contenders
North girls basketball team: Just couldn’t overcome that blazing start by Norman in the semifinals, but the Huskies return a solid group, anchored by Elizabeth Donohoe and TaNita Dewberry. Out in the first round last year, semifinals this year. Old adage ‘learn to crawl before you can walk.’ Sometimes you have to learn how to lose to make you want to win that bad.
Memorial girls basketball team: Team wasn’t in the conversation at 9-9 but won seven straight games to reach the state tournament. Good battle with Norman before bowing out 40-34. Coach Shane Coffey does a great job of getting what he can out of his players, and with Alie Decker leading the charge, imagine we’ll be talking about these girls a lot next year.
Santa Fe girls basketball team: If ever a team was a year away, this is it. Daisha Gonzaque, Courtney Walker, Arielle Cooper – sophomores. Cameerah Graves – freshman. Jasmine Hinton is going to become something special, too. Sophia Mahmoodjanloo was huge in the post this year but Tori Lanier is no slouch, either. Don’t want to dwell too much on what this team could have done with Jimi Blagowsky, but….yeah, you know.
Deer Creek girls basketball team: Back-to-back appearances with Totsy Manning and an outstanding cast of characters coming back should have Antler fans excited. From Kelsey Glover to Ashley Gibson to Jalyn Gibson, strong in all facets of the game and should be battling it out for another appearance next year.
Memorial boys basketball team: Flew under the radar all season and had a great battle with Midwest City in the first round. It’s going to be a battle between Obi Emegano and Santa Fe’s Josh Richardson as to who will be the most sought after prospect in Edmond.
Now we turn the page to the spring season.
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It’s about time that Mahlon Jones got some attention! This kid has played his heart out all season and he is so much fun to watch. I was dissappointed that he was not selected for your 6A all tournament state team. We tell these kids that there is no I in team and we want them to play like a team, yet when they do just that, we don’t recognize them. Mahlon Jones is a great player and a team leader who deserves to be recognized.