Irving MacArthur: Sophomore isn't resting on her laurels

Irving MacArthur guard Odyssey Sims splashed onto the high school basketball scene last season as a freshman with mind-boggling numbers.

Sims, SportsDay's newcomer of the year, averaged 20.2 points, five rebounds, five steals and five assists.

MILTON HINNANT / DMN

Irving MacArthur's Odyssey Sims (with ball) averaged 20.2 points last season as a freshman.

Yet the 5-8 Sims has been busy reinventing herself.

"I'm trying to work hard in practice every day and get better, not trying to stay the same," said Sims, who orally committed to Baylor in May.

Sims, a lefty, is dribbling and scoring with her right hand more often. Her outside shot is improving, along with her ability to penetrate and pass. Since Sims will be asked to be a leader for MacArthur – she is the only returning starter – her communication with teammates will be critical.

MacArthur coach Suzie Oelschlegel said she stresses to Sims the importance of not becoming predictable, and she knows from experience. Oelschlegel, who is entering her 21st season as MacArthur's head coach, was an All-American at Odem High School in South Texas in 1976.

"Each season, it's going to get tougher, because everybody is going to say, 'We've got to know how to defend her,'" said Oelschlegel, who went on to star at Baylor (1976-80).

"I challenge her, because I know what to expect. ... You always want to outdo each season."

DeSoto: District 8-5A power is loaded with talent once again

DeSoto brings back enough experience to not only run the table once again in District 8-5A, but it could dominate all the way to the state tournament in Austin.

DeSoto, which lost to Mansfield Summit in the regional final last season, lost two all-district players. But its top six returning players are accustomed to deep playoff runs and are eager to show what they can do now that they're in charge.

"I'm ready, because everybody didn't really see us last year," senior center Jasmine Johnson said. "I think they want to see us step up our game."

DeSoto's senior class is so talented that all eight players could wind up with Division I scholarships.

Sydney Carter, a 5-7 guard, has orally committed to Texas A&M, Johnson and forward Vanessa Obafemi have committed to Western Kentucky, and Keandra Goodson, a 5-10 forward, has committed to Northwestern State (La.).

Center Alex Foster and guards Kandance Moye, Carla McKinney and De'Andrea Rouwtt also have Division I offers, according to coach Larry Goad.

"We have so many good players, with our team, we're not all the same, but we're on the same level," said Carter, who averaged 13.2 points per game last season. "We can always count on somebody to step up if somebody else comes out."

Rockwall: Losses aren't pressing concern for 5A champion

What Rockwall has lost is obvious.

Haley Day, SportsDay's player of the year last season after leading Rockwall to a 40-0 record and the Class 5A state title, is gone. So are all-area selections Genevieve Campbell and Kiara Slaton.

What remains is a slew of players ready to ensure that Rockwall doesn't miss a beat.

"I'm excited about seeing how these great kids fill some different roles," said Jill McDill, SportsDay's coach of the year the last two seasons.

There's senior Sunny Satery, a three-year starter at point guard who averaged 5.8 assists last season and was an all-district selection. She made 42 3-pointers, and, according to McDill, will be looking to shoot even more.

Senior guard Shelby Adamson is another four-year varsity player whose production McDill anticipates will increase. Adamson will be joined in the backcourt by her sister, sophomore Peyton Adamson, who averaged 20 points on the JV last season.

Even with changes in personnel at Rockwall, the style of basketball and expectations of success remain the same.

"We may make a few adjustments here and there on some things, but we definitely want to continue that style where we're pressing and running and trying to get up and down the floor the entire 32 minutes," McDill said.

Frisco: State semifinalist is hungry for more

Frisco reached the 4A state semifinals last season with a roster dominated by underclassmen.

That success is tricky, coach Bob Rose said, because the returning players could rest on their laurels or come back more fiery than ever.

The latter has happened, according to Rose. And if luck, health and concentration all remain in Frisco's favor, Fort Worth Dunbar's grip on the 4A state title could be in jeopardy.

"The nice thing is the kids got a taste of it, they know what it takes to get there and they know how much hard work goes into it," said Rose, who has a 105-56 record in five years at Frisco.

"They all came back improved, and they all wanted to work on something."

Just how loaded is Frisco, ranked No. 1 in the state by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches and No. 2 by Texas Hoops.com in preseason polls?

Junior Shay Cooney-Williams, a 5-7 guard who was named District 9-4A co-MVP last season, averaged 17 points, 5.2 rebounds 5.5 assists and 3.4 steals. Sophomore guard Tiffany Moore, 9-4A's newcomer of the year, contributed 10 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.9 steals and 1.8 blocks per contest.

Dani Thomas, 9-4A's defensive player of the year, stands 6-2 and averaged 6.6 blocks per game, as well as 7.0 points and 7.8 rebounds.

And joining the mix is senior Kierra Mallard, a 6-3 center who transferred to Frisco from Richardson Berkner. Mallard, who has orally committed to Texas Tech, averaged 23.2 points and 9.0 rebounds last season.

Still, Frisco isn't getting too far ahead of itself, Rose said.

"We're just trying to get them focused and worried about that first game," he said.

KEY DATES

NOV. 5: UIL games begin

FEB. 8-9: SPC tournament in Houston

FEB. 11-12: UIL playoffs begin

FEB. 16: TAPPS playoffs begin

FEB. 18-19: UIL regional quarterfinals begin

FEB. 28-MARCH 1: UIL state tournament; TAPPS state tournament

CLASS 5A TEAMS TO WATCH

CLASS 4A-OTHERS TEAMS TO WATCH

OTHER PLAYERS TO WATCH