Season Surge: Tecumseh Savages
For the third piece of the Season Surge Series, I wanted to take a look and highlight the recent work of the Tecumseh Savages. The Savages have won three games in a row now, adding their third after a solid upset against the 17th ranked McLoud Indians. This was definitely a win that was highly desired considering that they previous matchup resulted in McLoud barely scraping by with a win by one point. This isn’t their first ranked win of the season as they beat the 11th ranked team in 3A, Eufaula, back in December in the Bethel Tournament. The previous wins before McLoud included a 52 point win scoring exactly 100 points against Prague, and a 61-36 victory over Plainview. The Savages currently sit at a 10-9 record with 5 more games remaining in the season. Their biggest opponent is Top 10 ranked Mount St. Mary, who would be a significant addition to upsets.
The Tecumseh Savages are led by head coach Bryant Edwards, who has spent quite a bit of time there with the program. He may not see the most extensive seasons but he does produce talent capable of the next level. Just last season, Edwards saw two guards earn offers to continue their academic and athletic education. Jase Edwards committed to Seminole State and Aden Boone committed to Southwestern Christian. The current squad is headlined by senior guard Aveon Stokes, who just surpassed the 1,000 Career Points accolade last month. He did this in high fashion as he dropped 36 points in a victory against Seminole. Stokes is a 5’10 unit who serves well as the floor general for his team. He packs a punch at several aspects of the game, especially when it comes to shooting from distance. He brings a smooth left-handed form that releases purely and cashes in frequently. He excels at spot-up shooting and can quickly release it at high tempo, staying calm under the pressure.
Stokes is joined by four other great assets in the starting five. Senior guards Jekhi Owens, Brodey Wood, and Cash Phelps all three provide support on both sides of the ball. Owens has a slim but solid 6’0 frame to him and can facilitate the rock collectively. Wood is also 6’0 but serves more of the playmaker and court vision for the team. Phelps is a sturdy 5’11 build who can both shoot it well and keep the game in the Savages’ control. The Savages have help from the bench from 6’2 senior forward Sampson Martin and 6’0 senior forward Creed Wright. Both do very well in the paint when it comes to providing defense and grabbing boards. Overall, the team doesn’t get much assistance with their height but they do extremely well when it comes to scoring production. They have a deep rotation full of guys with high chemistry and endless hustle. Keep an eye out as they’re ready to make some more noise in 4A.
