GHS hoops begins the 2024-25 high school season as the girls take on Bishop Kelley on Friday, Dec. 6, and the boys face Claremore on Tuesday, Dec. 10.
After both teams’ scheduled home opener versus East Central was postponed last week, Guthrie starts the regular season with matchups against district opponents that both look to improve after missing the Class 5A state tournament a season ago.
Starting with the girls’ game, head coach Josh Smith’s team faces a Bishop Kelley group that went 14-12 last year with a loss in the 5A regionals to Booker T. Washington. The Comets kicked off this season with a rematch against Claremore on Tuesday.
Smith, who begins his first year as Bluejays’ head coach, previously served as Guthrie’s head volleyball coach while assisting with both boys’ and girls’ basketball teams. Claremore also introduces a new head coach this season in Lynn Roper, who previously coached at Sand Springs.
The Guthrie boys’ team enters the 2024-25 season fresh off of a 22-5 outing and an appearance in the Class 5A Area Tournament, where they fell to eventual state tournament qualifier Del City. Coach Nathan Pennypacker’s group now opens the new season against a Claremore team that finished 14-12 and were knocked out of the 5A regionals last year.
The Bluejays hope to find guys to slot into the roles that were filled by impact seniors like Braydon Morgan, Tyrone Beaty and Nathan Benford, who each earned All-District honors a season ago.
Claremore opens the season with a battle versus Bishop Kelley. They’re set to host Sallisaw this Friday, Dec. 6, before meeting the Bluejays on Tuesday.
Guthrie’s girls will tip off with Bishop Kelley at 6 P.M. from the GHS gym. The boys’ team plays at Claremore starting at 7:30 P.M.