INOLA — There won't be much time for Inola's younger roster to grow up quietly.
The Longhorns face a challenging non-district schedule against Sequoyah, defending Class 2A-II state champion Adair and Catoosa, which are three games that should provide an immediate indication of how quickly the new-look roster is coming together.
The Catoosa matchup brings the added intensity of the “Battle of the Ports,” one of the games circled by both communities each season.
“I think Catoosa is going to be a lot better,” Inola coach Jim Bob Ashley said. “They're starting to put things together over there. I think Adair is probably going to be better than they were last year, but I'm always excited for the opportunity to play these teams. I'm excited for the opportunity to go play Adair.
But whatever Inola encounters early may pale in comparison to what awaits at the end.
The Longhorns close with a daunting three-game stretch against Heritage Hall, Verdigris and Perkins-Tryon.
Ashley expects that closing run to be a “slug fest,” with Inola forced to navigate elite competition when district positioning and playoff spots are on the line.
It is precisely the type of stretch that will test whether the Longhorns have accomplished Ashley's larger goal.
“Our last three games, we go Heritage, Verdigris and Perkins,” Ashley said. “I compare those three games to the trilogy, [Arturo] Gatti versus [Micky] Ward 1-2-3. I tell these guys we have a great opportunity. It's a great opportunity to go out there and show what you can do versus the best, and we wouldn't have it any other way. We don't want to go play cupcakes. That's why our non-district schedule is pretty tough.”
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