Preview: Edmond Memorial
Head Coach Shane Cowherd and the 6A Edmond Memorial Bulldogs enter the 2019-2019 season with high hopes. Cowherd, in his twelfth season with the Bulldogs, plans to keep a level head as Edmond Memorial is an early favorite to take the 6A Championship.
“Being in the State Tournament last year, being really, really close, we believe that this group is capable of some big things,” says Cowherd. “We had a good summer, so we’re excited about it.”
The Bulldogs’ most recent title came in the 2012-2013 season, the second in Cowherd’s tenure. The Bulldogs made a State Tournament appearance in 2018, but were knocked out in the first round by Broken Arrow in a 48-46 loss.
“(The loss) has been on my mind a lot,” says senior wing Drew Tennial, a Texas State commit. “Just two points away from getting to the next round. You can get beat at any time.”
“Tomorrow is always that focus. We want to be so much improved that we have opportunities to be placed where we want to be tomorrow,” Cowherd says.
Edmond Memorial returns starters CJ Campbell (Jr.), Parker Clarida (Sr.), Tennial and Jacob Thionnet (Sr.). Cowherd said Sean Pedulla (So.) will see a much bigger role this year on the floor coming off an impressive freshman campaign.
“This group really enjoys playing together,” Cowherd said. “What’s exciting about this group is that we’ve got a large group of returners, but we’ve got some younger and some newer faces that have done a great job of blending in with what we do and making us better.”
“I think it’s gonna be pretty fun because we have a lot of players who can play any position,” says Thionnet. “It’s gonna be cool to be able to be in games and be able to say ‘hey, let’s switch that.'”
Thionnet was offered by D-II Northeastern State University this summer, while Tennial committed to Texas State earlier this October. Thionnet and Tennial, along with Clarida, are each ranked in the Oklahoma 2019 rankings.