Edmond Memorial is team without a home court
EDMOND — Edmond Memorial basketball coach Shane Cowherd is tired of the bus that’s become an important part of his routine.
Each afternoon, he loads up his players and they drive a few miles to Solid Rock, a nearby basketball facility. They change clothes in the bathrooms. They practice. They head back to the school.
On game nights, they load up and head to their opponents’ gym or Central Oklahoma’s Hamilton Field House.
In a year where Edmond Memorial has become road warriors, the Bulldogs are the rare team without a home.
“I’m so tired of being on the road,” Cowherd said following Tuesday’s “home” win over Moore at UCO.
“On the flip side, we are thankful that UCO is being a very gracious host and allowing us the opportunity to play at least something in town so that our kids don’t get home at midnight, 1 o’clock in the morning every Tuesday night.”
Edmond Memorial’s gym is under renovations from a school bond issue and won’t be available this season. As a result, it’s chaos as the Bulldogs make the most of the situation.
Team bonding and strategizing is often done on buses.
“That probably is our locker room now,” Edmond Memorial girls basketball coach Dandy Peeler said.
Edmond Memorial’s boys played their first 12 games on the road. The girls played their first 11.
Only last week did they
finally get to break out their white home jerseys at Hamilton Field House, where they will play a total of six games.
“It’s not like any other years,” Edmond Memorial senior captain Beckham King said. “As a senior, you always look forward to playing on your home court. We’ve just been working hard every day and not taking it for granted.
“Obviously, it’s disappointing. But you learn from it and work hard every day.”
Edmond Public Schools athletic director Mike Nunley said the school’s activity fund is paying $1,500 per game to UCO, which allows the use of the facility, maintenance, cleanup and security. Edmond Memorial provides the staff running the gate, scorer’s table and concessions.
The price may be steep, but at least the players will have a place to call home.
“We just appreciate it,” Nunley said. “Not a lot of people in this world can call up a university to help out. I think it’s been fun our kids. Now we have a senior night.”
But there are still challenges.
School officials have had to work harder to get students to attend games. There have been no pep assemblies.
Neither team has a locker room. Neither coach has an office.
“That’s bigger than the gym,” Peeler said. “We don’t have a place to call home. Every night is a different night.”
Cowherd is driven by analytics and film study. The road schedule and practice travel times have lessened the use of both.
“Now it has to be how quickly they can take the information, digest it and apply it,” Cowherd said.
As playoff seeding nears, Edmond Memorial’s girls have put themselves in great position with a 10-3 record and No. 5 ranking in Class 6A. The boys are 9-5 and No. 12.
They’re road weary, but battle tested.
And they’re thankful for at least a half-dozen “home” games.
“This is a great facility,” King said. “This court, this atmosphere, the student section shows up. I’m just thankful.”