Under the leadership of head coach Kyle Kendrick, the Shidler Tigers continue to make gains in one of the toughest classifications in Oklahoma. Led by two sophomores, Peyton Floyd and Kaleb Gorr, the Tigers have enjoyed some success this season.
Both players were selected to the VYPE Top 100, a nice honor for the two underclassmen. Floyd is the point guard who is averaging 16.1 points with 7.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 3.1 steals per contest. Gorr is posting similar numbers from his shooting guard spot. He is averaging 14.8 points with 4.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals a game.
Their production is crucial to the overall success of the program according to coach Kyle Kendrick.
“Peyton Floyd and Kaleb Gorr have a chance to be two of the best players to ever put on a Shidler uniform in my opinion. They both play well above their grade level expectations and both of them have the desire to continue to get better. They also work great together and love when the other succeeds, so that makes them not only dangerous for opponents but so much fun for me to coach,” said Kendrick.
A trio of seniors are also making a huge difference this season.
Senior power forward Landon Vogele is also having a monster year this season despite dealing with multiple injuries that have kept him out of a few games. Vogele is averaging 13.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.1 blocks and 2.2 steals per game. Senior center Chance Brumley is the heart of the program. He’s a tough player willing to take the punishment to help his team. This season he has taken 10 charges for the third year in a row. He averages 7.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game along with being an anchor defensively and a huge leader in the locker room. Another senior is guard Austin Godfrey who has started every game this year and has become a very solid player that can contribute on both ends of the floor.
“Our three seniors Chance Brumley, Landon Vogele, and Austin Godfrey are the exact type of guys you want in your program. They are hardworking, selfless guys who just want the best for the team and are willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen,” Kendrick said of the trio.
Off the bench Shidler has a solid post kid in junior Hunter Smith but a broken hand sidelined him midway through the season. Freshmen Landon Malone and Aiden Carey have both stepped up off the bench this year when Smith went down with his injury and Vogele missed time with his. They have gotten valuable experience which will help them moving forward.
“We don’t have a deep team and that has been a struggle at times, but I couldn’t be more proud of our guys. They play with a ton of heart every night and never quit,” Kendrick said.
COVID-19 has played a role this season with the Tigers missing three very winnable games due to COVID-19 cancelations. Look for this team to make it as far as the regional tournament and, if healthy, they could work their way into the area tournament. Coach Kendrick has done a great job of having his players prepared to play and they have bought in to his system. He has turned the Shidler program into a competitor, gaining more respect with every contest.
