by Bryant Vensodel, Student Reporter
The Northwestern Oklahoma State Rangers and Lady Rangers basketball starts their 2019-2020 season Nov. 8 against Northeastern Oklahoma State.
Now that football season is coming to an end the Northwestern Rangers and Lady Rangers will be going back on the basketball court.
The Rangers come in with a previous record of 8-20 and the Lady Rangers come in with a previous record of 12-18.
The men’s team has welcomed a new coach this off-season to lead the Rangers in 2019-2020 season, Vinay Patel.
“I am extremely excited to be the next head coach at Northwestern Oklahoma State University and I am proud to lead the Rangers,” Patel said.
Patel previously coached at Oklahoma City University for four years and led the Oklahoma City Stars to an 82-42 record in the four years he was there.
The Northwestern Rangers have been practicing and putting work in the gym to prepare for this 2019-2020 season. A.J. Jones is a senior at NWOSU and he has been named the captain for the Rangers this season.
“We have been going hard in practice every day and have been competing against each other, so we can make everyone better,” Jones said.
Southern Nazarene University, Southeastern Oklahoma State University and Southwestern Oklahoma State University are some of the teams that Jones is most excited to play against.
The Rangers had close games against these teams every time they played last season. The Rangers won against Southwestern Oklahoma State University 98-96 in double overtime last year and lost against Southern Nazerene University 67-80.
The Lady Rangers will be bringing back their previous coaching staff, with head coach Tasha Diesselhorst and assistant coach Kylie Franz.
The Lady Rangers are also bringing back a lot of their talent from last year, including guard Kenzi Lamer, guard Kalea King and forward Presley Payahsape.
The Lady Rangers have also been working hard in the gym to prepare for this upcoming season.
“It’s having a positive attitude and mindset, improving our game as a whole each day,” Payahsape said. “Whether it’s extra shots or making time for conditioning.”
The Lady Rangers have also had close games against Northwestern’s rivals, with the Lady Rangers previously winning against Southern Nazerene 63-54 and losing against National runner-up Southwestern Oklahoma State 73-78.
Both teams are competing in the MIAA/GAC/NSIC challenge this weekend in Alva.
The Northwestern Rangers and Lady Rangers will open up the season against Northeastern Oklahoma State at Percefull Fieldhouse with a Lady Rangers tip-off at 5 p.m. and a Rangers tip-off at 7:15 p.m. on Friday.