Alva Review-Courier -

With Chad Warford taking the helm as head coach for both basketball programs at Freedom, the Eagles work to improve on their 9-16 finish from last season.

Though the Freedom boys had a very tough start last season, the Eagles finished the 2015-2016 season in the first round of districts at Forgan as they fell to Buffalo 31-65.

The Eagles are putting up a better start to this new season though they experience some of the same growing pains that the Lady Eagles face with a young team and a 4-10 start to their season. Despite that, the Eagles still return experience from last year as four starters return from last season.

"We hope to continue to improve and be a tough competitor come playoff time," said Coach Warford.

The Eagles return the "dynamic duo," as Coach Warford labeled them, Kristopher Fargo and Blake Lee.

"Blake is our point-guard and Kris is our combo guard/forward and both can really go," said Warford. "They lead the team in every major statistical category."

While Lee's and Fargo's position in the starting five is consistent, Warford will vary his other starters depending on match-ups and practice play. Freedom's other key players that are considered in that starting lineup are Casey Luddington, Mile Nixon and Angel Cardenas, with Pedro Ibarra the sixth man off the bench.

"Sixth man Pedro Ibarra is a Swiss Army knife that you can plug into multiple positions," said Warford.

Other key players for the Eagles are Lance Bolar, Cameron Dunham, Dakota Stone and Luke Bolar.

The Eagles have a big tournament coming up as they compete in the Buffalo Tournament on Jan. 19-21. They will then close their season with three straight home games, their final one coming up against Hardesty on Feb. 7, before they begin district play on Feb. 10-11.

2016-2017 Eagles Basketball Roster

No. Name Ht. Pos. Cl.

00 Casey Luddington 6'0" C So.

3 Angel Cardenas 5'8" G Jr.

12 Lance Bolar 5'11" G/F Fr.

13 Blake Lee 6'0" G So.

14 Cameron Denham 5'6" G So.

21 Kristopher Fargo 6'2" G/F So.

22 Miles Nixon 6'1" F Fr.

23 Nate Wood 6'1" F Jr.

32 Luke Bolar 5'9" G Jr.

33 Pedro Ibarra 6'1" F So.

50 Dakota Stone 6'0" C So.

Head coach: Chad Warford

Assistant coach: Grace Tepe

Remaining 2017 Freedom Basketball Schedule

Date Opponent Home/Away Time

Jan. 19-21 Buffalo Tournament Buffalo TBA

Jan. 26 Waynoka Away 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 27 Hardesty Away 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 31 Taloga Home 6:30 p.m.

Feb. 4 Waynoka Home 6:30 p.m.

Feb. 7 Hardesty Home 6:30 p.m.

Feb. 10-11 Districts TBA TBA

Feb. 17-19 Regionals TBA TBA

Feb. 23-25 Area TBA TBA

March 2-4 State TBA TBA

*Home games in bold.