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Momentum has a way of building quietly, and as Claremore girls basketball heads into the new year, the Lady Zebras are doing so with a belief that didn’t exist a year ago.
Claremore enters the break at 6-2 overall after opening the season with five-straight wins, already matching nearly three-quarters of last season’s eight-win total before December came to a close.
The early surge, paired with competitive losses against some of the state’s toughest competition, has positioned the Lady Zebras as a team finding its identity and confidence under head coach Lynn Roper.
The tone was set immediately.
Claremore opened the 2025-26 campaign with a statement 58-51 road victory at McAlester, powered by a dominant showing from twin sisters Asia and Autumn Roper.
Asia poured in 24 points, while Autumn added 22 behind four 3-pointers, giving the Lady Zebras a one-two punch the Lady Buffaloes couldn’t contain. The poise shown in a tight road environment signaled a team ready to take a step forward.
That confidence carried into a district win over East Central — played inside the historic Frank Mobra Gymnasium — where Asia Roper delivered 26 points and 10 rebounds in an intimate, high-energy setting. Claremore’s defensive pressure forced 23 turnovers, a theme that would become a calling card early in the season.
The Lady Zebras followed by sweeping through the Big Dawg Shoot-Out at Vinita High School, picking up wins over Grove, Kiefer and Salina.
The tournament run culminated in a 63-36 championship victory over Salina, Claremore’s first tournament title since 2016. Asia Roper earned MVP honors after averaging 28 points over three games, while Autumn Roper joined her on the All-Tournament Team.
Along the way, Claremore showed growth beyond its star power.
Freshman Claire Pilkington emerged as a reliable interior presence, Alayna Eberley delivered key two-way performances and Grace Waters provided steady minutes and late-game free throws.
Defensive pressure and timely adjustments fueled multiple decisive runs, including a 15-0 burst against Grove and a game-breaking surge against Salina.
“Now we’ve set the tone,” Asia Roper said after the title game. “We’ve gotta keep winning.”
The Lady Zebras’ first stumble came in heartbreaking fashion, a 62-58 double-overtime loss to Durant in a District 5A-4 showdown.
Claremore surrendered an 11-point fourth-quarter lead and was undone by second-chance points and late-game miscues. While the loss stung, it also reinforced how far the program has come, trading punches with a district favorite deep into double overtime.
The Lady Zebras responded immediately, bouncing back with a gritty 45-42 road win at Memorial. Once again, Asia and Autumn Roper carried the scoring load, while late defensive stops and timely execution sealed the victory.
The break arrives after a challenging 52-41 loss to Class 6A Sand Springs, a reminder of the work still ahead. Still, the bigger picture remains promising.
Claremore owns wins over 5A programs McAlester, East Central and Memorial, captured a tournament championship and enters January with confidence, chemistry and clear leadership.
“We have a good mix of senior leaders and youngsters with a lot of potential,” coach Lynn Roper said. “They have good chemistry, they like each other and are having fun."
The Lady Zebras will look to carry that momentum into the new year when they return to action at 6 p.m. Jan. 6 at home against KIPP Tulsa.
Continue reading...
Claremore enters the break at 6-2 overall after opening the season with five-straight wins, already matching nearly three-quarters of last season’s eight-win total before December came to a close.
The early surge, paired with competitive losses against some of the state’s toughest competition, has positioned the Lady Zebras as a team finding its identity and confidence under head coach Lynn Roper.
The tone was set immediately.
Claremore opened the 2025-26 campaign with a statement 58-51 road victory at McAlester, powered by a dominant showing from twin sisters Asia and Autumn Roper.
Asia poured in 24 points, while Autumn added 22 behind four 3-pointers, giving the Lady Zebras a one-two punch the Lady Buffaloes couldn’t contain. The poise shown in a tight road environment signaled a team ready to take a step forward.
That confidence carried into a district win over East Central — played inside the historic Frank Mobra Gymnasium — where Asia Roper delivered 26 points and 10 rebounds in an intimate, high-energy setting. Claremore’s defensive pressure forced 23 turnovers, a theme that would become a calling card early in the season.
The Lady Zebras followed by sweeping through the Big Dawg Shoot-Out at Vinita High School, picking up wins over Grove, Kiefer and Salina.
The tournament run culminated in a 63-36 championship victory over Salina, Claremore’s first tournament title since 2016. Asia Roper earned MVP honors after averaging 28 points over three games, while Autumn Roper joined her on the All-Tournament Team.
Along the way, Claremore showed growth beyond its star power.
Freshman Claire Pilkington emerged as a reliable interior presence, Alayna Eberley delivered key two-way performances and Grace Waters provided steady minutes and late-game free throws.
Defensive pressure and timely adjustments fueled multiple decisive runs, including a 15-0 burst against Grove and a game-breaking surge against Salina.
“Now we’ve set the tone,” Asia Roper said after the title game. “We’ve gotta keep winning.”
The Lady Zebras’ first stumble came in heartbreaking fashion, a 62-58 double-overtime loss to Durant in a District 5A-4 showdown.
Claremore surrendered an 11-point fourth-quarter lead and was undone by second-chance points and late-game miscues. While the loss stung, it also reinforced how far the program has come, trading punches with a district favorite deep into double overtime.
The Lady Zebras responded immediately, bouncing back with a gritty 45-42 road win at Memorial. Once again, Asia and Autumn Roper carried the scoring load, while late defensive stops and timely execution sealed the victory.
The break arrives after a challenging 52-41 loss to Class 6A Sand Springs, a reminder of the work still ahead. Still, the bigger picture remains promising.
Claremore owns wins over 5A programs McAlester, East Central and Memorial, captured a tournament championship and enters January with confidence, chemistry and clear leadership.
“We have a good mix of senior leaders and youngsters with a lot of potential,” coach Lynn Roper said. “They have good chemistry, they like each other and are having fun."
The Lady Zebras will look to carry that momentum into the new year when they return to action at 6 p.m. Jan. 6 at home against KIPP Tulsa.
Continue reading...
