After three straight seasons of almost making the Class 4A State Tournament, the Muldrow Lady Bulldogs are ready to knock down that door and make the state tournament this season.

The Lady Bulldogs, who were 23-5 last season, will return three senior starters from that team — guard/forward Kennedi Wight (16.2 points and six rebounds per game last season) and guards Cailey Grinstead (8.2, 2.6) and Claire Tabor (6.5, 2.3). Three more seniors — twins Katelynn and Kennady Moore along with Makynlee Morton — are among the reserves.

Rounding out the roster are Maysi Fields, Danica Tune, Chloee Clark, London Hardin and Kayla Ellingberg.

“We have high expectations for this group,” said Muldrow girls coach Jana Armer, who now is in her third decade at MHS. “These seniors have been a part of our program since they were in fifth grade, and have played high school basketball since their freshmen year. They have finished one or two games from state all three years of high school. They are ready to make that push to state.”

Armer, who was inducted into the Oklahoma Girls Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame last summer, said her team’s strengths are its experience and depth, but she said overcoming her team’s collective overall team speed could be a challenge.

The Lady Bulldogs will begin their season at 6 p.m. Tuesday against Eufaula at Roger Sharp Activity Center.