In years past, Western Heights has made itself available for small-school area tournaments.
This year, however, the Jets’ gym might be hosting a regional – Their own.
In one of the best turnarounds in the state, Western Heights has climbed from the depths of the Suburban Conference to the fourth-ranked team in Class 5A.
Sitting at 13-4 and boasting two wins over Guthrie and one each over Capitol Hill, Carl Albert and El Reno, the Jets are a likely candidate to host an upcoming 5A regional.
“The coaches have talked about it,” said Western Heights head coach Tyrone Nash, now in his fourth year. “That is a realistic situation for us right now. There are a lot of different scenarios, but to even have a chance to host is mind-boggling.
Western Heights' Devin Aughenbaugh is averaging nearly a triple-double this season.
“It’s not something you usually think about at Western Heights.”
The program has no state title in its trophy case. It was 6-18 last year and 5-18 the year before, meaning the Jets have already surpassed the win total of their last two seasons combined.
So what’s caused the turnaround?
Nash attributes a lot of it to experience.
“A lot of these guys have been playing since they were freshmen and sophomores and were winning five games a year,” he said. “Now they’re competing against guys their own age.”
And it’s showing in the win-loss column. The Jets are no longer cellar dwellers in the conference and are now legitimate contenders for a spot at the state tournament although the odds were stacked decidedly against them.
“It’s kind of hard to have freshmen going up against three-year starters and these guys could have given up after losing over and over and over,” Nash said. “But they didn’t give up and this is the payoff. I’m extremely proud of them.”
Perhaps his proudest moment came last Tuesday when Western Heights took to the road and beat Guthrie for the second time this season, 57-49.
“To be able to win at Guthrie was by far our biggest win of the season,” Nash admitted. “We were ahead the entire game and it was amazing the way the guys were clicking.”
It was Western Heights’ fifth win in six games with the lone loss coming to 6A Mustang in the semifinals of the Bruce Gray Invitational.
“We’ve been able to pull together a stretch of wins against good teams and that’s a tremendous boost for us and our confidence,” Nash said.
In the Suburban Conference, there are no easy wins and it’s a sure-fire prep course for the playoffs.
Western Height' Justin Giles knocks down a jumper.
“After playing in our conference, we know when we get to the playoffs and get in close games, we have a good chance of pulling it out because of the confidence we’ve gained.”
Nash attributes much of the team’s success to 3-D. No, not the goofy glasses you wear in a movie theater, rather Dustin, Devin and D.J.
Dustin Giles is a 6-foot-4 senior who is starting for the third year and averaging 17 points and 11 boards a game. He can play any position on the floor and is also an excellent defender.
Six-foot-5 junior Devin Augenbaugh is the team’s MVP in Nash’s opinion.
“He does a lot of the little things that really help our ball club succeed,” Nash said.
Augenbaugh averages nearly a triple-double with 11 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists a contest. He also averages about four blocks a contest.
Senior D.J. Taylor, a 6-foot-4, 200-pounder, can play anything from shooting guard to center.
“He’s been a huge spark for us defensively,” said Nash, noting that Taylor had taken seven charges in the Jets’ last three games. “I think that helps mold us into more of a defensive team.”
It’s working as Western Heights has surrendered 60 points or more just three times.
“These kids have really bought in and no matter what happens, it’s turned into an amazing thing so far,” Nash said.
But the Jets aren’t finished. They want to add to a relatively slim trophy case.
“These guys want to make their own history.”
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