LAUREN STEPHENS
Tahlequah Lady Tigers Basketball
Written by Byron Beers
Lauren Stephens will have big shoes to fill as a junior forward for Tahlequah in 2024-25.
Stephens will replace the departed Kori Rainwater, a four-year standout in the paint for the Lady Tigers, who went 24-3 last season under head coach David Qualls. Rainwater made a big impact on Stephens and her development.
“My biggest influence has been Kori Rainwater. I had to play against her for two years in practice and she has shaped me into the player I am today,” Stephens said. “She was very good at making a shot for herself and finishing tough shots, so she made me a lot better at defense by having to guard her every day. She was also very uplifting and encouraged me when I was making mistakes or seemed confused. She was a great leader on and off the court and I am very grateful to have played behind her these past couple of years.”
Stephens hopes to extend Tahlequah’s run of success with a new group of players around her. She’s been a part of two state tournament teams as a freshman and sophomore.
“This year in basketball I would love for us to keep the legacy of Tahlequah’s past teams as well as make a name for ourselves because we are a completely new team,” she said. “I am most excited for our home opener because I am so anxious and excited to see how we perform and how we flow all together as a team.”
Already a strong defender and rebounder, Stephens is looking to make strides on the offensive end of the floor.
“I think my offense has gotten stronger as well as my physicality. I think I am getting a lot stronger, especially with the ball, and have been working on being more consistent and finishing well,” Stephens said.
“I believe that I am strongest in defense and rebounding. I help our team out the most while on defense but on offense I can create opportunities for others while finishing the shots that l have.”
Stephens doesn’t know if college basketball is in her future, but she plans on entering the medical field in college, although she isn’t sure which profession specifically.
