Excitement is at an all-time high at Edmond Memorial. The girls basketball squad is
coming off an historically rare state tournament appearance and welcoming a newcomer with unlimited potential. Janyiah Williams comes to the Bulldogs from Stillwater where she spent her freshman year averaging 19 points a game for the Pioneers and landing in the top 15 of ESPN’s Class of 2025 rankings. She joins five returning starters hoping to win the first girls basketball title in the history of the school. “Janiyah has been so humble and genuine,” says head coach Rachel Crabaugh. “She shares the basketball and has natural point guard skills for her size.”
Williams can play multiple positions on the floor and along with Air Force commit Baylor Franz who handled the point duties last year, the Bulldogs are loaded in the
backcourt. Franz is the captain of the squad and averaged 19 points of her own as a junior to go along with eight rebounds. That was good enough to earn her the conference player of the year award. There’s more to the backcourt with another super sophomore in Avery Hjelmstad. She can fill it up from the outside and has already drawn quite a bit of recruiting interest of her own, averaging 8 points per game as a freshman. Addy Johnson returns to the lineup after sitting out last year with an injury. Johnson is a soccer star who brings an attitude and defensive presence that compliments the rest of the high scoring Dogs. Ella Hamlin missed the state tournament last year, suffering a torn ACL in February. She will be cleared and ready to go in time for the start of the regular season. Lexi Hensley and Karyn Johnson add even more experience for a team looking to challenge in one of the state’s most competitive classes. Coach Crabaugh knows just how competitive
Class 6A is on the girls side. She was an assistant for Pete Papahronis at Edmond North, the defending state champions, before taking the position at Edmond Memorial two years ago. The Bulldogs were bounced in the first round of last year’s
tournament by Bixby, two of the obstacles Edmond will have to overcome to win the
school’s first ever title in girls basketball. The young Bulldogs got a shot at Bixby
in the pre-season super scrimmage at Moore High School and more than held their own. The addition of Williams and the returning cast just might have what it takes to make this season special at Edmond Memorial. “We are focused on making history, said Crabaugh, “girls basketball is the only program that hasn’t won it here at Edmond. We are ready for the challenge.
