The Oakdale Warriors know what it takes and how hard they have to play to make the finals.

They have played for a state championship in the last two seasons. Today in Hammond, they will try to secure a third consecutive trip to the final.

The Warriors, the top-ranked team in Non-select Division III, take on No. 4 Doyle at 6:15 p.m. in the semifinals.

“We’re excited man, we’re ready,” Oakdale head coach Renotta Edwards said. “We came up here early, got some shots up, and we’re ready to go.

“We’re just trying to fine-tune everything. We kind of figured out what worked for us, what doesn’t work for us, and what we could improve on as far as preparation.”

Oakdale won the Non-select Division IV state championship in 2023 and was the runner-up last season.
Edwards said her team is well prepared after playing one of their toughest games of the season in the quarterfinals. Although, on paper, the 42-10 win over No. 9 Mansfield didn’t seem that way.

“That team was probably the most difficult team we’ve played all year long,” Edwards said. “Athletic, fast, super-duper aggressive. I’d honestly say, next to Captain Shreve, they’re probably the most difficult team we’ve played against all year long, so it was not easy.”

It is that defense that has been the Warriors’ go-to all season. They have won 12 consecutive games, and in 10 of those they have held opponents under 30 points. In the postseason, they have allowed 15.5 points a game.

“Our defense is our staple,” Edwards said. “That’s what we do.

“We try to be as disciplined as possible and work hard for 32 minutes.”

Edwards said curbing the Tigers’ offense will be difficult with five players averaging in double figures. Senior Alyson Fletcher and Kylee Savant and sophomore Suri Stewart average 12 points a game.

“Their whole team is good,” Edwards said. “They don’t have a kid that (we can) lock in on her and we’ll be fine.

“It’s not like that with Doyle. That’s what makes him so good. The whole team can score. We have to literally take care of the whole team if we can by doing the little things.”

Like the Warriors, Doyle has been hot lately as well with 13 consecutive wins and 19 of their last 20 games. Doyle lost in the semifinals last year and won a state championship in 2020.

Emani Young and Kaylee Bradley, who played for the Warriors’ runners-up and state championship teams along with junior Jolie West, lead Oakdale in scoring with 18 and 13 points, respectively.