Coach Eric Smith and his Dale girls basketball team knew it could be done. It’s rare for a school as small as Class 2A Dale to expect to win the annual Tournament of Champions in Tulsa. But after watching the boys team win it during the 2022-23 season, the girls squad had belief in themselves and headed into the December tournament with high hopes. “Our boys have done it,” Smith said. “Why can’t we?” Dale had a daunting schedule but showed up ready to play. The result was a major breakthrough for the program. Led by standout seniors Skylar Anderson and Danika Pendley, the Pirates became the first team below Class 3A to win the girls Tournament of Champions, which began in 1999, after...
