By Byron Beers/Staff Writer

Rodney Haydon knows the importance of this week for his El Reno basketball team.

It will be pivotal for the Indians with the Class 5A pairings right around the corner.

It could also be a very taxing week for El Reno as it plays five games in a five-day stretch.

The Indians will be at home Monday to play Western Heights. They follow that with a home game against top-ranked Carl Albert on Tuesday before traveling to Anadarko for the MidFirst Warrior Classic. El Reno closes the week with two more games at Jenks Simmons Field House when it hosts Deer Creek on Thursday and Shawnee Friday.

Anadarko is the only team El Reno will face this week that it hasn’t already played. The Indians have earlier season setbacks to Western Heights, Carl Albert, Deer Creek and Shawnee – all games played on the road.

Haydon doesn’t feel that exhausted bodies and tired legs will become a factor in the busy week ahead.

He welcomes the challenge, but also knows this could be a make-or-break week for his squad.

“We’re ready to play,” Haydon said. “There’s no doubt that this week right here coming up is probably going to define our season.

“You kind of hate to put it in terms like that, but in reality it’s what it is. We’ve got a lot of winnable games in this stretch. We’re playing well right now and we’re starting to gel.”

The Indians are coming off a 50-42 setback at Guthrie last Tuesday that dropped them to 3-9 overall and 1-6 in the Suburban Conference.

The key addition of junior forward Taylor Wedman has helped El Reno on the inside, both in terms of scoring productivity and rebounding.

Sophomore Fayzon Richey has also rounded into a more complete player and has become a go-to guy on the offensive end.

Wedman just joined the team at the start of the semester and has played in four games. He led the Indians with 13 points in the loss to Guthrie.

Richey had nine points against the Bluejays and during the opening minute of the fourth quarter had five quick points.