Gridiron mentality on the hardwood: Lawton football standout brings a similar approach to basketball

All-out style is what senior Tyron Amacker favors, regardless of which sport he plays

By Michael Kinney 

LAWTON - Tyron Amacker plays with a football player’s mindset. 

Whether he is on the gridiron or on the hardwood, the Lawton High senior says he plays the same way no matter what.

“I just bring a dog (mentality) wherever,” Amacker said.

For the Lawton High football team, Amacker led the Wolverines in catches (42), and receiving yards (908), and was second in rushing yards (488). He also racked up 81 tackles and recovered three fumbles on defense.

When football season was over, he jumped right into basketball and used that same aggressive style to help lead the Wolverines.

“I just love defense,” Amacker said. “I love turning defense into offense.

"That's who I am. That's how I've been since I started my basketball (career) and I love defense.”

When Amacker is asked what it is about playing defense that he finds attractive, a sly smile forms on his face as he answers.

“It's just fun. It's just fun locking up people,” Amacker said. “You can turn the intensity up and everybody feeds off of you.

"I've gotten somebody so angry, they took themselves out of the game because they were so mad.”

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It is that way of thinking that has been a key contributor to the turnaround the Wolverines have experienced this season. After starting 6-0, they managed to stay ranked inside the 6A boys top 10 despite tough losses to Norman, Putnam City West and Carl Albert during a three-game stretch in early January.

According to Amacker, during that slide, the Wolverines went away from who they are.

“In the beginning of the season I feel like we started off strong, then we started having our little hiccups amongst each other and not like playing together,” Amacker said. “Not playing good defense, which is our identity.”

Since then, Lawton has gotten back on course. LHS coach Cole Lehr gives a lot of credit to Amacker and the way he approaches each game.

“As a coach and as a coaching staff, it's really relaxing for us to know that we can stick him on the other team's best player and we feel like we can take him away,” Lehr said. “We got to get more attention to the details for the supporting cast.

"But knowing that we can at least make it difficult for the other team's best player every night in and night out, that's a good feeling to have as a coach. And that's solely because of No. 2 (Amacker).”

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Along with being a shutdown defender, Amacker knew more was expected of him this season. Instead of just doing it on the court, he had to become a vocal leader.

“(That's) because last year, we didn't really have any vocal leaders and our season wasn't really good,” Amacker said. “I just wanted to win and just have a good season.

"That means putting four quarters together instead of putting two or one or whatever and playing hard the whole game, and having good energy.”

While Amacker has turned himself into a solid basketball player, his first love is still football. He plans to play at the next level, but hasn’t committed to any school yet.

“I just want to get that kid to college somewhere to play something,” Lehr said. “Because he's a (heck) of a football player too, but he's going to have his choice of what he wants to do, I believe.

"But that's my goal for him, just to keep leading us and go to a school somewhere. He deserves it.”