END OF AN ERA: SHAW STEPS DOWN AFTER HISTORIC SEASON; LADY BRUINS RECEIVE POSTSEASON HONORS
Bartlesville Lady Bruins head coach Justyn Shaw is leaving after five seasons at the helm. He was named District 3 Coach of the Year.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
Bartlesville High School senior Sami Sheaffer (15) received postseason honors.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
By Becky Burch
April 29, 2026
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
Justyn Shaw, who transformed a struggling Bartlesville High School girls’ basketball program into a state tournament contender, announced his resignation last Friday after five seasons at the helm.
Shaw leaves the Lady Bruins program on a high note, coming off a historic 2025-26 campaign that saw the team reach the OSSAA Class 6A State Tournament for the first time in eight years.
“It is with a mix of deep gratitude and heavy heart that I am stepping away,” Shaw said in a statement. “To the players: you were the heartbeat of the program. Watching you grow not just as athletes, but as remarkable young ladies, has been an honor.”
The program’s turnaround was bolstered by a consistent coaching staff. Shaw’s final season featured a veteran bench including varsity assistant Jason Flick, who moved to the girls' program in 2021 after eight years with the Bruins' boys' team. The staff also included assistant Michael McHugh and Celeste Clement, who served as a varsity assistant and head coach of the ninth-grade squad.
Shaw was hired in July 2021 after serving as an assistant with the Bartlesville boys’ program. He inherited a program struggling with back-to-back single-digit win seasons but led a steady year-over-year improvement. The Lady Bruins notched their first winning season in seven years in 2024-25 with a 13-12 record before finishing 17-11 this past winter.
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Bartlesville Lady Bruins head basketball coach Justyn Shaw is leaving the helm after five seasons. He was named District 3 Coach of the Year.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
Bartlesville Lady Bruins senior Kenzie Denny (25) received postseason honors.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
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The 2025-26 season was fueled by a roster of seasoned leaders. Senior Sami Sheaffer, a University of Central Arkansas signee, anchored the offense by averaging 20.6 points per game. Sheaffer’s standout performance earned her District Player of the Year and All-State honors. She was flanked by fellow seniors Kenzie Denny, a floor veteran who led the team in assists (4.4) and steals (2.2), and Cadence Gray, who led the squad with 6.0 rebounds per game. The postseason saw several Bruins recognized for their efforts, as Sheaffer, Denny, and fellow standout Emma Zimmerman were all selected as Northeast Oklahoma All-Stars.
Reflecting on the bond of the senior-heavy squad following the state quarterfinal game, Sheaffer noted the significance of their final run. "This season has been incredibly special for all of us," Sheaffer said. "I think going into overtime showed how hard we fought and how much heart our team has."
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Bartlesville Lady Bruins seniors Cadence Gray, left, and Emma Zimmerman (5) battle for the ball. Zimmerman won postseason honors.
BECKY BURCH'/Bartlesville Area Sports
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While the seniors led the way, rising talent like sophomore Shaylyn Ishem—the District Sixth Man of the Year—proved vital. The season was punctuated by a gritty postseason run where Bartlesville secured its state berth with a 34-32 thriller against Jenks, won via a clutch Zimmerman layup, and a 54-48 victory over Broken Arrow. The Lady Bruins’ season ultimately ended March 11, in a 62-55 overtime loss to Mustang in the state quarterfinals.
“The girls made history,” Shaw said following the state tournament. “The program has been to the state championship only five times in over 100 years. We told the girls that is a part of history and can never be taken away from them.”
Shaw’s efforts earned him District 3 Coach of the Year honors as the Bruins finished the year ranked No. 14 in Class 6A. Bartlesville administration confirmed that the search for Shaw’s successor began immediately following his resignation.
Bartlesville Lady Bruin Shaylyn Ishem (22) received postseason honors.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports