The road to repeat has arrived.

No. 1 Lincoln Christian, who took home the program's first state title last year, will look to go back-to-back in Class 4A in 2025-26 and that begins this week.

Lincoln opens the season on Thursday in the Bixby Invitational Tournament, as the Bulldogs will try to take their experience from last year's 30-2 season that ended with a gold ball and do it all over again.

While expectations are high, head coach Melody Stewart, her staff and team are not getting ahead of themselves, but rather going backwards to further solidify the foundation that led to last year's historic and special season.

"Even with all the success we had last season, we've stayed committed to starting back at the foundation," Stewart said. "Early in the year we are focused on conditioning, sharpening our habits, and re-establishing the standard that was set long before this group."

Lincoln will again have to navigate a tough schedule, starting this week at the Bixby Tournament, before later competing in the Tournament of Champions at the BOK Center in Tulsa for the 6th straight year, as well as hosting the Lincoln Winter Classic and competing in the always competitive Pinnacle Conference.

"Our schedule is always going to challenge us so we want to make sure our communication, pace, and defensive intensity travel with us every single night," Stewart said. "We keep reminding the girls that success requires humility—starting fresh, staying hungry, and giving God the glory for every opportunity we are given."

For Stewart's team, it all starts with the senior class - the trio of Maddi Stewart, Kayli Atkinson and Alexis Leyva.

All three recently signed to play at the next level, with Stewart heading to Nebraska, Leyva heading to Wichita State and Atkinson going to Missouri Southern.

Increased leadership and responsibility from this group will be crucial in 2025, but after each played vital roles on and off the floor during last year's championship, the group is excited for their final year at Lincoln.

"Our seniors set the tone," Stewart said. "They've been through the battles, they've seen what it takes, and they understand the responsibility of leading a program with high expectations. The next steps for them involve becoming even more intentional communicators, raising the energy every day, and modeling consistency."

Stewart averaged a team-high 14.7 points, team-high 6.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists, along with a team-high 2.5 steals per game.

She shot 46% from the field and a team-high 82% from the line, while garnering MVP honors from several news outlets and the Pinnacle Conference.

Leyva averaged 6.3 points, four rebounds and a team high five assists last year. She also averaged 1.8 steals per game and shot 42% from the field.

She had 154 assists last season, good for 2nd in the state in assists in all classes, while also leading Class 4A and set the school record during her junior year. She was also named all-conference.

Atkinson averaged 7.5 points and 1.6 steals per game, shooting 33% from three to help the Bulldogs to the championship, taking home honorable mention all-conference recognition.

"We want them to own the locker room, push the pace in practice, and lead spiritually and emotionally as well," Stewart said. "Their growth as leaders will be just as important as their production on the court."

The remaining returners for Lincoln consist of juniors Jayla Albert and Ivey Wheeler, as well as sophomores Azariah Woodruff and Niya Willoby.

This group was also key for Lincoln during last year's run, especially Albert, and should be expected to step into larger roles in 2025-26.

"For that group, experience should turn into confidence and maturity this year," Stewart said. "We expect them to elevate their decision-making, be impact defenders, and provide stability in tough stretches where our seniors are getting a breather."

Albert had a great season for Lincoln, as she led the team with a 65% clip from the field, while also averaging 8.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game and garnering all-conference honors.

Woodruff played a big role as a freshman, shooting 50% from the floor, while averaging seven points and 1.2 steals per game.

Willoby was also big for Lincoln in her first varsity season, shooting 53% from the floor and added 5.7 points and 2.3 rebounds per game.

Wheeler burst onto the scene in the second half of the season, as the sophomore played big minutes in the playoffs and state tournament. She averaged 2.7 points, 1.5 assists and 1.4 steals per game.

Woodruff, Willoby and Wheeler were each honorable mention all-conference last year.

"They've each shown flashes where they can completely change the game," Stewart said. "This season, we're looking for them to bring that consistently—embracing their roles, staying aggressive, and being anchors on both ends of the floor."

Stewart even has a couple of newcomers that will find some minutes in the rotation that should excite Lincoln fans, including freshman Laine Dooley and sophomore Leah Moore.

"Laine Dooley and Leah Moore are newcomers who bring great energy and athleticism," Stewart said. "They are learning quickly what it takes to compete at this level. They may carve out roles off the bench. We're excited to see how we can utilize all of our weapons as the season unfolds."

Last year, Lincoln leaned on defense in the state tournament, holding opponents to a combined 28% shooting across the three wins.

That should continue this year, as the emphasis on defense will be as high or higher while defending the title.

"Defense is what carried us through the postseason and ultimately won us the gold ball," Stewart said. "That identity doesn't change because we had success. If anything, the bar has been raised."

"We expect to once again be a team that defends with discipline, toughness, and heart. When shots aren't falling, defense still travels, and it's where we try to honor God through our effort, unity, and unselfishness."

Along with communication and team-defense rotations, Stewart and her group are hoping to play faster with the basketball, as well as continuing to build depth throughout the year that can help Lincoln in March. 

"We're working on pace and execution—getting into our actions quicker and reading each other better," she said. "Offensively, we want more fluidity with some new actions involving great spacing and utilizing our passing and cutting as a primary strength."

"Defensively, we're fine-tuning rotations and communication. Part of our growth this year will be developing depth, building trust in our bench, and making sure every player understands the defensive and offensive expectations. We want to peak at the right time, not just look good in December."

Ultimately, Stewart wants to continue the brand of basketball that has made her program one of the best in the state across the last few years, as the Bulldogs are 83-3 since the start of the 2022-23 season.

That foundational pillar is simple — unselfish, team basketball.

"Staying humble, committing to an unselfish style of basketball that dies to self and elevates the team and staying connected is what we are focused on," said Stewart. "If we continue to give God the glory, maintain our identity on defense, and commit daily to the small things—communication, details, discipline—we will give ourselves a chance."

"Our chemistry, leadership, and willingness to serve one another will be just as important as our talent."

But with such success comes a lot of eyes, pressure and a target on your back.

However Stewart is consistently impressed by her player's ability to block out the distractions and focus on what matters most — themselves. 

"There's always noise when you win, but this group does a great job tuning it out," she said. "They understand expectations and are process driven which allows the pressure to fade. They are working to get the process right and winning will always be a possibility if you can do that. They also understand that pressure is a privilege."

Having broken down the door last spring will only help Stewart's team later in the season, when games again become tight and experience matters most.

"Having been through a deep playoff run, they're more composed and mature," Stewart said. "I hope our kids understand that trophies will fade but we want to focus on gratitude for the platform God has given us and the responsibility to represent Him well through our work ethic, our unity, and our character and ultimately represent Jesus to others."

Lincoln will open play on Thursday at 10 a.m. vs. Jenks JV. The Bulldogs would play at 1 p.m. vs. the winner of Sapulpa and Choctaw on Friday at 1 p.m.

The championship is Saturday night at 7 p.m.

The Bulldogs enter the 2025-26 season on a 23-game win streak and looking for the program's 6th straight state tournament trip, as well as a 4th consecutive state title game appearance.