In his pre-game welcome speech to a crowd of 1,500 fans, Oklahoma Native All-State Association treasurer Jacob Tsotigh said a founding goal of the group was to gain recognition for Indigenous players.
Athletes who are often overlooked in many of the traditional postseason elite squads in a wide range of sports for both girls and boys.
Shortly after El Reno High School’s loss to Tulsa Memorial in the Class 5A state quarterfinals, seniors Carter Roman Nose and Tre Davis made a slow quiet walk around the corridor of the Jim Norick Arena.
It would be the last time the two 1,000-point career scorers would take the court together.
Coaches voted for more outings from the pair, who combined for 1,016 points in their final season, selecting them to play in two of the state’s elite all-star events, the first being the Oklahoma Basketball Coaches Association’s All-Star Games Saturday.
While watching the 2025 Oklahoma Girls Basketball Coaches Association’s Large School All-State Game, El Reno head coach Jennifer Douglas could not help but have a flashback.
A very happy flashback.
El Reno High School’s Ethan Brooks wrapped up his freshman track season last week with a record-setting performance in the Stars Mile Night event in Oklahoma City.
Running at historic Taft Stadium, Brooks was among the field of 145 thinclads in the high school division. Eighty-six of those runners broke the five-minute mark for the 1,600-meter run, including Brooks.
There were eight heats, each using a pacesetter, with Brooks winning the fourth with a personal-best time of four minutes and 25.25 seconds. He was 4.77 seconds faster than the runner-up.
Russell Cook admits he had a personal motive when he went looking to rekindle the Oklahoma Native All-State Association’s football game after an 18-year hiatus.
“Originally I approached the Native All-State Association because Evan Roman Nose was initially left off the All-State team for the Oklahoma Coaches Association and we felt he was an All-State caliber player,” said Cook.
Though Roman Nose was later added to the OCA squad as an alternate, Cook felt the need to keep the process of the Native All-State game intact.
This young basketball player was sporting his Oklahoma City Thunder jersey at the recent El Reno High School Boys Youth Basketball Skills Camp.
The Thunder won the Western Conference title and will play for the NBA title starting Thursday.
Three El Reno High School graduates are among the 10 area baseball players to pick up postseason awards, the most notable coming from the Oklahoma Baseball Coaches Association.
Gavin Tinsley, Davin Shamblin and Hernan Blanco were selected to the 2025 OBCA’s Class 5A All-Star by Class West squad. It was a prerequisite to be considered for a spot on one of the three All-State teams.
The El Reno trio were joined by Calumet graduates Kyler Thiessen, Brett Reed and Carson Cooper, who were named to the OBCA’s Class B All-Star by Class West squad.
El Reno High School’s boys basketball team recently held its 2025 Youth Skills Camp inside Jenks Simmons Field House and Annex.
Forty-two campers spent three days learning offensive and defensive team fundamentals as well as individual skills on both ends of the floor. There were also challenges with awards presented at camp’s end.
WEATHERFORD – Injuries during their senior campaign forced El Reno High School’s Davin Shamblin, Hernan Blanco and Gavin Tinsley to play multiple positions throughout the season.
That diversity was on display last week as the trio played for the Large North squad in the 2025 Western Oklahoma Baseball Coaches Association’s All-Star Games.
“They really showed their diversity and I thought they played well. That’s going to help them if they go to college so they will not be locked into one position,” said El Reno head coach Keith Hill.
WEATHERFORD – Calumet High School head coach Cody Thiessen will be the first person to tell you he hates to lose any contest.
So what makes taking a 10-1 defeat, his second worst of the 2025 season, hurt any less? It happened in an All-Star game.
“It’s not the outcome I wanted but the thing is this was an All-Star game and you are trying to get everyone in the game and at least one at bat.
