To Richardson, games are chances to compete
Alex Richardson didn't even get a full four years in.
But that didn't stop the Edmond Santa Fe center and Oklahoma State signee from becoming an All-State performer. Richardson will play in the Oklahoma Girls Basketball Coaches Association's large-school All-State game today in Weatherford.
Richardson, who will also play in the Oklahoma Coaches Association All State game in July, said she enjoys playing in all-star games because it's another chance to compete.
"I know a lot of girls on both sides because I have either played with them or against them,” Richardson said. "It's a whole lot of fun.”
Santa Fe coach Paul Bass said he always knew Richardson would play NCAA Division 1 basketball.
"It's not just her length,” Bass said of the 6-foot-3-inch Richardson. "She can grab a ball on a defensive rebound and literally throw it and hit the wall on the other end. We've taught our girls to run down the floor right when she gets the rebound and we made lots of fast break lay-ups because of it.
"When teams would go up to shoot the ball, they would send two players back because they feared we'd make lay-ups on them.”
Richardson moved to Stillwater this week and will take two summer classes at OSU.
"I want to lighten my load during the school year as much as possible,” Richardson said. "That's why I took two AP tests and I'm going to take summer school every summer.”
•OGBCA Hall of Fame inductees: Sherman Southard, retired former boys and girls coach at Smithville and Canadian, girls coach at Red Oak and boys coach at Talihina. Shelby Morgan, retired girls coach at Latta. Before taking over the girls program, Morgan coached boys basketball and baseball for Latta. Morgan also served as the school's principal and athletic director.
Danny Moore, retired girls coach at Vanoss, Butler, Lookeba-Sickles, Washita Heights and Alex. Moore also served on the OGBCA for 16 years and was named The Oklahoman's coach of the year in 1995.
Dennis Fine, the retired coach at Lone Wolf, Grandfield, Erick, Fairfax and Tuttle. Fine retired from Tuttle in 1985, but returned in 1989 to coach the 8th grade girls until 1997.
Jeff Maloy, former girls coach at Ada from 1991-2006. Maloy won three state championships, in 1995, 1997 and 1998. He now serves at Ada High School's assistant principal. Before coaching at Ada, Maloy coached boys and girls basketball at Madill from 1987-1991.
•Turner named coach of the year: Jenks boys swimming coach John Turner was named the national boys swimming coach of the year by the National High School Coaches Association on Friday.
In 22 years as the swimming and water polo coach at Jenks, his boys and girls teams have combined for 20 state swimming championships. The Jenks boys won their 12th title this year under Turner's direction.
His swimmers own five individual and six relay state records. Three of his swimmers have competed in the Olympic Games and he has produced six NAIA national champions, 92 high school state champions and 66 high school All-Americans
Faith 7 Game at OBU: The annual Faith 7 Basketball Game, which pits high school all-stars from Texas against their counterparts from Oklahoma, will be at Oklahoma Baptist University's Noble Complex on Sat., June 9. Players for Oklahoma's team include OU signees Blake Griffin and Cade Davis, as well at Xavier Alexander, who will play at George Washington next year.
Oklahoma well-represented: Several Oklahoma high school basketball stars will attend the 14th annual National Basketball Players Association's (NBPA) Top 100 High School Camp. Rotnei Clark of Verdigris, Daniel Orton of McGuinness, Xavier Henry of Putnam City, Keiton Page of Pawnee and Kyle Hardrick of Norman. The camp will be at in Charlottesville, Va., on the campus of the University of Virginia from June 19 through June 24. Current NBA stars such as Kobe Bryant, Richard Jefferson and Baron Davis attended the camp in the past as well as Kevin Durant and Greg Oden.
From staff and wire reports
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