Northeast Oklahoma students recognized for their brain power
OKLAHOMA CITY – Several area students were recognized by Miami legislator, Rep. Steve Bashore.
Afton Eagles Basketball Class A Academic State Champions
The 2024-25 Afton Eagle Basketball Team was recognized for demonstrating exceptional skill, leadership, and sportsmanship on the basketball court and in the classroom. As Academic State Champions, these team members had the highest GPA of all teams competing in the Class A Basketball tournament, with eight team members having a 4.0 GPA.
Team members recognized with citations include Zandar Mace, Brady Robinson, Ricky Barton, Blake Ford, Kendal Landrum, Griffin Robinson, Aiden Victor, Carter Landrum, Brice Noblin, Levi Turley, and Cade Wheeler. Head Coach Bryson Cottrell and Assistant Coach O. Jay Bowen were also honored.
Elijah Lee, Commerce and Hali Nair, Bluejacket
Lee, a Commerce High School junior, was paged for Bashore at the State Capitol from March 31 to April 3 and Nair served as a page from April 7 to 10.
House pages run messages to legislators while they are in the chamber debating policy and voting on measures, and they help in their Capitol offices. Pages also participate in a mock session, in which they learn legislative procedure and how to write legislation.
Nair is involved in softball, basketball, FFA, Bio Club, and Student Council and taking concurrent college classes. After high school, she plans to study nursing at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College.
Elijah is on the All-A Honor Roll at his school and is in the top 1% of his class. He's the junior class representative for Student Council. He's also a member of the National Honor Society and the Technology Student Association, serving as the eastern region reporter for Oklahoma.
After graduating from high school, Elijah plans to attend Boston University, major in biology, and later attend medical school.
Isabella McMillian, Bluejacket
McMillian was part of the Oklahoma Youth Expo, which was held at the State Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City.
Legislators participate in the Legislative & Celebrity Showmanship portion of the world's largest junior livestock show each year.
This year, Bashore and McMillian showed Buddy the goat.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Fox Sports
an hour ago
- Fox Sports
DeMarcus Cousins suspended for season, contract terminated after brawl with fans
Associated Press SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Former NBA All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins was suspended for the rest of the season in Puerto Rico's basketball league and his team terminated his contract after a brawl with fans during a game earlier this week. The 34-year-old Cousins, who played for seven teams during his NBA career, made an obscene gesture, exchanged words and grabbed the arm of a fan sitting courtside Monday night before being taken away by his teammates. Cousins received a second technical foul for his actions and was ejected. In the tunnel heading to the locker room, he argued with another fan while people in the stands threw liquids toward him. Cousins received a $4,250 fine and could face an additional one of $5,750, the Baloncesto Superior Nacional league announced late Tuesday. 'As an organization, we strongly condemn any form of violence or provocation, whether on or off the field. Safety, respect, and sportsmanship are non-negotiable values for this franchise,' the Mets said in a news release. It was Cousins' second season playing in Puerto Rico. He was averaging 18.2 points per game with nine rebounds for a team that has a 9-18 record. In his previous stint with the Mets in the 2023 season, Cousins helped the team reach the semifinals. In the NBA, Cousins averaged 19.6 points and 10.2 rebounds over 11 seasons. The four-time All-Star's best season came with Sacramento in 2016-17, when he averaged 27.8 points. After the NBA, besides his stop in Puerto Rico, Cousins also played in the Taiwan and Mongolia basketball leagues. ___ AP NBA: recommended
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
"Lot of teammates don't be as close as us three are after basketball" - Gary Payton on why he keeps close ties with his old SuperSonics teammates
"Lot of teammates don't be as close as us three are after basketball" - Gary Payton on why he keeps close ties with his old SuperSonics teammates originally appeared on Basketball Network. There are basketball teams that win games, and then there are teams that leave behind a legacy — something more emotional than what shows up in the standings. For Gary Payton, the legendary point guard whose career spanned nearly two decades, that legacy isn't just about records or playoff runs. It's about relationships. Advertisement And when he talks about his bond with his former Seattle SuperSonics teammates, it's clear that what they built together went far beyond the court. Still bonded The NBA, for all its glamour, is also a grind. Teams are built, broken and rebuilt again in a matter of years. The camaraderie often dissolves the moment players change jerseys. But for GP, the connection with some of his mates at Seattle didn't expire with their contracts. "We were very tight," the iconic point guard said. "Me and Shawn [Kemp] is very tight. Me and Coach [Geroge] Karl is very tight. But you got to understand, if we were to play each other, went through the stuff that we went through, a lot of teammates don't be as close as us three are after basketball or your sport is over." Advertisement The Sonics of the 1990s were electric. With "The Glove's" defensive fire, Shawn Kemp's thunderous dunks and George Karl's intense sideline presence, they became one of the most exciting teams in the NBA. Though they never captured a championship — falling short in the 1996 NBA Finals to Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls — they captured chemistry that has lasted decades after the final buzzer. That "stuff" wasn't light. It was the kind of pressure that either breaks a group or forges something deeper. From bitter playoff exits to front-office friction to constant scrutiny in a competitive Western Conference, the Sonics weathered a lot. Yet the bond between the core remained firm. Even after the franchise was controversially relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008, leaving Seattle without an NBA team, Gary remained a constant presence in honoring its history. He's been vocal about Seattle's need to get a team back, and he's frequently seen at reunions and charity events with former teammates. Related: "Dad, you at 17, me at 17, who was better? I said, 'Listen, son...'" - Dominique Wilkins on the moment he realized his son didn't know how great of a player he was Payton staying connected This kind of post-career loyalty isn't typical in professional sports. Most players move on. Some fall out of touch. Others let the bitterness of losses linger. But Payton, known for his trash talk and relentless competitiveness, softened as the years went by. Advertisement During his 17-year career, "The Glove" racked up nine NBA All-Star appearances, made nine All-Defensive First Teams and remains the only point guard to have ever won NBA Defensive Player of the Year. Yet what sticks most are the bonds formed. That's where the conversation shifts from tactics and titles to something far more human. For the gritty guard, the moments after basketball have only intensified the meaning of what they shared in those years. "It means so much to me because all that stuff is over," the Hall of Famer said, reflecting on his bond with his former teammate and coach. "We met each other through that. Now it's like a family, a brotherhood and I like that more." It was a relationship built on the foundation of battles fought together. When Payton and Kemp reunite today, they check in, share stories and support each other. Coach Karl, who battled cancer in later years, received nothing but public support from his former players, with Gary and Shawn showing up in both words and presence. Advertisement The SuperSonics weren't the most decorated team of the era, but their impact on Seattle, the game, and each other has proven enduring. From the 1996 Finals run to the fiery playoff clashes with the Utah Jazz and Houston Rockets, their resume is studded with unforgettable moments. Yet those moments were stepping stones to something more meaningful, a lasting brotherhood. In 2013, the same year Payton was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, he used part of his speech to salute his teammates — Kemp most notably and the franchise that shaped him. Related: "You 20-something years old and thinking you're gonna go to jail for the rest of your life" - Gary Payton recalls Kobe Bryant fearing his career was over amid off court troubles in 2003 This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Warriors Turn Heads with Steph Curry Message on Wednesday
Warriors Turn Heads with Steph Curry Message on Wednesday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Golden State Warriors pulled all the strings last season, looking to compete for an NBA title, led by All-Star point guard Steph Curry. Advertisement Curry and the Warriors turned up the heat in the second half of the season after acquiring Jimmy Butler ahead of the trade deadline. With a trio of Curry, Butler and Draymond Green, the Warriors put themselves in position to compete for an NBA title, but a second-round loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves ended their playoff run. After defeating the Houston Rockets in the first round, Golden State felt the loss of Curry, who went down with an injury in Game 1 of the second-round series. As Curry rehabs through an injury, the Warriors posted a message on the All-Star guard, seemingly showing praise for one of the best point guards in NBA history. Advertisement "Year 1 -> Year 16," posted the official social media account of the Golden State Warriors. Upon the release of the post, some fans took to social media, sharing their thoughts on Steph Curry's evolution with the Golden State Warriors. "Wow, what a journey from rookie to legend! Steph Curry's magic never gets old," said one fan. "Greatest shooter of all time, arguably the best PG of all time, THE CHEF," said another fan. "GOAT," mentioned one fan. "The version on the right is from 2021 but point taken," commented one fan. "4 championships in 16 years is crazy," said one fan. Advertisement "Top shooter, possibly best PG," said another fan. Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30).Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images Last season with the Golden State Warriors, Stephen Curry posted 24.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game. Throughout his 16-year NBA career, spent entirely with the Warriors, Curry has led the team to four NBA titles while earning 11 All-NBA honors and 11 All-Star appearances. Related: Warriors Turn Heads After NBA's Major Announcement on Sunday Related: Caitlin Clark Turns Heads with Major Announcement on Monday This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 11, 2025, where it first appeared.