Collinsville advances to state for first time in 43 years
The Collinsville basketball program had been waiting a long time to punch their ticket to the Oklahoma State Tournament. After a forty-three year wait, the Cardinals pushed through to the Class 5A State Tournament this past weekend. The joy was beaming…
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Continue ReadingThe Collinsville basketball program had been waiting a long time to punch their ticket to the Oklahoma State Tournament. After a forty-three year wait, the Cardinals pushed through to the Class 5A State Tournament this past weekend. The joy was beaming off of Collinsville head coach Todd Anderson on Sunday at the state tournament coaches meeting.
“It is a great community that supports all of our sports,” said Coach Anderson. “Making the state tournament is a big deal to our community we have had a lot of support at the Regional and Area games and we hope it continues in the state tournament.”
For the seniors on the Collinsville team, this is a dream come true. There is little time to reflect on just how great the accomplishment with the daunting task of facing their first-round opponent.
“It’s an amazing feeling and a goal of mine this year,” said senior starter Peyton Dees. “Now I have to set new goals and my goal for the team is to continue to win and make it to the championship game.”
The focus of Dees says a lot about Collinsville and why they are in the state tournament. For many on the team making the state tournament seemed like an uphill battle considering it had not been done in over forty years. This group of young men will likely not realize just how far they have come this year until after the season. One of the leaders on the team Ethan Cole did a great job of putting the accomplishment into words.
“It means a lot to me, my team, and the Collinsville community,” said Cole. “To be in a drought of reaching the state tournament for 43 years and being the team to help end that drought is a great feeling. Ever since Junior High I knew Collinsville had something special and to be here now, living it is an amazing feeling. I am super excited to compete for the gold ball.”
The excitement will not just be in the players when they take the floor on Thursday. You can expect a great outpouring of fans especially since the first round will be played just a town over from Collinsville in Skiatook. It is an exciting time to be a Collinsville Cardinal.
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