Often Kingfisher’s offense is death by a million cuts. The ball finds open players, and it leads to a diversified scoring load. Today it was Ridenour putting the team on his back as he scored nearly half of the Yellowjackets’ 53 points. And it only took him 10 field goal attempts to score those 26 points. The 5 of 7 shooting from three helped, but it was more than that. He only took great quality looks and he was rolling. It doesn’t get any easier for the Yellowjackets from here on out and while the ball will likely be shared, Ridenour will likely be counted upon to keep producing big scoring nights.

It looked like it was going to be a pretty special night for Kingfisher senior guard Xavier Ridenour Xavier Ridenour 6'2" | CG Kingfisher | 2023 State OK on Friday night. It didn’t take long for Ridenour to bury a pair of three-pointers as the Yellowjackets built a 17-9 lead after one quarter, primarily from the perimeter. Ridenour would finish with 14 points in the win but he couldn’t find his groove from the perimeter that we saw early on in the first quarter. Ridenour is one of the more underrated shooters in the state and certainly doesn’t get enough credit for what he can do when his shot is falling. The duo of Ridenour and Kitchens is going to have Kingfisher in the mix once again when March rolls around but the Yellowjackets will need more players to step up over the next month with Mecklenburg done for the season.

With Kingfisher using time as their advantage in the final frame, Ridenour took advantage of Weatherford’s over eagerness to execute a text book backdoor cut for a clean layup and the extension of their lead.  This snapshot of the game is a great example of the consistent and effective offensive play of the senior standout.

The senior does an outstanding job of always playing under control, often because he plays on two feet when stopping. Once he’s landed, he’s a crafty finisher with his long arms, or a patient passer to set up his teammates with good looks. Ridenour’s play is a great example of how changing pace, patience and control can be more effective than always playing 100 miles a hour.  Along with his capabilities off the bounce, Ridenour’s three point shooting should give him the ability to contribute next year on a small college roster.

Another senior that averaged in double figures last season and came into this season with high expectations is guard Xavier Ridenour Xavier Ridenour 6'2" | CG Kingfisher | 2023 State OK . We mentioned Kitchens as being the most consistent player at the TOC. In their third place game showdown with Crossings Christian, Ridenour would be the star for the Yellowjackets. Both teams struggled offensively in that one but Ridenour was the bright spot and he was a big part of them staying in the game throughout. Ridenour definitely has the label of being the shooter on this year’s Kingfisher team and when he starts heating up from the perimeter, he’s tough to slow down. If the Yellowjackets end up making another run to the state tournament, we anticipate Ridenour to have a really strong showing throughout the next six weeks. He certainly has shown the potential to be Kingfisher’s top scoring threat.

It was a slow start for Kingfisher senior guard Xavier Ridenour Xavier Ridenour 6'2" | CG Kingfisher | 2023 State OK but he finished incredibly strong as Kingfisher fell in the third place game to Crossings Christian in a 1 VS 2 match-up in Class 4A. In addition to Ridenour, fellow senior Caden Kitchens Caden Kitchens 6'2" | SF Kingfisher | 2023 State OK had a strong showing throughout the tournament but we’re giving the nod to Ridenour here with how he finished the tourney. Ridenour’s shot was just not falling like it has for the majority of his career. But he still impacted the game in a variety of ways throughout the week. And then when it was time for one of those shots to go in, it did late in the game against Crossings that could have been the game-winner. But Crossings stunned the Yellowjackets with a put back at the buzzer.

Death, taxes and Kingfisher winning at home. Nobody has been able to beat the top-ranked Yellowjackets on their home floor in years and Kingfisher got another big win Tuesday night in a highly-anticipated match-up with #6 Newcastle. Senior guard Xavier Ridenour Xavier Ridenour 6'2" | CG Kingfisher | 2023 State OK would do what he’s done the last two seasons and that’s a little bit of everything. He finished with 16 points and helped lead the Yellowjackets to the 48-41 win over the visiting Racers. Kingfisher did not want to get into a track meet with the very athletic squad from Newcastle and Ridenour would lead the charge in slowing down the pace and the Yellowjackets just didn’t make many mistakes as they continue to show that they are one of the best coached teams in the state and that’s been the case for the last few years.

The first of two Yellowjackets on this list, Ridenour provided the extra scoring punch for last year’s Class 4A State Champions. The unselfish offensive attack of Kingfisher somewhat mutes the individual numbers for but there’s no question the impact his shooting provided. He often put together impressive three point shooting performances for the 28-1 Yellowjackets. This year his scoring output should increase, as he’s now stronger and more efficient as a driver.

After sitting behind his older brother and other talented Yellowjackets for his first two years, Ridenour made the most of his opportunity at a bigger role by becoming a huge factor in a new look Kingfisher squad that extended their reign with another Class 4A State Titles The long armed guard is a crafty scorer . His shooting form while slightly unorthodox is becoming more consistent and he should be among the better shooters in Class 4A. Along with being a threat from beyond the arc, he plays stronger than his wiry frame with improved finishing thanks to a nimble slashing style that helps him avoid contact on drives.