THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Skiatook High School Athletics

Last year’s All-State football game had one of the most amazing finishes in the event’s history that dates back to 1939. On the final play, Guthrie’s Chance Whitt caught a tiebreaking 39-yard bomb from Duncan’s Luke Ring to give the West a 19-13 victory over the East. When this year’s game is played at 7 p.m. Friday at Union-Tuttle Stadium, a prime candidate to provide last-minute heroics is the East’s Shae Garner of Skiatook. Garner, who played several positions during his career, will be a cornerback and punt returner Friday, although he will be used on offense at Oklahoma Baptist as a slot receiver/H-back. “I was watching (All-State) in the stands last year,” Garner said. “Hopefully I can do it on a punt return. It’s a fun deal to play in this game.” Garner provided many late heroics for Skiatook to help the Bulldogs varsity go from being winless when he was in eighth grade to posting a combined 24-3 record over his sophomore and junior years, reaching the Class 5A state final in 2014 and semifinals in ’15. “It was a crazy ride,” Garner said. In 2015, it seemed as if Garner made key plays late in every game. Skiatook started 12-0 with seven of the wins coming by seven points or fewer. Garner’s favorite game was a 17-13 win over McAlester when he caught the winning 47-yard TD pass with 1:29 left. He also set up the Bulldogs’ other TD with a 49-yard pass and sealed the win with an interception. Another electrifying moment came a week earlier in a 28-27 win over Shawnee when he scored the winning 7-yard TD on a reverse with 2:12 left. In the 2016 opener, he scored all three Skiatook TDs, including the winning 41-yard TD catch in the fourth quarter of a 20-15 victory over Glenpool. “I’m never nervous,” Garner said. “I play each game like it’s my last one.” Garner, who is 5-foot-7 and 155 pounds, was an All-World first-team selection as he did it all for the Bulldogs last season. He had 47 catches for 940 yards and nine TDs. In addition, he carried 74 times for 419 yards and seven TDs, and passed for a touchdown. On defense, he had 100 tackles and three interceptions, plus punted and returned punts. “I want to make plays,” he said. {&sh}Kight enjoys transition Lance Kight was a coach for the Small East on Thursday in the All-State boys basketball games. It was his last boys game for a while, as he was named Hilldale’s girls coach in May. Kight was named an All-State coach a few days after being dismissed as Sperry’s boys coach. He had a 166-78 record at Sperry with at least 19 wins in each of his last six seasons. Kight led the Class 3A Pirates to their first four trips to the state tournament in 2012-15. “It was bittersweet,” Kight said. “I went from the lowest of lows to the highest of highs. The coaching fraternity was very supportive. I’ve got a great job and I’m enjoying the transition.” {&sh}Scott starts camp Terry Scott, who coached Central to three state boys basketball titles, retired as Muskogee’s coach in 2011 but is still active in teaching basketball. Last week, he was joined by his siblings, including former NBA and Oral Roberts player Alvin Scott, in the first Scott Family LETS (Life Education Through Sports) Camp in his hometown of Cleveland, Tennessee. Other volunteers returning to their hometown to help at the four-day camp that was free for the attendees included ORU Athletic Hall of Famer Greg Davis and former McLain golf coach Lloyd Ware. The Scotts want to hold the camp every year.

THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Skiatook High School Athletics

SKIATOOK'S SHAE GARNER IS CLUTCH PLAYMAKER

BARRY LEWIS

Tulsa World | 7/27/2017

PHOTO CREDIT: Barry Lewis