By Trey Hunter
Sports Editor
Cris Avila wasn’t sure what was going on when Ray West called him into the coach’s office last week.
The senior had heard rumors during class that day, but didn’t quite believe what his friends had told him. Not until West asked him one question.
“How would you like to be on that wall?” West asked Avila, pointing at a wall in his office with photos of past All-State players for Okarche.
That’s when it hit him. Avila was named to the 2019 Oklahoma Coaches Association Small West All-State team, the school’s first nominee since Drew Krittenbrink in 2009.
“I was in school when it happened,” Avila said. “My friend, he likes to joke around a lot. He tapped me on the shoulder and said I had made All-State. I didn’t think it was completely true until coach West called me into his office.
“It took me a while to process and I was surprised. But I’m definitely excited.”
Avila led the Warriors in scoring, assists and steals during the 2018-19 season, helping lead the team to the 2019 Class A State Tournament for the first time since 2013. He averaged 17.6 points and just under four rebounds per game while dishing out 143 assists with 120 steals. He also led the team in three-point makes with 76 and shot over 42-percent from the field overall.
“It feels pretty good because all the hard work over the last four years has really paid off this year,” Avila said.
“It was something that just happened, not something I set out to do. I just cared about making state with the team and we did it.
“It feels nice to make the team, but it was never a personal goal. I can’t thank my teammates and coaches enough for helping me get better and my friends and family.”
West saw Avila’s improvement from earning playing time as a sophomore to becoming the team’s leader as a senior.
“His growth was something to witness,” West said of Avila’s development.
“He really worked hard at his game and was the type of guy that led by example. His work ethic and how he went about his business was a true example to the other players.”
West points to a pair of improvements that took Avila’s game on the court to the next level.
“He’s always shot the three well, but the difference between his junior year and senior year was him picking up a strong drive and a good pull-up jumper,” West said.
“We always felt like if he improves those two facets he would become an all-around player, which he did.”
Avila joins Fort Cobb-Broxton’s Kellen Hines and Cyril’s Cason Mclemore as the only three players from Class A on the Small West roster. They are joined by Duke’s Noah Claussen and Big Pasture’s Conner Boydston from Class B, Hooker’s Tate Cathart, Hobart’s Jalen Johnson and Luther’s Syrus Grisby from Class 2A and Riverside’s Hgh Edmo and Centennial’s Moun’Tae Edmundson, Jr. from Class 3A.
Avila was also named to the 2019 All-Star By Class Small West team along with senior teammate Tucker Neuenschwander. The All-State games are scheduled to be played in July.
