High School

Durant’s Tony Robinson will continue to fill son’s shoes

Published

12 months ago

March 11, 2025

Durant Lady Lions Head Coach Tony Robinson speaks to his team during a timeout during their home game against the Edison Lady Eagles on February 4th. (PHOTO: Grant Merrill)

OKLAHOMA CITY – As the Durant Lady Lions continue to reel from the tragic death of their head basketball coach and his eight-year-old daughter over the Christmas holiday, there will be one piece of stability that continues at least into the next year.

Earlier in the year, legendary former Southeastern Oklahoma State University Head Coach Tony Robinson was continuing to help his son Will out as an assistant coach as both led the way for Durant. After heading into the Christmas break with a win over the Edison Eagles on a Thursday, Will Robinson and his family set out for a vacation. While making the drive from Durant to the Dallas area, their vehicle encountered flash flooding and was swept off U.S. Highway 75.

The body of the Lions’ head coach was recovered. His eight-year-old daughter Clara was never found. For the town of 20,000 where Will Robinson had grown up and played, the void is still understandably unspeakable.

If there was a bright side of the story, it would have to be the loving actions of the elder Coach Robinson. It was announced shortly after Will’s passing that Tony Robinson would return to the sidelines for one more ride as a head coach, this time filling in for the rest of the 2024-2025 basketball season. Monday, as the Lady Lions’ season came to an end at the Big House in Oklahoma City, Tony Robinson told the media he would continue his commitment to the program.

“I’ve committed to next year for the simple reason that my son started this from the ground floor. When he took it they had one win, and he built it up,” Robinson told KTEN Television after the game. “This is selfish, but I don’t want somebody coming in and taking the credit for what he worked so hard for, so I’ve committed to another year.”

Robinson is no stranger to high school sports, having played at the Big House for Northwest Classen some 55 years ago. Prior to joining the college ranks he guided Norman High School to a 53-3 record over two years, and ended up winning the Class 5A State Championship in 1991. From there, he was hired as head men’s coach at Southeastern Oklahoma State, completing a career that left him inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame.

At least for the next year, he’ll still be shaping the careers of young ladies in his care, and finishing what his son started.

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High School

OCA Announces All-Star Games Schedule, Locations

Published

8 months ago

July 7, 2025

Grant Merrill

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Coaches Association has released its full schedule for the 2025 All-State events, set to take place July 26-31 across multiple venues in the Tulsa area and central Oklahoma.

Festivities kick off Saturday, July 26, with the Old Timers Reception at 5 p.m. at the Marriott Southern Hills in Tulsa, followed by the Hall of Fame Banquet at 6:30 p.m. at the same location. Tickets for the banquet are $40 per person.

The All-State competitions begin Monday, July 28, with golf at Cherokee Hills Golf Club in Catoosa starting at 8:30 a.m., swimming at Edmond Schools Aquatic Center at 5:30 p.m., and volleyball at Frank Herald Field House in Jenks with matches beginning at 6 p.m.

Tennis matches are scheduled for Tuesday, July 29, at 5:30 p.m. at the University of Tulsa’s Michael D. Case Center. Girls basketball will also take place Tuesday at Memorial Veterans Arena in Tulsa, with games starting at 6 p.m.

Wrestling is set for Wednesday, July 30, at 7 p.m. at Catoosa High School, while boys basketball will also be held Wednesday at Memorial Veterans Arena beginning at 6 p.m.

The All-State Football Game will conclude the week’s events on Thursday, July 31, with kickoff set for 7 p.m. following pre-game festivities starting at 6:15 p.m. The OCA announced a location change for the football game, which will now be held at Crain Family Stadium at the Hurt Complex on the campus of Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee.

Tickets for all sporting events will be available at the venues on the day of the event for $10 general admission.

Pre-game festivities will begin 30 minutes prior to game time for all sports, except for football, where activities will begin 45 minutes before kickoff.

For more information on the All-State events, visit the Oklahoma Coaches Association website.