As one fan walked into tonight’s Blue & White Scrimmage in Bixby, he commented, “This feels like a high school game.”
With the level of involvement by local high schools, he certainly hit on the atmosphere the Thunder tried to create.
The Bixby High School band set up outside the arena, playing music as the crowd gathered before the team arrived. The high school spirit squad lined up to welcome the players and coaches as they entered the building, giving cheers and getting some high-fives as they walked through.
And the first fans to enter the building, getting an early look at player warm-ups were also high-schoolers. A few hundred local high school basketball players enjoyed a brief talk from Thunder broadcaster Brian Davis, then had the arena to themselves as the players first took the court – perhaps several of them dreaming of being in the NBA players’ shoes in a few short years.
Just another way the Thunder works to tie in the community during events like tonight.
- Karina Henderson
