Another outstanding Page in family book of basketball

The Page family is synonymous with basketball success in Oklahoma.

David Page coached six teams to state championships at Yale and Pawnee.

He won 770 career games, which currently ranks him fifth all-time among boys coaches in Oklahoma.

His oldest son Brady Page played on two of those title teams while a standout at Yale.

He scored 2,080 career points before playing at Oklahoma Christian University. Brady has since made his mark as the Hennessey High School boys coach, far surpassing the success of any of his predecessors, coaching the Eagles to the state tournament six different times (they had been four times prior to his arrival).

That includes a state runner- up finish in 2019.

David’s youngest son is an Oklahoma preps icon.

Keiton Page won titles as a freshman and senior playing for David at Pawnee.

Along the way, he averaged 33.4 points for his career, including a state record 44.4 points a game as a senior.

His 3,709 career points is second all-time to Rotnei Clarke, who also graduated in 2008. Clarke scored 3,758.

Keiton went on to a stellar career at Oklahoma State University where he now remains an assistant on the men’s baskebtall staff.

When it comes to the “First Family of Basketball” in Oklahoma, the Pages are certainly in the discussion.

Now another Page is making HER mark. It’s Pressley Page, the 10-year-old daughter of Brady and Lindsey. The Kingfisher Heritage School third grader was nearly perfect in Chicago last weekend on the country’s biggest stage and finished as the national runner-up in the Elks Hoop Shoot, the biggest free throw competition in the country. Competing in the 8-9 yearold girls’ division (she turned 10 just last week), Pressley made all 10 of her attempts in the first round. She then knocked down 14 of 15 attempts in the second round, which put her in a tie for first. Only in a shoot-off was Page defeated for the overall championship. Ainsley Weaver of Chillicothe, Ohio, made 5 of 5 attempts in the shoot-off, two more than Pressley. It’s the best finish for a local winner since Chris Combs won the boys 8-9 year-old national competition in 1982.

There were 12 competitors in Pressley’s age group at nationals... whittled down from the tens of thousands who began the competition several weeks ago.

Pressley received a trophy that’s nearly as tall as her - one she got to carry on the plane for the flight back home - as well as a medal and other accolades during a banquet last Saturday night.

It was part of a special weekend... and a special journey.

That journey began back in January when she won the local Elks Hoop Shoot competition in Kingfisher.

After that, Pressley claimed the northwest district championship, which qualified her for state.

She won yet again at state, qualifying her for the Region 11 competition March 16 in Dallas.

All the while, she was practicing her craft.

“I shot about 75 free throws a day everyday after school,” said Pressley.

While it would make sense for her dad - an excellent shooter and coach - to be working with Pressley and giving advice....

“It was mostly my mom,” Pressley said.

And for good reason. Lindsey was no slouch on the court, earning All-State status as a high school player in Pflugerville, Texas, earning a scholarship to Oklahoma Christian University.

She started her last two years and graduated holding - wait for it - at least two free throw records.

With Lindsey leading the way, Pressley recalls making 39 in a row during one practice and more than 30 straight multiple times.

At the Region 11 competition, Pressley faced state champions from Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and New Mexico to secure her spot in the national finals.

Pressley beat them all. That sent Pressley and her family to Chicago as nationals were held in Wintrust Arena, home of not only DePaul University, but also the WNBA’s Chicago Sky.

The competition was just part of the National Finals weekend.

Finalists received their “Hoop Shoot” gear and also received personalized trading cards as well as a “Best Swishes” book with messages from friends and family.

There was shooting practice and a trivia night that included swapping the trading cards.

The banquet featured keynote speaker Chris Collins and there was a “last ball” after-party that featured snacks, a DJ and dancing with her new friends.

The family took time to take in some shopping, eating and other must-do tourist stops.

That included visiting Millennium Park, home of the famous sculpture Cloud Gate - also known as “The Bean.”

They also saw Michael Jordan’s statue outside the United Center - home of the Bulls - and then there was Pressley’s favorite: “I really liked going to the Cubs game,” she said.

The competition itself was a big-time event hosted by the Elks.

“They make everything a great experience from the setup to the competition to the banquet,” Brady said.

That included turning off the lights in the arena and playing “Sirius” by The Alan Parsons Project - the same song used by the Chicago Bulls for the starting lineups during their dynasty run of the 1990s - to introduce the contestants.

When it came time to shoot, Pressley performed her best.

“I didn’t really get nervous,” she said.

Instead, she followed her routine.

“I take two dribbles, then shoot,” she added.

She did it as well as anyone in the nation.

In fact, she even surpassed her dad and uncle.

Brady Page participated in the Elks Hoop Shoot all six years he was eligible.

His best finish was state runner-up.

Keiton took part in it one year.

Like Pressley, he made it all the way to nationals.

Like Pressley, he was tied for first before ultimately getting beat in the shootoff and was the national runner-up.

But Keiton ONLY made 23 of his free throws.

Pressley made 24. “So she gets to talk smack to Uncle Keiton for doing better than he did,” Brady said.