Cortes is OBCA Region 1 POY
Kingfisher junior joined on all-district team by Stone, Rodriguez & Woody
HIGH FLYER - Kingfisher’s Bijan Cortes goes up for a dunk against Metro Christian during their Class 4A area consolation championship. The win sent KHS to the state tournament. [Photo by Kaitlin St. Cyr/www.capturedbykaitlin.com]
OBCA All-District team selections for Region 1 included, clockwise from left, Matthew Stone, Jacob Woody and Angel Rodriguez. [Photos by Russell Stitt and Chris Simon]
Bijan Cortes has nabbed one of the biggest honors an underclassman can earn in Oklahoma high school basketball.
The Kingfisher High School junior was voted as the Oklahoma Basketball Coaches Association District Player of the Year for Region 1.
It’s the second straight year for the award to go to someone from Kingfisher.
Trey Green and Jett Sternberger shared the honor last year while Cortes was named to the region’s all-district team.
The region covers 17 counties and 76 schools, mostly in northwest Oklahoma.
Cortes was one of two KHS players and four from Kingfisher County to be voted to the 2020 team by the region’s coaches.
The top vote-getter outside of Cortes was fellow KHS junior Matthew Stone.
Also on the team were Hennessey senior Angel Rodriguez and Cashion senior Jacob Woody.
Ten players plus the player of the year are voted to the all-district team.
Will Jones was voted the coach of the year. Jones coached Garber to the Class A state championship.
Cortes is considered one of the top recruits in the state in a loaded Class of 2021. The three-year starter
The three-year starter led KHS in points (21.9 per game), assists (5.8) and steals (2.6). He also pulled down 5.6 rebounds.
Stone averaged 17.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.0 steals.
Together they helped KHS to a 26-1 record and a spot in the Class 4A state tournament, which was canceled due to the coronavirus.
The Jackets, who are the reigning state champs, were ranked No. 1 all season and looking to make their fourth consecutive trip to the state finals.
Prior to a loss to Bethany in the area championship game, Kingfisher had won 47 straight games.
During the season, Cortes committed to play basketball at the University of Oklahoma.
Rodriguez averaged 17.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 2.7 steals for the Eagles. The team went 20-7 and advanced to the 3A area tournament.
Rodriguez helped the Eagles reach state twice in his career, including a spot in the 2A state title game in 2019.
For his career, Rodriguez scored more than 1,200 points.
It was his second straight year to be named to the team.
Woody was earlier named the Three Rivers Conference Player of the Year, an honor given to Rodriguez the previous season.
As a senior, Woody led Cashion with 18.0 points and 8.0 rebounds and also averaged 2.0 steals.
Cashion was 25-3 and qualified for the Class 2A state tournament. It was just the third time a Cashion boys’ team reached state and the first time since 1997.
Woody scored 1,409 career points. Also on the all-district
Also on the all-district team for the region was Jace Edelen of Arapaho-Butler.
Edelen is the son of Jay and Christy Edelen, former KHS coaches and teachers.
As a senior, Edelen guided Arapaho-Butler to the Class A state championship game where the Indians lost to Garber in double-overtime.
Following is a complete listing of the all-district team:
COACH OF THE YEAR – Will Jones, Garber
PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Bijan Cortes, Kingfisher
1. Matthew Stone, Kingfisher
2. Jerod Kerr, Hooker
3. Angel Rodriguez, Hennessey
4. Jace Edelen, Arapaho-Butler
5. Jacob Woody, Cashion
6. T.J. Bennett, Garber
7. Ty Goss, Leedey
8. Roberto Hernandez, Tyrone
9. Taye Sullivan, Garber
10. Weston Church, Fairview