OKC PAL Youth League – Hoops! Week 2

Feb 7, 2016

Although it’s only the second week of our new basketball league, our teams are already in mid-season form! So many of our students have never played basketball, yet their improvement is what had the crowd buzzing during Saturday’s games. The teams are gaining a better understanding of the rules of the game, offensive and defensive strategies and overall court awareness. Most importantly, they are having fun, competing and building character along the way.

As we saw during our flag football and volleyball season, as much as our coaches are interested in the athletic competition, they are most interested in their players’ attitudes and behavior—both on the court and in the classroom. Several coaches gave us valuable updates about their players and how they are doing in school. Parents have also acknowledged how the basketball league has impacted their children’s habits at home. One coach shared that the parents are happy to see their children practicing basketball at home instead of playing video games.

Our coaching staff continues to grow as well. We recently added an assistant coach who is a student at a nearby university. This college student heard about our league through a local church that has provided coaches for one of our teams. One of our other coaches invited her friend to join her on the sidelines last Saturday. Her friend had such a good time, she has already committed to come back next week and coach again!

We want to offer a special thanks to the Chavez girls’ team. They played a double header on short notice at our Webster league.

Hope in Action at the 2024 Kansas Relays

Thanks to the Simon Greiner Program, eight talented student-athletes and four coaches from John Marshall's 2023 5A state champion sprint relay teams were given a life-changing opportunity to compete on a national stage at one of the oldest and most prestigious track meets in the country, the 2024 Kansas Relays. The trip was more than just a reward for their accomplishments; it was a vivid demonstration of "Hope in Action."

Beyond 500: Coach Patrick Cudjoe Teaches Winning On and Off the Court

John Marshall boys basketball coach Patrick Cudjoe recently eclipsed 500 career wins, a milestone only a dozen other active coaches have reached. With deep roots in Oklahoma City Public Schools as a student, athlete, educator, coach, and parent, his impact on the OKCPS community continues to extend far beyond the court.

Cheering on Our Cheer Captain, Mandi Dotson

Mandi Dotson has been part of the Fields & Futures story since the very beginning, loyally and enthusiastically cheering for us through our biggest wins. Now, it's our turn to cheer on our resident cheer captain as she continues to grow the sport in her role as Director of Cheer & Youth Sports Advocate.

Fields & Futures