Second Annual Basketball Tournament showcases talent, sportsmanship, renovations
The 2nd Annual Basketball Tournament, organized by Superintendent Travis Victory and Athletic Director Vaughn Blankenship, was held this past weekend. The three-day event, hosted in the newly renovated Blue Devil gymnasium, featured high school teams from across the area, including Billings, Erick, Bridgecreek, Grandfield, Taloga, Geary, Sweetwater and Cordell.
The highlight of the tournament was the impressive performance by the Lady Blue Devils. The team claimed the championship trophy with determination, skill, and teamwork. Two Lady Blue Devils received honors with Birdie Brown on the all tournament team and Rylee Chagolia earning the Tournament MVP award.
Although the Blue Devils fell short in the consolation round, their sportsmanship and effort earned praise from spectators and coaches alike. Their resilience and grit left fans confident in the team’ s bright future.
This year’s tournament provided Cordell Public Schools with an opportunity to showcase the historic Blue Devil gymnasium. Mr. Victory has been able to lead the way in organizing many renovations including the new wooden floor, that replaced over 50 years of rubber floors. Other recent improvements include the paint in the interior of the gym, flooring to the lobby area, a digital score table, and a complete update of the HVAC system.
Superintendent Victory expressed his pride in the project, saying, “This renovation has been a two-year endeavor, made possible by the support of the Cordell School Board. We’re thrilled to see everyone enjoying our gym and look forward to continuing to update our school facilities.”
Superintendent Victory would like to extend his thanks to the many sponsors and volunteers who made the tournament a success. Starting with Wheeler Brothers Grain Co., Principle Design Architect firm, Darryl Teal Insurance for their monetary contributions. Mike’s Meats, Bean and Ladle, and Pepsi-Cola for donating meals for the hospitality room, and the Ogles for providing a delicious concession stand at the “Blue Devil Diner.” Other sponsors included Rios Mexican restaurant and Right Here C Store as well as Ave and Co., Finally, Mr. Victory would like to thank the custodians, gatekeepers, and countless others who worked behind the scenes to ensure everything ran smoothly, without the Cordell Communities support, this tournament would not have been possible.
Reflecting on the success of the tournament, Superintendent Victory shared, “We look forward to hosting this event for years to come. Cordell has a strong tradition of basketball, and bringing a tournament back to Cordell is a great way to showcase the amazing things happening in our schools and the Cordell community.”