It was, as George Tiger put it, “just a matter of time.”
That moment arrives Saturday evening, Jan. 17, when Wilson High School hosts Beggs in a basketball matchup that will mark a milestone not only for the school, but for Okmulgee County basketball history.
The girls game is scheduled to tip off at 6 p.m., with the boys game to follow. But beyond the scoreboard, the night will carry added significance as Wilson hosts a Native American Appreciation and Nike N7 Night, highlighted by the first use of a shot clock in a high school basketball game in Okmulgee County.
According to Tiger, the addition of the shot clock represents a shift long seen at higher levels of the sport.
“With college sports dealing with transfer portals and NIL, it wasn’t going to be too long before some fringes of what is going on at that level would trickle down to the high school level eventually,” Tiger said.
While the shot clock has been a fixture in college basketball for decades, its arrival at the high school level particularly in rural Oklahoma – is rare. Tiger noted that Wilson may not only be the first school in the county to use the clock, but potentially the first Class B high school in the state of Oklahoma to do so.
“Fans attending the game will witness the first high school game in Okmulgee County to use a shot clock,” Tiger said. “Wilson might be the first Class B high school in Oklahoma to use the clock, which certainly would make it a historic and monumental milestone.”
The historic atmosphere will be matched by a meaningful cultural celebration. Wilson has a high enrollment of Native American students, faculty and staff, and the school is leaning into that identity throughout the evening.
Prior to the opening tip of the girls game, the Muscogee Nation Este Cate Hoktvke Soletvwv, or Native Women Warriors Color Guard, will present the colors. Adding to the moment, former Miss Muscogee Nation Jayana McIntosh will perform the National Anthem in the Mvskoke language.
The combination of cultural recognition and basketball innovation is expected to make the evening memorable for players, fans and the broader community.
“For an exciting evening of basketball, fans are encouraged to come and watch the game and the initiation of the shot clock at Wilson on Saturday night,” Tiger said.
