NEWEST EVENT F irst se A son ‘ complete success ’ F or F ire

By Brian Johnson Sports Editor bjohnson@news-star.com

Professional basketball was a complete success after one season in Shawnee in 2022 and many are looking forward to the 2023 season, which runs March to May with June playoffs.

The Citizen Potawatomi Nation brought the Potawatomi Fire to Shawnee to compete in The Basketball League (TBL) in 2022 and the community embraced it big time.

The Potawatomi Fire is the first pro basketball team in Oklahoma to be owned by a Native American tribe.

“It exceeded everyone’s expectations. That was in large part with the support of the community,” said David Qualls, general manager of the Fire and director of Firelake Arena, the team’s home venue. “With the exception of a few teams in the Midwest and East, we were among the league leaders in attendance and we were among the top as far as the (Central) Conference is concerned.”

It didn’t hurt that the Fire brought an exciting brand of basketball which led to an 18-6 regular season record and wins in their first three playoff games before being eliminated by the eventual Central Conference champion Shreveport Mavericks in a best 2-of-3 second-round series which lasted all three games. Shreveport went on to capture the league championship in 2022.

“I think what worked was the entertainment offering and we were able to spotlight our different dance teams,” Qualls said. “The Fire Girls were awarded the league’s most popular dance team and it was an award determined by the fans. It was cool. They were a very, very profes- sional girls dance team. Three of them are dancers at the collegiate level.”

From making public appearances in schools to players signing autographs at the completion of home games at Firelake Arena, the Fire did indeed make an impact.

“The team won. It was a good start for a first-year team and we checked a lot of boxes,” said Fire head coach Derrick Rowland. “The team did a good job on the floor and in the community with the kids, fans and schools. Obviously, we would have liked to go a little further in the playoffs, but it was good for a first year.”

As many marks were checked for the first season, Rowland was happy but not completely satisfied.

“As far as exceeding expectations, we were thinking championship. It’s all about the higher goals, But I’m happy with what we accomplished,” Rowland said. Rowland was also pleased with his players’ visibility in the community.

“Part of the thing we do when we sign players is explain to them how we go into all the schools and I was happy with their participation. We had a lot of guys who were willing to go... not only willing to go, but take pride in it,” said Rowland.

As for the play on the floor, Fire fans were entertained by the play of Deshawn Munson, who was voted TBL’s Most Valuable Player. The 6-foot, 4-inch point guard nearly averaged a triple-double for the season. His final stats were 25.8 points, 10.6 rebounds and 9.4 assists per game.

His scoring average was fifth in TBL, his assist averaged topped the league and his 2.7 steal average was third in the 45-team league.

“Munson had a phenomenal year,” said Rowland.

Munson made the All-Central Conference First Team and AllTBL First Team for 2022.

Helping that offense was shooting guard Deon Lyle who drained 79 3-pointers, which ranked fifth in TBL. Lyle finished the season with a 16.9 scoring average.

Also possessing double-digit scoring averages for the Fire were Mustapha Traore (17.7), Tevin Foster (13.2), Theo Johnson (11.7) and Anthony Allen (10.8).

Like Munson, the 7-0 center Allen averaged a double-double for the season as he corralled 10.3 boards per outing. Allen, the first player to sign with the Fire and an Oklahoma State University product, also had a 64.2 shooting percentage to lead the squad and was followed by Munson at 56%.

“He’s a unicorn. There are no other guys like him in the league,” said Rowland about Allen. “He had his ups and downs and peaks and valleys. He was an asset to us, a big part of the season.”

Rowland is hoping to get some of those same pieces back for 2023. All TBL players sign for just one season, so everyone is a free agent from year to year.

“We would like to have a lot of them back, but the purpose of the league is to elevate those guys where they can play in bigger leagues and make more money,” Rowland said.

Rowland certainly knows what it takes in building a franchise, he helped build the Albany Patroons to TBL finals in 2018 and 2019, including the 2019 playoff championship.

Rowland believes that his league experience helped lead to this season’s success and future optimism.

“I think it was having that experience in the league and knowing what it takes,” said Rowland. “I think, with a few tweaks, we can be at the top of the league.”

Firelake Arena is located at 18145 Old Rangeline Road.

McLoud has boasted the title of “Blackberry Capital of the World” ever since the town sent President Harry Truman a crate of fresh blackberries in 1949, when he bestowed the designation.

To celebrate the end of blackberry harvest season, McLoud hosts the Blackberry Festival every year in July at McLoud Veterans Memorial Park, located at Sixth and Park in McLoud.

The festival usually includes a carnival, music, vendors, cobbler eating contest and other activities, and fresh blackberries and blackberry foods for sale.

For more information, visit www.mcloudchamber.com. The McLoud Blackberry Festival is a celebration every July.

The Shawnee Police Department organizes a summer Cops N Kids event, the resurrection of a long-ago community-wide celebration encouraging interaction between law enforcement and local children. Tribal, county and state law enforcement and other emergency responders join the fun and spend the day with the community. To raise funds for Cops N Kids, the Shawnee Police Department also hosts Cornstock.

When August rolls around, it’s time for the FireFlight Balloon Festival. Shawnee is home to the FireLake Fireflight Balloon Fest, held on the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Powwow Grounds. The event brings live performers, giant kites and a display of hot air balloons for a funfilled summer day. to watch the parade featuring local bands, dancers, organizations and more. There is an arts and craft show, carnival and various food trucks. However, the greatest attraction of the event is the chance for everyone to eat the beloved Czechoslovakian pastry, the Kolache.

Balloons dance through the skies of Shawnee during the event, with a weekend filled with fun, food and more.

For more information, visit FirelakeBalloonFest. com.

For more information, visit www.praguekolachefestival.com.

SUNSHINE SHELLY’S PUMPKIN PATCH

The Prague Kolache Festival held the first Saturday of May is a popular celebration in nearby Lincoln County. Visitors are able

When autumn rolls around, Kozel Family Farms presents Sunshine Shelly’s Pumpkin

The patch offers farm-grown pumpkins, a 5-acre corn maze, kiddie maze, corn pits, hayrides, corn cannon, barrel train and fire pits, as well as a haunted corn maze at night.

Follow Sunshine Shelly’s on Facebook.

The Tecumseh Frontier Days celebration each September pays tribute to the city’s land run, which took place in September of 1891. The celebration includes food, live music, a petting zoo, food trucks, a parade and much more. The event is organized by community volunteers each year.

For more information go, visit www.facebook.com/ tecumsehfrontierdays.

Boo on Bell is one of Shawnee’s biggest festivals. A carnival, food court, vendors and music are offered as pet and human costume contests and trick-ortreating events commence in downtown Shawnee. Each year, costumed candy-seekers also collect treats from businesses along Main Street.

Around the first week in December, Shawnee puts on its annual nighttime Christmas parade along Main Street. Lining out several bandstands along the route enables residents to spread out and get a better view, while still being able to hear about floats from the emcee of their choice.