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Holliday’s Bristow edges Benjamin’s Rigdon for Red River 22 MVP

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Holliday’s Bristow edges Benjamin’s Rigdon for Red River 22 MVP

In most seasons, either Holliday’s Keitenn Bristow or Benjamin’s Grayson Rigdon would be an easy choice to be Red River 22 boys basketball Most Valuable Player. 

Both were arguably the best players in the state in their respective classifications. 

If ever there were a year to award co-MVPs, this would be it. But that’s a designation we tend to avoid with our Red River teams. 

More: RED RIVER 22: Nocona’s Meekins edges stout competition for MVP honor

In a race as close as this year’s Kentucky Derby, it was Bristow claiming the MVP award by a nose over Rigdon, who earned Offensive Player of the Year. Hirschi senior D’Marion Gatewood was named Defensive Player of the Year while Holliday’s Kyle Tucker is Coach of the Year. 

The full team is listed below, including three athletes from Burkburnett, two from Holliday and one each from Benjamin, Hirschi, Knox City, Nocona, Rider, City View, Electra and Vernon. The team consists of seven seniors, four juniors and two sophomores. 

All stats listed below are from the regular season unless noted. 

SUPERLATIVES

MVP: KEITENN BRISTOW, SR., HOLLIDAY – Bristow was named Class 3A Player of the Year by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches after leading Holliday to the state tournament. He averaged 28 points and 10.1 rebounds per game and was also a TABC all-state selection. He signed to play basketball at Tarleton. 

OPOY: GRAYSON RIGDON, JR., BENJAMIN – Rigdon was the nation’s leading scorer, averaging 46.7 points per game during the regular season. He also averaged 10.6 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 7.7 steals. He was a TABC all-state selection and MVP of the Red River Super Six team that honors the best six-man players in the area. 

DPOY: D’MARION GATEWOOD, SR., HIRSCHI – Gatewood didn’t put up gaudy statistics but was the tone-setter for a stout Hirschi defense that allowed just 43.8 points per game.

COACH: KYLE TUCKER, HOLLIDAY – Tucker guided Holliday to its first state tournament since 1943. The Eagles went 34-3, falling in the state semifinals to Ponder.

THE TEAM

ASHTYN BERRY, SR., HOLLIDAY – Berry was a TABC all-region selection, consistently making opponents pay for giving Bristow too much attention. He was second on the team in scoring, averaging 10.6 points per game. 

OZAVIAN BUFORD, JR., BURKBURNETT – Buford’s best performances seemed to come in Burk’s biggest games. He had a breakout season with 16 points per game, shooting 39 percent from 3-point range. 

BRYSON CALLAWAY, SR., KNOX CITY – Callaway was a TABC all-state selection, leading Knox City on another deep postseason run. The senior averaged 19.7 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. Callaway was a member of the Defensive Player of the Year for the Red River Super Six football team. 

JAVIER GAYTAN, SR., NOCONA – Gaytan shared district MVP honors with teammate Brady McCasland, but was Nocona’s leading scorer, averaging 14.3 points per game and shooting 32 percent from 3-point range. 

ROBERT INGRAM, SO., BURKBURNETT – Ingram was the primary facilitator for the high-scoring Burkburnett offense, averaging 16.1 points and 4.1 assists per game. He was a TABC all-region selection. 

WILLIAM JORDAN II, SR., CITY VIEW – Jordan led City View and was fifth in the area with 18.7 points per game. He also averaged 8.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists. He was a TABC all-region selection. 

JEREMIAH MURPHY, SR., ELECTRA – Murphy averaged a double-double with 18.3 points and 11.2 rebounds per game, ranking sixth and second, respectively, in the area for those stats. He was a TABC all-region selection. 

CAIDEN REED, JR., RIDER – Reed had a breakout season for the Raiders, leading them with 16.9 points per game. He also shot 75 percent from the free-throw line. 

AYDEN WHITE, SO., BURKBURNETT – White has been one of the area’s deadliest sharpshooters, converting 42 percent of the 3-point attempts and 80 percent of his free throws. He led the Bulldogs with 16.6 points per game. 

ADARIUS WILLIAMS, JR., VERNON – Williams led a dangerous Vernon team with 15 points and 3.7 assists per game. He was a first-team all-district selection. 

Of the 13 players chosen, Bristow is the only one making a third RR22 appearance. Ingram, White, Jordan and Williams were elected for a second time.

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