By Cathy Spaulding

Phoenix Staff Writer



Of all the people who prepared for Friday morning’s Muskogee High School basketball homecoming queen coronation, probably none had to hustle like Sheri Mitchum, the queen’s mother.

She said she had just gotten off a 12-hour shift at Georgia-Pacific at 7 that morning when she had to get everyone ready. Not only did she have to prepare her daughter, Sarita Mitchum, for the coronation, she also had to wake up the 5-year-old crown bearer, her son, Kentrell Mitchum.

The proud mother was all smiles as she watched Sarita glide across the basketball court Friday morning, escorted by Darnell Johnson. Both the queen and her escort wore white.

Sarita said she, too, was proud.

“She helped me a lot,” the queen said about her mother. “And I appreciate the way she sacrificed her sleep time to help me.”

Sarita said she found the whole coronation morning “overwhelming.”

“But then, I knew it would hit me harder this morning than any time this week,” she said.

And what a hectic, yet glorious morning it was.

As the MHS band played “On, Muskogee” and other fight songs before the event, science teacher and coronation coordinator Michele Hofschulte darted back and forth from where the attendants were getting ready and where the escorts were getting ready.

As they lined up by a dressing room door, the attendants became a rainbow of gowns: Auburn, light purple, red, black and white.

“The one in purple is mine,” Stephanie Brown said as she shot a picture of the attendants. Brown’s daughter was sophomore attendant Lindsey Brown, who wore a sleek lavender gown.

As he waited for his cue to walk across the court, Kentrell stood straight and rigid, clutching the white pillow that had his big sister’s crown. He, too, wore a white tuxedo with white bow tie.

Kentrell’s other sister, MHS junior Rachel Mitchum, admonished him, “Don’t get mussed, and don’t get dirty.”

Not to worry. Kentrell kept a steady pace when it was his turn to walk across the court, even as Flower Girl Ahmari Ann Conrad, who is almost 2, walked a few steps ahead of him. He paused midcourt to wave to the crowd.

Sarita and Darnell also paused midcourt as MHS students cheered.

The coronation and pep assembly also honored the Roughers boys’ and girls’ basketball teams and two charitable causes.

Hofschulte presented a check for nearly $500 to the American Red Cross so the agency can help people recover from January ice storms. The sophomore class won a trophy for collecting the most food during a recent canned food drive.

As soon as the pep and pageantry ended, decorations were removed from the basketball court to get it ready for the Roughers’ home game against Union.

Sheri Mitchum, who said she had to work Friday night and miss the game, indicated other plans.

“I’ll probably sleep,” she said. “I have a big night tonight.”



2007 Rougher basketball homecoming court



• Queen: Sarita Mitchum; Escort: Darnell Johnson.

• Freshman: Jordan Clark; Escort: Deandre’ Hamilton.

• Sophomore: Lindsey Brown; Escort: Cordero Nealy.

• Junior: Evan Sallis; Escort: Markel Taylor.

• Senior: Mariah Crutcher; Escort: L.J. Mahone.

• Flower Girl: Ahmari Ann Conrad.

• Crown Bearer: Kentrell Mitchum.



Reach Cathy Spaulding at 918-684-2928 or Click Here to Send Email