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July 29, 2010

Hulbert grad’s loss of sleep understandable

By Bill Steigerwald Phoenix Staff Reports

TULSA — — If Dustin Shade was tired Thursday night, it was perfectly understandable.

The Hulbert High School graduate didn’t sleep much these past few days — especially since when he found out he was going to get to play in the Oklahoma Coaches Association’s All-State boys basketball game at Oral Roberts University’s Mabee Center.

“Coach (Rhett Bynum) told me and I was so excited,” the 6-foot-4 senior said. “It’s been and a great experience to play with all of these guys. I wasn’t really nervous. We got to shoot around an hour and one-half before he game and the butterflies went away after that.”

When Oktaha’s Cale Elam opted to play in the all-state baseball game instead of the basketball contest, that opened up the opportunity for Shade.

Shade made the most of it by scoring four points, grabbing five rebounds, while dishing out three assists and   recording a steal in the Small East’s 72-69 against the West on Thursday.

Bynum, who stepped down as Hulbert’s coach after the Riders reached the state tournament, was proud of Shade’s performance.

“He played well and he was a presence on the defensive end,” Bynum said. “He went out there and played with the first group. It was nice see an all-stater from Hulbert.”

Shade joins Mark Fielden and Tony Henson as all-staters for the Riders.

Earlier this summer, Shade played in the Oklahoma Basketball Coaches All-Star and Indian All-State games. He scored nine points in eachof those games.

In the Large Schools All-State Game, the West beat the East, 91-67.

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