Birdwell, Ridenour are OCA Academic All-State

Two Kingfisher High School basketball players have picked up a prestigious academic honor.

Jarret Birdwell and Maverick Ridenour were named to the 2021 Oklahoma Basketball Coaches Association Academic All-State team.

To be nominated, players must have scored a minimum of 24 on their ACT on top of other high academic standards.

There were 120 nominees for the award statewide in all classes. Forty-five were presented the honor.

Both Birdwell and Ridenour carry 4.0 grade point averages and are members of the National Honor Society and Oklahoma Honor Society.

Birdwell has also earned his State FFA Degree and was named to the Oklahoma Coaches Association All-State football team.

Ridenour is the Student Council president and, like Birdwell, earned the 4.0 Award all four years.

He averaged 10.0 points and 1.5 rebounds while shooting a team-best 42.3 percent (71 of 168) from 3-point range as a senior.

Ridenour was named second-team all-conference in the Western Athletic Conference.

Birdwell scored 11.2 points and pulled down 5.5 rebounds. He shot 62.5 percent (125 of 200) overall.

He was a first-team pick for all-conference.

The duo helped lead KHS to a 25-1 record and the Class 4A state championship. Both have been a part of two state title teams in KHS uniforms.