S P O RT S
BY: JOSH HELMER
Joe Lawson Memorial Invitational
Norman High Schools to Host Inaugural Basketball Tournament
The tournament, presented by Agility Medical Group, on Dec. 5 – 7, features a competitive mix of talent on the boys and girls sides. In addition to the two Norman schools, the boys’ tournament bracket includes Lawton Christian, Lawton MacArthur, the OKC Storm, Putnam City North, Putnam City West and Tulsa Memorial. The girls’ bracket will showcase Casady, Lawton MacArthur, the OKC Storm, Northside (Ark.), Putnam City North and Putnam City West. “We’re really excited,” said T.D. O’Hara, athletic director for Norman Public Schools. “One of the things I envisioned when I stepped into this position was to have a tournament format that we host on a consistent basis. “Ideally, what we were looking for was some way to involve both schools as co-hosts. The icing on the cake has been 54 | December 2019
the opportunity to recognize Joe Lawson… and the impact he had at both of these schools.”
nual tournament will make an impact on the Norman sports community and help Norman athletics.”
Joe Lawson died in 2017 at age 27. He was a member of Norman High’s basketball program as a player from 2004 to 2008 and served as a varsity assistant and head coach of the Norman North freshmen boys’ team from 2012 to 2016.
Putting a tournament like this together was important to Kellen McCoy, Norman North head boys’ basketball coach.
To honor his legacy, the Lawson family established the Joe B. Lawson Foundation in 2017, to provide scholarships and other benefits to the NPS athletic department and the Norman community. The foundation has been instrumental in putting this event together. TJ Lawson, one of Joe’s two older brothers, said the event means a great deal to the Lawson family. “Joe truly cared about his players as a coach. He wanted them to succeed on the court, but just as much off the court,” TJ Lawson said. “We feel that this tournament really honors Joe’s legacy as a passionate, selfless and fun-loving player and coach. The an-
When he found out that Norman High girls basketball coach, Michael Neal, was also looking to bring tournament basketball back to Norman, the two went to work to recruit an impressive field of teams. “It’s super, super awesome to be able to do this and for it all to come together,” McCoy said. “So many people love Joe and a lot of those people are wanting to be involved in some way, whether it’s donations or volunteering their time. It’s just a testament to how amazing of a guy he was and how many people’s lives he touched in the time that he was here. “I just encourage everybody to come out and watch. Come support the tournament. It’s going to be a great basketball tournament with great teams, great talent. I couldn’t be more excited.”
Photo by: Mark Doescher
T
ournament basketball is returning to Norman as Norman High and Norman North host the inaugural Joe B. Lawson Memorial Invitational.
