Basketball Game Raises Funds For Terminally-Ill Pryor Coach

Two Green Country high school basketball teams are coming together to raise money for a coach who is suffering a terminal illness.

Todd Hicks, a graduate of Tahlequah High, was the Pryor girls head basketball coach when he was diagnosed a few years ago with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a terminal illness also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord.

Saturday night's basketball game between Pryor and Tahlequah will honor Hicks. It tips off at 7:30 p.m.

The game wasn't about who won or lost, but it was about helping Hicks.

During the team warmups, both the Tahlequah Tigers and the Pryor Tigers wore matching shirts made to benefit Hicks.

"With [Tahlequah] pitching in, it really sets a tone," Pryor junior Rachel Zumstein said.

Hicks' wife can't believe the support from the two communities.

"No matter what we need, there's always been somebody we can call or somebody that calls us and says, 'what do you need and how can we help?' And they make it happen," April Hicks said.

Todd Hicks' former players are grateful the teams have come together for a good cause.

"To show outside the court it really means something," Zumstein said.

Proceeds from all donations will help with Hicks' travel and medical treatment. More than $3,500 was raised at the game.

"This will make sure that we have what he needs to be able to, you know, be Todd for as long as he can," April Hicks said.

There also will be a bean dinner and silent auction on Monday at the Tahlequah community center from 4:30-8 p.m.