Super Fans Roll Out For Tulsa Shock

Bobby Lewis, NewsOn6.com

TULSA, Oklahoma – If you've been to a Tulsa Shock game, you've seen them. They're loud, they're rowdy and they are seriously dedicated to supporting the WNBA's worst team.

"Why not? The Shock needs the support," said Garrett Havilind, who goes by "The Shocker" on game days. "Now, we're going streaking, baby!"

Don't worry. He's referring to the team's two-game winning streak.

Havilind, Chris Morris, Aaron Gill and Zebulun Benbrook are all buddies from the Oklahoma City area. They also dress up for Thunder games and even paint their chests and faces.

Now that it's Shock season, they're spreading their wings. The quartet makes the two-hour drives from Lawton, Oklahoma City and Norman to watch Teresa Edwards' team make the best of what has turned into a forgettable season.

The gang has ramped up the cheering lately. Maybe, just maybe, it's working.

"I love the game of basketball, whether it's girls or guys," said Morris, who spends $10 per game on paint for his chest. "I think we help to a point. They want to play to the crowd and if we can get them loud, the girls play a little bit better, I think."

Morris spends an hour applying all of the paint. The guys howl different chants through the games and try their best to distract opposing players while they attempt free throws.

Tulsa has won two games in a row following its league record 20-game losing streak. They beat the Los Angeles Sparks on the road and then beat the Connecticut Sun Sunday afternoon at the BOK Center.

Even when the team trailed by 11 points at halftime, there were four colorful characters screaming from the front row.

"It means a lot to us," said Gill, who penned ‘R.I.P. Sun' on his chest in bright red paint on Sunday. "You want a team out here that hopefully will go far and we want to help with that."

You can see the passionate fans empty their lungs Tuesday night when the Shock hosts the Phoenix Mercury. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.