Fans Show Support For Norman High School Team Racially Insulted By Announcer

Oklahomans are showing support for athletes after a high school girls basketball team was the target of a racist attack by an announcer.

Fans of the Norman High School girls basketball team gathered outside the Mabee Center Saturday morning to cheer the club before its state playoff game against Bixby. 

"It feels really sad because it's 2021 and this kind of thing shouldn't really be happening,” Norman High supporter Harper Keidel said.

In a statement, Bixby Public Schools superintendent Rob Miller said he's disgusted by racist comments made by announcer Matt Rowen that were heard during a live stream of a Thursday night playoff game.

Despite being opponents on the court, Miller said the Bixby Spartans are extending their support to the Tigers. 

Rhonda Embry, a parent of Norman forward Chantae Embry, said today's youth will be the change.

"We just got to do better," Embry said. "I just feel like we have to do better as a society." 

Embry said all the players showed great leadership in times of distress. 

"I might cry, but I am super proud of her," Embry said. "She's always stood for what she believed in and it showed this weekend. So she's just a stand up kind of girl and her girls are right behind her."