Amidst tragedy in late December, the Durant Lady Lion basketball season was on the brink of collapse following the heartbreaking and heroic death of their head coach Will Robinson. But with what many might call divine intervention, the group embarked on a somewhat magical run to the Class 5A state tournament for the first time in 16 years.
Robinson, who was 36 years old, died in a tragic automobile accident on Christmas Eve while trying to save his daughter Clara, who was also lost in the accident.
Acting head coach Tony Robinson, who served three years as his son’s as- sistant, was initially reluctant to continue coaching after Will’s death. It would be a constant reminder and too hard to deal with on a daily basis.
Thanks to the drive, perseverance and faith of the Lady Lion players, Robinson knew what he must do. And despite that apprehension he found what he had preached to the team about previously – his own sanctuary on the basketball court.
“When the accident happened, I didn’t really want to coach and the players didn’t know if they really wanted to go on with the season,” Robinson commented. “The girls came by the house and asked me to coach them and at first, I thought I just couldn’t do it. But then I thought that’s what Will would want. I’m sure he would have wanted us to finish what we started, but truth be told as we moved on all the team and myself wanted to win for Will.
“The girls saved me. I didn’t know if I could come on the floor again. There were a lot of times right after the accident I sat out in the parking lot and didn’t know if I could come into the gym. Several times I almost called my assistant and said they would have to run practice that day. I made myself go in though. I just needed to be around them. I had told the girls several times that stepping on the court was like your oasis. You forget about everything that is going and you’re doing what you love. So that’s what I did. The girls were so energetic and attentive that I forgot about everything except coaching. It gave me and them a couple hours a day of not worrying about anything but doing what you love to do.”
And with that team bond in their refuge came the victories.
The Lady Lions had a 6-4 record heading into the Christmas break when Tony Robinson remembers telling his son that the team was a work in progress but should continue to get better.
They blasted rival McAlester, 76-31, in an emotional first game back on the court January 7th and proceeded to win 10 of their next 11 contests. In the process they clinched the team’s first home regional in more than a decade and a half.
The youth-laden squad was growing up right before Robinson’s eyes and getting better each time they took the court.
“After the accident they went on a mission,” Robinson said of the team that starts two juniors and three sophomores. “We were just taking them one game at a time, but we had goals that we wanted to accomplish. We wanted to host a regional and win the regional so we would be just one win away from state and that’s what the girls did.
“Thesupportwereceivedwas just amazing. People started showing up en masse for games and I told the girls that we are basically in the entertainment business. We wanted to put a product out there that people liked because if they don’t like it they won’t come back. They not only supported our girls but got involved. It’s been some of the loudest crowds I have had a team play in front of in my coaching career. The crowds were just amazing that came out and supported us every night. The regional crowd was not only there but heavily involved. People were going crazy and really provided a sixthman type atmosphere.”
While the support came in the stands during games, it has also come financially from not only the community, but state and region-wide to the Robinson family following the accident. The Will Robinson Memorial Hoop Shoot at Durant High School was just the most recent fundraiser on March 1.
Schools and teams from across the state of Oklahoma have done their part to help the cause as well, including Durant district rivals Coweta, Tahlequah and Pryor just to name a few.
“It was amazing how the community stepped up,” Robinson said. “There were so many prayers and help financially for Kristen and the kids. The support was unbelievable and other schools have been so supportive as well.
“Coweta paid for a meal for us. Tahlequah gave us a $3,000 check. Pryor wore pink, which was Clara’s favorite color. Booker T Washington’s team brought every one of the girls a rose. Other schools around the area have contributed as well. People can understand what these girls have gone through and what I’ve gone through, and the support has just truly been amazing.”
The 71-year-old Robinson’s coaching career has been dotted with success stories, including molding the Norman High School boys’ program into a powerhouse with 124 wins over six seasons, including the 1990 state championship and 1991 state runner-up campaigns. He returned to his alma mater at Southeastern to lead the men’s basketball program for 20 years, taking three teams to high national tournament finishes.
Despite those successes, the Oklahoma Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Famer feels this season is right at the top of the accomplishment list, but was quick to point out that it’s not his team.
“I’ve had some success in the past because I’ve had good players, but this is a totally different team,” Robinson stated. “They’re not incredibly talented overall but they just play together and love each other. I’ve been to the state tournament and have been fortunate enough to win a state championship. I’ve been four other times as a coach, but this one is really special.
“This is Will’s team though. They would have been just as successful if he was still here coaching. I’ve just continued what he started. He built this program from the ground up. He took over after the Lady Lions had won just one game and steadily built onto that each year. Last year they went to the area tournament for the first time in I don’t know how long, and this year hosted a regional for the first time in quite a while as well. It’s just what he built and where he would be if he was here. I just stayed out of the way. Since he’s gone I’ve stepped in and helped the girls however I can.”
Now the focus shifts to next year and Tony Robinson has agreed to continue leading the Lady Lions program for the foreseeable future, continuing to build onto the Will Robinson legacy.
One thing he is certain about though is that there has been a strong outside force driving the Durant season over the course of the past couple months.
“I’ve committed to coming back and once this season is done we’ll start working toward next year and get back in the gym this summer,” he added. “It’s all the same things Will had done because his work ethic was incredible. It will just give me and the girls a chance to continue to heal while we prepare for next year. The greatest three years of my coaching career were being Will’s assistant because I got to see him grow and become a very good coach. I enjoyed just sitting there on the bench and coming to practice. It was so much fun. He was so positive. Unbelievably positive. And he had a strong faith. He talked to the girls about being a Christian and got many of the girls involved in FCA. He was just an outstanding leader, and the girls just loved to play for him.
“I’m a decent coach and we have pretty good players but there’s definitely a higher presence here. I’m a Christian also and I truly think we’re doing things that this higher presence is allowing us to do. I think it’s allowing me and my family to start healing. It’s allowing the girls to start healing. And it’s allowing the community to start healing.”
For the Robinsons, the Lady Lions and the entire Durant community one thing is for certain.
Where there’s a WILL, there’s a way.
A prayer circle was formed Sunday afternoon before the Durant Lady Lions basketball team left for a state tournament. Acting head coach Tony Robinson is shown on the right.
