By JEREMY SHORT
TAHLEQUAH DAILY PRESS — Tahlequah’s Matt Qualls and Keys’ Jake Duvall added another accomplishment to their stellar careers Friday when they were named to the 2009 Oklahoma Coaches Association All-State team.
Sequoyah coach Larry Grigg was honored by being named the coach of the Small East team.
Qualls was selected to the Large East club where he will play along side the state’s best players, including Bryson Pope of Jenks and Matt Reynolds of Bishop Kelley.
“It’s a pretty good honor,” said Qualls. “Not many players get to experience that. I’m proud to be a part of it.”
On the Large West squad that will oppose Qualls’ team are Memphis commit Xavier Henry of Putnam City and Donte Foster of Guthrie.
Qualls was also selected to play in the Faith 7 All-Star game as a member of the Oklahoma All-Stars. His team will play against the Texas All-Stars in June. Qualls is the first Tahlequah player to be named to the Faith 7 team.
“I watched it [Faith 7 game] way back when I was younger,” said Qualls. “It’s an honor and a good way to represent Oklahoma. I’m just going to have fun with it.”
There will be a bit of a local presence in the Small schools division as well as Sequoyah’s Larry Grigg will be the coach of the Small East team.
“It’s a good honor to get to coach the team,” said Indians coach Larry Grigg. “It will be lots of fun.”
Keys senior Jake Duvall was selected to play on the Small East team under Grigg. Duvall will play alongside players like Red Oak’s Lane Adams and Stuart Sullivan and Tyrus McGee of Stringtown.
Duvall averaged 16.6 points and 7.6 rebounds a game for the Cougars this season. He is the first Keys basketball player to be named to the team in school history.
“Jake really deserves it,” said Cougars coach Duane Jones. “He works hard, he plays basketball year-round. I’m ecstatic he got the award.”
The OCA All-State game will be played on July 30 at the Mabee Center on the campus of Oral Roberts University.
