Westmoore Players Make History with 1,000 Points Each

by Westmoore High School senior Delainey Cops 

Seniors Evan Barber and Zachary Hays have achieved something that only one other student at Westmoore has – they each scored their 1000th point as members of the Jags varsity basketball team. The path to this feat and being put in the record books starts when a freshman makes their first basket and the stats are collected until the last game of the player’s senior year. Barber and Hays have been playing together since they were in fourth grade.  

Barber has played basketball since he was five years old. Every year since he was a sophomore, Barber has won the All-Conference Award. At the beginning of this season, Barber had 906 points on his record. On Feb. 14, six games into the season against Deer Creek, Barber scored the final points needed to hit 1,000.  

“I knew I had just passed it, so I was pumped, but I couldn’t keep thinking about it because we were still playing. It was a memorable experience,” Barber said.  

Barber just learned he was selected to the 2023 Large School All-State Basketball team with games scheduled for July in Sapulpa. 

Hays has also played basketball since a young age. He has been able to make the COAC All-Tournament Team at many tournaments throughout his high school career. Hays started the season with approximately 700 points. On Jan. 31 Hays made the final basket needed to reach 1,000 points.  

“I knew I was going to reach 1,000 points easily. It took me starting all four years of high school to get to 1,000, but when Coach (Mike) Milwee told me that I was close, I got excited. It means so much to be a part of Westmoore’s history,” Hayes said.  

Finishing off their high school careers, Barber and Hays helped lead the team into playoffs against Choctaw on Mar. 4. Unfortunately, the team lost by a 1-point difference and did not continue on. 

After graduation this May, Barber will attend and play basketball at the University of Central Oklahoma and plans to pursue a degree in physical therapy. Hays said he looks to play basketball at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma in Chickasha and will declare a major at a later date.