Antwoine Thomas makes successful transition after moving to play at Pocola

There was no doubt that it was an adjustment by Pocola basketball player Antwoine Thomas when he switched schools last offseason. Thomas was going from Fort Smith Northside, playing in the highest classification in Arkansas, across the state line to Pocola, playing at the Class 2A level in Oklahoma.

But Thomas quickly found himself a new home, and has equally embraced playing for his new team. The 6-foot-2 senior center is more than doing his part for a Pocola squad seeking to return to the 2A title game for the third consecutive season.

“I’ve loved it, honestly, and the community here is great,” Thomas said. “The faculty here at the school helps you with everything, and the coaching is great. Then the biggest thing is the community around here; they support you with with whatever you do, and it’s truly like family.

“For sure, it was a culture change. For sure, it shocked me. But like I said, the family that we have here, they’ve helped me. … I’ve made strong bonds I’ll probably have for the rest of my life honestly.”

Thomas also has adapted well to his new coach, Derek Barlow. When Thomas arrived at Pocola, one of Barlow’s objectives was to make Thomas become more of a leader.

“I have a tendency to not really like speak out and like truly be a leader; like I can lead people in the wrong way or I can lead people in the right way,” Thomas said. “And he just really wants me to like really key into that, into leading people in the right direction and things of that nature. He’s truly helped me.”

In turn, Thomas has become a valuable component for the Indians, who lost several key performers from those back-to-back 2A state runner-up squads.

Entering the area round of the 2A playoffs, Thomas was averaging 20.4 points (including two games where he went for 29 points), 5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.2 steals per game while converting 55% of his field-goal attempts.

“Scoring in the paint, for sure (is my strength),” Thomas said. “I feel as if there’s not too many people in this class or in the state that can really like stop me from getting to where I want in the paint, if I’m being honest.”

Pocola was ranked No. 3 in 2A entering the postseason, needing to win one game in the area round the weekend of March 6-7 in order to return to state. In the Indians’ first three playoff games, they won by an average margin of 22.7 points. Thomas was also named the MVP of the LeFlore County Tournament, which Pocola won for the fifth consecutive season.

“We work every day in practice and we have a great coaching staff that helps us work as well,” Thomas said. “It’s been the players, the coaching, everything. That’s what helps us.”

And once again, Thomas reiterated the family atmosphere fostered by Barlow that has helped the Indians turn in another strong season on the court.

“I’ve already said it before, but the biggest thing is just family, we are like one big family,” Thomas said. “We joke around with each other like brothers, we argue with each other, we butt heads, but then we’ll always be back good at the end of the day. It’s just that’s the biggest thing with Pocola, when you come here, you’re gonna feel that family vibe from it. Even if it’s people you’ve never met, you’re gonna get supported in the best way possible.”

Thomas also played safety on Pocola’s football team this past fall, helping lead the Indians to their first state semifinal appearance. Although he personally likes playing basketball more than football, he’s going to play the latter sport in college. Thomas signed to play football at Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kan.

“I’m a decent basketball player, but I’m a way better football player and I know that can take me farther in the future for sure,” he said.

Before Thomas shifts to his next chapter, he’s hoping to cap a storybook year at Pocola with the first state title for the boys basketball program.

“The biggest (key to winning state) is defense; our defense needs to lead to our offense and that’s been a struggle for us for sure,” Thomas said. “Our defense hasn’t been up to par, but it’s been rolling in the right direction for sure. I feel if we have a great defensive game in all of our games and playoffs, then I don’t think we should have really too much of a problem with any teams.”