For Cimarron High School senior Haily Harmon, basketball has been a defining part of her high school experience. She first picked up a basketball in fifth grade after years of watching her older brother play.
“I always looked up to my brother as a role model,” Harmon shared. “From watching him improve growing up and going to every game, to getting to be in high school with him for one year as a freshman, I always aspired to be the player he was.”
Before basketball became her main sport, Harmon spent much of her time on the softball field, and she also ran track and participated in sideline cheer.
“I think softball helped condition me and give me a taste of competition before basketball season, which made me even more excited,” she said.
That early drive has carried through her years with the Lady Blazers, where she has become known for her energy and leadership on the court.
One of her favorite memories came during her junior year at the Cimarron Winter Classic tournament. The Lady Blazers earned the runner-up title, and Harmon’s performance was one for the books, scoring over 40 points and earning a spot on the All-Tournament Team.
Cimarron head coach Tom Butler shared his thoughts on his senior point guard: “Haily will have to step up bigger this year with us losing three starters from last year. She led the team in scoring last year and will need to be very aggressive on offense and defense. Having our two leading scorers back is huge.”
Off the court, Harmon’s approach to life is centered on staying grounded.
“I try to remind myself not to kill my peace by thinking too much, and to accept things for how they are, keep my head on straight whether I’m on or off the court,” she said.
Her teammates mean the world to her, and she’s grateful for the bonds they’ve built through loud locker-room music sessions before every game.
After graduation, Harmon plans to attend Southwestern Oklahoma State University and begin building her career. Until then, you can find her on the court, leading her team with determination and maybe grabbing chicken strips after the game.
