‘Right fit’ leads Snider northwest

Other coaches talked to her. Other schools made offers.

But Raegan Snider always found herself looking to the northwest.

As in Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva.

That’s where the Kingfi sher High School senior will be spending her collegiate years after signing Wednesday to continue her basketball career in coach Tasha Diesselhorst’s program.

Snider’s signing took place in the APB lobby as family members, coaches, teammates, classmates and friends looked on.

“She has done an unbelievable job of putting herself in this position. She has worked really, really hard,” said KHS head coach Taylor Young.

“We’re excited to see what she does. I think this is a great fit for her.”

Snider felt the same as she began to weigh her college options.

“The culture of women’s basketball in Alva is unmatched,” Snider said. “I absolutely love high school basketball – the environment and community is such an awesome thing, but I never thought that I would be able to find somewhere that had the same vibe.

“Northwestern has that. There is a true sense of small-town basketball.”

That’s not by accident. Diesselhorst graduated from Medford before her own stellar playing career at Oklahoma Christian.

Prior to taking over at NWOSU, she coached at Pond Creek-Hunter from 2010-16. Her teams qualifi ed for state four times, won the Class A title in 2014 and was the runner- up in 2016.

Among those on her staff is her father, Randy Turney, who was a hall of fame coach at several northwestern Oklahoma high schools, including Dover.

Those on this year’s NWOSU roster hail from towns and small cities such as Mannford, Shattuck, Cherokee, Alva, Prague, Okeene, Perry, Merritt and Blanchard.

In her visits to NWOSU and her talks with Diesselhorst, Snider took notice of what the coach has built over the past nine-plus seasons.

“Coach D has created a culture that anyone would want to be a part of,” Snider said.

The culture, for Snider, was about more than basketball.

“She was the first coach who recruited me hard and believed in me. Not only does she recruit you as a player, but she recruits a person,” Snider said. “I know that I will be able to have a life along with playing basketball and the people in Alva are some of the best that you can surround yourself with.”

That’s why Snider will be moving to and wearing the Ranger red and black after high school.

“I had other offers and coaches talking to me, but Northwestern always was at the top of the pedestal,” she said. “I always found myself gravitating towards them no matter what. I really do not think there is a better fit for me.”

Snider averaged 14.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game during her junior season.

She helped lead KHS to a 24-6 record. The team fell one win shy of qualifying for state for a third straight year.

Kingfisher is tentatively slated to open its 2024-25 season Dec. 3 at home.