Kendrick Perkins (5) celebrates along with fans and head coach Scott Brooks, right, after Kevin Durant (35), left, hit the game-winning shot as time expired in an NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Dallas Mavericks at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011. Oklahoma City won, 104-102. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman

I’m often asked when photographing sports who I’m rooting for. I always give the same selfish answer, “I’m rooting for good pictures.” It’s nice to see the local teams I cover do well because it’s good for our community and our business here at The Oklahoman and NewsOK, but what I really want are exciting plays that make compelling pictures.

Last night’s game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Dallas Mavericks put me through the typical thought process I have during a close game that would probably seem completely foreign to most sports fans. With 1.4 seconds left, Vince Carter hit shot to give the Mavericks the lead. At this point, things looked grim for the Thunder and fans were probably not feeling too great about the team’s chances, but I felt good because I had a nice shot of the Mavericks celebrating. If the Thunder go on to lose, I’ve made a compelling picture of the key moment of the game. If Oklahoma City pulls out a win, I’ve got a chance for more exciting photos.

Vince Carter (25) and Jason Terry (31), right, of Dallas celebrate a shot by Carter with 1.4 seconds left to give the Mavericks a 102-101 lead in the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Dallas Mavericks at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011. Kevin Durant hit a shot as time expired to give Oklahoma City a 104-102 win. In the background is Jason Kidd. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman

Kevin Durant’s buzzer beater made the above photograph worthless for the next day’s paper, but provided some nice reaction too.

Oklahoma City fans react after Kevin Durant (35) hit the game-winning shot as time expired in an NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Dallas Mavericks at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011. Oklahoma City won, 104-102. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman

Part of being a sports photographer is sometimes making good pictures that end up being worthless because of the outcome of the game. Sometimes what we wish could be the play of the game just turns out to be another dunk, turnover or touchdown, a nice shot graphically without much meaning to the story of the game. Lucky for me, in the process of ruining the need for my Dallas celebration shot, Kevin Durant gave me the opportunity for some new nice pictures.

If you’ve got the time, check out this photo gallery from the game.

-Nate Billings

 …

Renee Haley hugs a life-sized statue of her deceased son, Austin Haley, as she holds her 6-month-old daughter, Mikayla Haley, after the statue was unveiled at the Haley family's home in Noble, Okla., Monday, Oct. 24, 2011. At left is Jack Haley, Renee Haley's husband and father of Austin Haley, Mikayla Haley and the couple's two other children. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman

Five-year-old Austin Haley was killed by a Noble police officer’s stray bullet in August of 2007.  A statue created by a local artist was unveiled at the Haley family’s home in Noble on what would have been Austin’s tenth birthday, Oct. 24, 2011. Nate Billings photographed the ceremony and made a touching picture of the statue and Austin’s mother.

You can read the most recent story about Austin and watch a video about the statue by clicking here.

Also, if you haven’t lately, take a look at our photo gallery page, including the galleries from OU’s loss to Texas Tech and OSU’s win over Missouri in Columbia.

-John Clanton…

Saturday was a high-scoring day for the OU and OSU football teams. Staff photographers Chris Landsberger, Nate Billings and Bryan Terry traveled to Texas to photograph the Red River Rivalry. The final score was 55-17 in favor of OU. They captured 6 of 7 Oklahoma touchdowns.

Meanwhile, staff photographer Steve Sisney and I traveled to Stillwater to photograph the Oklahoma State v. Kansas game. OSU won, 70-28. We captured 9 out of 11 touchdowns.

For more pictures from OU v. Texas, click here.

And for OSU v. Kansas photos, click here.

Oklahoma's Tom Wort (21) celebrates after a touchdown by Oklahoma's Demontre Hurst (6) during the Red River Rivalry college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the University of Texas Longhorns (UT) at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Saturday, Oct. 8, 2011.

Oklahoma State's Jeremy Smith (31) celebrates a touchdown during the first half of the college football game between the Oklahoma State University Cowboys (OSU) and the University of Kansas Jayhawks (KU) at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Oct. 8, 2011. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman

- Sarah Phipps

 …

On Saturday, Oklahoman photographer Nate Billings and I traveled to College Station to document what could be Oklahoma State’s last contest against Texas A&M.  I produced an audio slide show from our photos and audio I collected during the game.

Texas A&M Corps of Cadets salute in the first half during a college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys (OSU) and the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman

Corps of Cadets cheer in the first half during a college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys (OSU) and the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman

Here’s a note from Nate Billings about his final trip to Texas A&M for Big 12 football coverage:

It’s a little sad for me to think that I will probably not cover another game at College Station because the Aggies are headed to the SEC. Texas A&M is where I covered my first college football game outside of Oklahoma, 13 years ago, and it is where I have covered the most road games since. I’ve always enjoyed the atmosphere and people in Aggieland. This trip was Sarah’s first time there. I’m glad she had a chance to experience a game at Kyle Field before the Aggies leave the Big 12.

Watch the slide show by clicking here

See photos from game by clicking here

— Sarah Phipps

 …

Oklahoma's Tom Wort (21) reacts after hitting Florida's Clint Trickett (9) during a college football game between the University of Oklahoma (OU) and Florida State (FSU) at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman

I learned more than I thought possible about  blimps and zeppelins during an assignment earlier this week with Staff Writer Matt Dinger. We got a close look at the Farmers Airship as it visited Oklahoma City as part of history’s longest zeppelin tour. You can read Matt’s story by clicking here.

Meanwhile, if you haven’t seen some of the other photo galleries we’ve publish in the last week, follow some of these links. Bryan Terry turned in some nice pictures from the OU Sooners’ game against Florida State. We’ve been out to the Oklahoma State Fair a few times and if you still haven’t seen pictures from Oklahoma State’s game against Tulsa then click here.

A crew member walks toward The Farmers Airship after it landed at Wiley Post Airport in Oklahoma City on Monday, September 19, 2011. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman

OSU's Justin Blackmon (81) is stopped after a catch by Alan Dock (11) and Marco Nelson (20) of TU in the first quarter during a college football game between the Oklahoma State University Cowboys (OSU) and the University of Tulsa Golden Hurricane (TU) at H.A. Chapman Stadium in Tulsa, Okla., Sunday morning, Sept. 18, 2011. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman

Nita Haynie, a client at the Oklahoma Foundation for the Disabled, laughs as she is wheeled under a limbo stick by Joy Woods during a Luau for clients and their parents or care-givers at the Oklahoma Oklahoma Foundation for the Disabled in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, September 21, 2011. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman

The Coalgate band marches during band day at the 2011 Oklahoma State Fair at State Fair Park in Oklahoma City, OK, Monday, Sept. 19, 2011. By Paul Hellstern, The Oklahoman

-John Clanton

 …

Lightning streaks across the sky during a weather delay before a college football game between the Oklahoma State University Cowboys (OSU) and the University of Tulsa Golden Hurricane (TU) at H.A. Chapman Stadium in Tulsa, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman

Chris Landsberger, Sarah Phipps and I have been shooting weather pictures in Tulsa for the last three hours while waiting for the skies to clear so that Oklahoma State can play a football game against Tulsa. The scheduled 9pm start was already the latest college football game kickoff that I’d been a part of. If we get this going, it’ll be after midnight. More as it develops…

Fans clear the stands as a storm delays the start of the college football game between the Oklahoma State University Cowboys (OSU) and the University of Tulsa Golden Hurricane (TU) at H.A. Chapman Stadium in Tulsa, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman

A fan waits out a rain delay before a college football game between the Oklahoma State University Cowboys (OSU) and the University of Tulsa Golden Hurricane (TU) at H.A. Chapman Stadium in Tulsa, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman

-Nate Billings…

Rides light up the Midway at the Oklahoma State Fair at State Fair Park in Oklahoma City on Thursday, September 15, 2011. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman

There are plenty of pictures and stories to catch up on if you haven’t been to our photo galleries page lately. The Oklahoma State Fair is underway at State Fair Park in Oklahoma City. We have photo galleries of Leon Russell’s concert and pictures from the fair on Friday. High school and college football continues as well. You can see images from Thursday night’s high school games or Friday night’s games in the metro.

Earlier this week I photographed the Goodwill Games at The Children’s Center in Bethany. Staff Writer Scott Wright wrote a story about some of the residents and patients at the Children’s Center and the obstacle course competition between Washington High School and Bethany High School. You can read Scott’s story by clicking here.

Chris Schatz reacts as he is pushed onto the field by nurse Sydney Stell (right) and music therapist Rachel Nowels at halftime of the high school football game between Bethany and Washington in Bethany, Okla., on Friday, September 16, 2011. Residents of The Children's Center played drums with the high school bands from Washington and Bethany. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman

Ada's Dillon Holder (28) breaks away from a Grant defender during a high school football game between Ada and U.S. Grant at C.B. Speegle Stadium in Oklahoma City, Friday, Sept. 16, 2011. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman

-John Clanton…

OSU's Kye Staley (9), middle, leaps on the back of Joseph Randle (1) in front of Tracy Moore (87) as they celebrate a touchdown run by Randle in the second quarter during a college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys (OSU) and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (ULL) Ragin' Cajuns at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman

Staff Photographers at The Oklahoman covered the start of the 2011-2012 college football season on Saturday. The Oklahoma Sooners beat the University of Tulsa in Norman, while in Stillwater, the Cowboys beat the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Here are a couple of pictures that the staff turned in from the games.

You can follow these links to see pictures from the OSU game or the OU game, or read more about the games by clicking here.

Sooner fans celebrate after a touchdown by Oklahoma's Dominique Whaley (8) during the college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Tulsa University Hurricanes (TU) at the Gaylord Family-Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011, in Norman, Okla. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman

Fans pass a fan through the crowd after a score during the first half of the college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Tulsa University Hurricanes (TU) at the Gaylord Family-Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011, in Norman, Okla. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman

OSU's Markelle Martin (10) defends a pass intended for Andrew Joseph (18) of ULL in the third quarter during a college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys (OSU) and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (ULL) Ragin' Cajuns at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman

Oklahoma's Landry Jones (12) and Ryan Broyles (85) celebrate after a touchdown during the college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Tulsa University Hurricanes (TU) at the Gaylord Family-Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011, in Norman, Okla. Oklahoma won 47-14. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman

Oklahoma State's Joseph Randle (1) and Tracy Moore (87)celebrate a touchdown during a college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys (OSU) and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (ULL) Ragin' Cajuns at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman

-John Clanton

 …

Casady and Heritage Hall play as the sun sets behind the stadium during their high school football game at Heritage Hall in Oklahoma City on Thursday, September 1, 2011. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman

We’ve been busy photographing scrimmages, practices and portraits, but the football season officially started on Thursday night. Every week you can see photo galleries from the high school and college games that we photograph.

Here’s some images from tonight’s games around the metro.We covered Casady versus Heritage Hall, Edmond North against Southmoore, Oklahoma Centennial against Capitol Hill and Norman versus Norman North.

You can see all the pictures we turned in by clicking here. There will be more high school games on Friday night. And on Saturday, OU and OSU start their seasons. Look for more photos from us throughout the season.

Edmond North's Jarion Tudman (1) pushes past Southmoore's Colton Shackelford (38) for a touchdown during a high school football game between Edmond North and Southmoore in Moore, Okla., Thursday, Sept. 1, 2011. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman

The Capitol Hill football team lifts their helmets during the kickoff of a football game against Oklahoma Centennial at Star Spencer in Oklahoma City, Thursday, September 1, 2011. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman

Norman High's Michael Beard (19) knocks the ball from the hands of quarterback Peyton Gavras (13) in the first half as the Norman High School Tigers play the Norman North Timberwolves at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on Thursday, Sept 1, 2011, in Norman, Okla. The Tigers recovered the ball. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman

Edmond North fans cheer during a high school football game between Edmond North and Southmoore in Moore, Okla., Thursday, Sept. 1, 2011. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman

Terry Davis of Oklahoma Centennial fights off Capitol Hill's Denny Do during a high school football game at Star Spencer in Oklahoma City, Thursday, September 1, 2011. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman

-John Clanton

 …

The sun sets during the championship game of the World Cup of Softball between the USA and Japan at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Monday, July 25, 2011. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman

Staff Photographers at The Oklahoman have been covering the World Cup of Softball out at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City for the past several days. The tournament ended with a 6-4 victory for the USA over Japan in the championship game Monday night.

Below are a few images from the competition that you may have missed. You can follow these links to see images from Team USA’s games against the Czech Republic, Canada, Australia, Saturday’s game against Japan, and Sunday’s win over Great Britain. You can also click here to see more photo galleries by staff photographers.

Kelly Grieve (2) slides into first after attempting to steal during the World Cup of Softball at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City on Friday, July 22, 2011. The USA beat Australia 5-2. Photo by Zach Gray, The Oklahoman

Michelle Moultrie (15), a left-fielder for team U.S.A., dives for a ball during a game between The United States and Great Britain at the World Cup of Softball at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Sunday, July 24, 2011. Photo by Garett Fisbeck, The Oklahoman

Magdalena Loudova (12) of the Czech Republic misses a catch for an error during a game in the World Cup of Softball at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Thursday, July 21, 2011. The USA beat the Czech Republic, 7-2. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman

USA pitcher Keilani Ricketts (10) catches the ball tossed from catcher Ashley Holcombe (23) as Japan's Eri Yamada (11) slides home to score in the first inning during a game in the World Cup of Softball between the USA and Japan at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Saturday, July 23, 2011. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman

-John Clanton…