Left, Oklahoma's Sara Stone competes on the beam during the Perfect 10 Challenge. Right, Justin Koon flies off Sam during the Winstar World Casino Invitational PBR tour

Left, Oklahoma's Madison Mooring puts chalk on her feet before competing on the beam during the Perfect 10 Challenge. Right, Flames pour out of a prop bull's head during the introductions of the Winstar World Casino Invitational PBR tour.

Left, Oklahoma's Rebecca Clark competes on the vault during the Perfect 10 Challenge. Right, Austin Meier flies off Mulligan Man during the Winstar World Casino Invitational PBR tour.

Competitors stand during the national anthem before the Winstar World Casino Invitational PBR tour and the Perfect 10 Challenge.

You can see more photos from the Perfect 10 Challenge by clicking here or check out more PBR tour pictures from Saturday night here.

-Bryan Terry

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Oklahoma State's Le'Bryan Nash celebrates with fans following an NCAA college basketball game between the Oklahoma State University Cowboys (OSU) and the Missouri Tigers (MU) at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Okla., Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012. Oklahoma State won 79-72. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman

Missouri's Phil Pressey (1) and Oklahoma State's Keiton Page (12) fight for the ball during an NCAA college basketball game between the Oklahoma State University Cowboys (OSU) and the Missouri Tigers (MU) at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Okla., Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman

Oklahoma State's Brian Williams celebrates with fans following an NCAA college basketball game between the Oklahoma State University Cowboys (OSU) and the Missouri Tigers (MU) at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Okla., Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012. Oklahoma State won 79-72. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman

Click here to see more photos from the game.

— Sarah Phipps…

A cactus is pictured at sunset in Paradise Valley, Ariz.

Oklahoma's Trey Millard (33) leaps over Iowa's Jordan Bernstine (4) during the Insight Bowl college football game between the University of Oklahoma (OU) Sooners and the Iowa Hawkeyes at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz., Friday, Dec. 30, 2011. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman

OU won the Insight Bowl against Iowa yesterday. Here’s a gallery from the Sooners’ 31-14 victory.

Click here to visit the Oklahoman photo galleries page to see other pictures related to the Insight and Fiesta bowls  in Arizona.

The Stanford tree cheers with fans during the Fiesta Bowl parade in Phoenix, Ariz., Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman

The Oklahoma State band marches in during the Fiesta Bowl parade in Phoenix, Ariz., Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman

Click here to go to our photo galleries page to see pictures more related to the Insight and Fiesta bowls in Arizona.

— Sarah Phipps

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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

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Oklahoma State's Justin Blackmon (81) celebrates with the crowd following the Bedlam college football game between the Oklahoma State University Cowboys and the University of Oklahoma Sooners at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman

During the celebration after yesterday’s Bedlam football game, Bryan Terry took a different angle from the rest of our team and photographed from the roof of Boone Pickens Stadium. He took some shots of the Spirit Walk from up high before the game as well. Here’s some of Bryan’s pictures from overhead.

Also, check out this gallery with other pictures from The Oklahoman of OSU’s 44-10 win over OU.

Oklahoma State fans rush the field after the Bedlam college football game between the Oklahoma State University Cowboys and the University of Oklahoma Sooners at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman

Oklahoma State fans celebrate following the Bedlam college football game between the Oklahoma State University Cowboys (OSU) and the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman

The green arms holding a camera off to the left in the above photo belong to me, by the way.

Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden (3) celebrates with fans following the Bedlam college football game between the Oklahoma State University Cowboys and the University of Oklahoma Sooners at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman

Oklahoma State fans celebrate following the Bedlam college football game between the Oklahoma State University Cowboys (OSU) and the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman

Oklahoma State's Justin Gilbert (4) celebrates with fans following the Bedlam college football game between the Oklahoma State University Cowboys (OSU) and the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman

A stretcher is passed down to the field as Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden (3) makes his way out of the crowd following the Bedlam college football game between the Oklahoma State University Cowboys and the University of Oklahoma Sooners at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman

The OSU team makes their way to the stadium during the Spirit Walk before the Bedlam college football game between the Oklahoma State University Cowboys and the University of Oklahoma Sooners at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman

And remember to check out more Bedlam football pictures in this gallery.

-Nate Billings

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Ron Millican stands under an umbrella near the door of the maintenance barn at C.B. Speegle Stadium in Oklahoma City before the high school football game between Del City and U.S. Grant on Thursday, Oct. 27, 2011. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman

Here are a couple of pictures from Thursday night’s rain-soaked football games. In addition to high school football,  the Bronchos from the University of Central Oklahoma played Black Hills State at UCO in Edmond.
You can see more pictures from Thursday night’s game by clicking here.

UCO's Terrance Davis (1) is tackled by Black Hills' Joey Brown during the college game between the University of Central Oklahoma and Black Hills State at Wantland Stadium in Edmond, Okla., Thursday, Oct. 27, 2011. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman

-John Clanton

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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…

J.D. Sims (center) of Lawton, Gaylan Towle (right), of Edmond, and other fans watch Kevin Durant walk onto the court during the US Fleet Tracking Basketball Invitational at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City Sunday, Oct. 23, 2011. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman

Kevin Durant, a few of his Thunder teammates and other locked-out NBA players, put on an exhibition game at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City on Sunday night. Here are a few of the pictures from the game that ended with Kevin Durant and the White Team ahead of Carmelo Anthony and the Blue team by a score of 176-171.

You can see more pictures from the game or read stories by Darnell Mayberry and John Rohde.

Russell Westbrook slams the ball during the US Fleet Tracking Basketball Invitational at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City Sunday, Oct. 23, 2011. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman

Michael Beasley (right) puts up a shot in front of Kevin Durant during the US Fleet Tracking Basketball Invitational at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City Sunday, Oct. 23, 2011. The White Team defeated the Blue Team 176-171. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman

-John Clanton…

Kingfisher students and a customized golf cart called "The Helmet," lead the high school football team onto the field before the YellowJackets play Bethany during their high school football game in Kingfisher, Oklahoma on Friday, Oct. 14, 2011. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman

The Helmet has been a tradition at Kingfisher High School football games since it was built in 1995. Steve Sanders and a group of his friends and Kingfisher residents built the customized golf cart out of a defective liquid fertilizer tank they bought from a manufacturer in Louisiana. Equipped with horns and flashing lights, The Helmet leads the high school football team onto the field and circles the endzone after each touchdown.

You can see more images from tonight’s high school football games by clicking here.

-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

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