THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Odessa High School Athletics

Odessa High’s Ruthie Fox and Kai’Naja Walton have been best friends for years. Their bond has only been strengthened with time on and off of the court. Thursday afternoon, the Lady Bronchos’ duo took a large leap together — signing their letters of intent to play college basketball. Fox signed to play at Tarleton State University in Stephenville and Walton put pen to paper for Western New Mexico at the Odessa High Fieldhouse in front of teammates, friends and family. “When I first came here, I asked them if they had a desire to play at the next level and both of them did so I just took it to heart and made sure it’s my job to help them reach that accomplishment,” Odessa High head coach Olivia Pyburn said. “It’s going to be tough losing them because they are two very special young ladies. They lifted this program on the up and up and we got to continue going.” Fox and Walton started nearly every game for Odessa High since Pyburn took over the program two years ago. Since then, the duo emerged as the team’s leading scorers. Now they’ll be attending different Lone Star Conference schools. Both said they’ll be able to put their friendship aside for 80 minutes a year to go head-to-head on the court. Other than that, their unbreakable friendship will be just like it is now. “It’s a very strong friendship and we have a bond that cannot be broken,” Walton said. “We’re always going to be sisters.” Walton said that Lady Mustangs’ head coach Lauren Unger came to watch her play last December when Odessa High hosted Lubbock Monterey and has been in contact ever since. Before moving to Odessa, Walton lived in Albuquerque and still has family there. The four-hour drive in between Western New Mexico’s campus and Albuquerque was definitely a factor in her decision, Walton said. “Walton is pretty special,” Pyburn said. “She’s one of those kids that knows how to take directions and she doesn’t take it to heart. Whatever she sets her mind to, she’ll do it. “She wants to be a great basketball player and having that ambition and fire inside of herself and having a coach pushing her — it just helps the entire way.” Pyburn said Walton is a “silent threat” — scoring between 20 to 25 points multiple times in her Odessa High career — oblivious to those in attendance. “She’s a scrappy player and can hit a 3-pointer every now and then,” Pyburn said. “She’s going to be missed because she’s one that I can ride for 32 minutes and be okay after the game.” Walton has been influential in helping change the culture of Odessa High girls basketball as she could play under the basket and didn’t mind getting physical to get a rebound. She was equally as proficient on the perimeter and putting the ball through the net on mid-range shots. “I knew it was possible from the day I stepped in this gym,” Walton said about playing college basketball. “I knew it was going to take some time and lot of effort and work.” Fox’s future head coach, Misty Wilson, also watched her play live during the 2016-17 season. While the Lady Bronchos were in Weatherford participating in the Lady Roo Classic, Wilson made the drive up from Tarleton State to see the point guard play. Wilson texted Fox after that game and eventually convinced her to become a TexAnn. “What drew me in is when I went to go visit,” Fox said. “It was like a family bond. It was like home — like Odessa. I felt comfortable.” By playing for Tarleton State, Fox will be following in Pyburn’s footsteps. Pyburn played for the TexAnns from 2005 to 2009. Wilson was Tarleton’s assistant coach while Pyburn was at the school. “She’s the most unselfish player I’ve ever coached,” Pyburn said about Fox. “It’s hard for people to believe that because she would rather get her teammates involved before she gets herself involved. She’s grown and matured a lot on the court and in the classroom.” Fox joins a TexAnn’s program that won the Lone Star Conference Tournament this past season, while Walton is joining a Western New Mexico team that managed one Lone Star Conference win last season. “They fit really well because their athleticism will carry them a long way,” Pyburn said about Fox and Walton fitting in the Lone Star Conference. “The style of play that each (head coach) wants them to do — they fit that mold.” Walton and Fox first met when they were at separate elementary schools and didn’t talk much. Once Fox came to Odessa High from Permian as a 10th grader, their friendship took off and has only gotten stronger. And don’t think going to separate Lone Star Conference schools will change that. “The bond is unbreakable,” Fox said. “It’s unconditional love I’ve got for my sister and best friend.”

THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Odessa High School Athletics

FOX, WALTON SIGN FOR LONE STAR CONF. SCHOOL

ERIC BLUM

AO Online | 4/13/2017

PHOTO CREDIT: Jacob Ford