Girls Play to Win After Sudden Death of Basketball Teammate and Homecoming Queen

Vian, Okla., a small town of just over 1,500 residents, mourned the loss of a hometown star while supporting their girls basketball team Saturday night in what the coach described as one of the hardest things he’d ever done. The Class 3A Wolverines fought to a 63-52 win over Haskell High School in the district playoff, but the victory was shadowed by the sudden death of beloved teammate Whitney Miller, 18, just one day before.

Miller was a senior starter and was not only a hardworking member of the basketball team, she was a softball player and a varsity cheerleader. Just six weeks ago she was crowned homecoming queen, a vision of health and beauty pictured in an article written by fellow student Brittany Cowart.

Miller was at school earlier this week, getting ready for her team’s big game, but she became very ill midweek. She was admitted to the hospital with the flu on Wednesday night. According to the Oklahoma State Department of Health, 23 other patients had been hospitalized in Oklahoma this year due to the flu, including a few cases of H1N1, also known as swine flu.

No deaths had been reported. Unfortunately, Miller reportedly suffered from asthma and was also diagnosed Friday morning with pneumonia. She died on Friday afternoon, leaving a hole in the hearts of her family, her team and her community.

Coach John Mays told the Tulsa World on Friday that he let the team make the decision whether to go ahead with their scheduled game. The girls agreed to play, for Whitney.

Danna Parrott, one of the parents from Vian, shared pictures on Facebook from the game Saturday night. Some of the Vian girls sported black armbands and “We ♥ 3″ T-shirts in honor of Miller. In a gesture of compassion and sportsmanship members of the Haskell team brought out balloons decorated with No. 3 and a card to share with the Vian girls at the end of the game.

It was a move much appreciated by the friends and fans of the Wolverines, who can use the support as they say goodbye to their friend and continue on to regional play on Thursday.

Brittany Cowart, “Basketball Homecoming 2012: Whitney Miller Crowned Queen”, Vian Public Schools
Kelly Hines, “Vian girls basketball player dies unexpectedly”, Tulsa World
Oklahoma State Department of Health, “OK Flu View”


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