OKLAHOMA CITY — Kiana Gray finished her high school career with one more three.

Three state titles. With two different schools.

The senior sharpshooter won with Putnam City West in 2024 before title wins with Putnam City North in 2025 and Saturday’s 62-40 win over Muskogee for championship number three.

Gray has more state basketball championships than any other player Putnam City Schools history.

She has more state titles than NBA players Alvan Adams and Xavier Henry. Adams, the Oklahoma and Phoenix Suns great, won only one in 1972, Xavier Henry won in 2009 as a senior, but he was at Kansas when Original won 2010, the district’s only other back-to-back titles.

“It’s never been done in the history of the district,” Putnam City district athletic director Dick Balenseifen confirmed.

There are a bunch of girls basketball Putnam City district hall of famers without a title. Before this North run, only Carrie (Heightley) Schimmels and the 1981 West girls team and Gray’s West teammates in 2024 have tasted championship success.

On the boys side, Putnam City has state championships in 1972 (4A) , 2002, 2006, 2009 and 2010 (all in 6A). Putnam City West won the 6A title in 2016. Putnam City North followed with a 6A championship in 2018.

MORE THAN TREYS

Many observers recognize one thing from Gray’s game, that signature, high arcing shot.

“Obviously, she can shoot the ball,” Putnam City North coach Logan Martin said. “She’s struggled a little bit down the stretch this year, but I’m so proud of her for just staying in there and not letting that affect her game.”

Entering the state tournament, Gray averaged 11 points a game and had a team-leading 55 3-pointers. Last season, she averaged 12.7 points a game and drilled 67 treys. As a sophomore at West, she entered state with an average of 10.2 points per game.

Martin said there’s more to Gray’s game than 3-pointers.

“She’s one of those you still have to have on court. Her maturity and toughness, it affects the team.

“She’s kind of is the glue. Keeps everybody together.”

Gray also has performed in crunch time. She sank a 3-pointer with one second remaining to beat the same Muskogee team in double-overtime in January. A late 3-pointer in the February rematch helped keep the Roughers at arm’s length in a 7-point win which helped North to a 14-0 district record.

“Yes, she’s always due for a clutch shot.”

Once the shot comes down.

GRAY BROUGHT WEST TEAMMATES

Gray’s teammates at West, Jayla Constant and Da’Nae Jefferson played at Grind Prep as juniors before joining North season.

Martin said Gray was part of their decision to become Panthers.

“They’ve played together for a long time, and so I think they wanted to finish it out together. I’m glad they did, obviously.” 


Gray conceded the last two titles are slightly different than her first title at West, but not much.

“It depends on who I’m playing with, but it feels the same as it did sophomore year.”

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THE DECISION TO MOVE NORTH

When Ja’Ron Jefferson left West to become the Yukon boys basketball coach, the 2024 started to go their separate ways. Caya Smith graduated and is playing at OU. Da’Nae Jefferson and Constant went to Grind Prep and Gray had a decision to make.

“I didn’t want to go (to Grind) Prep. My other teammates from West, we broke up, people graduated. 
We didn’t have enough people to play basketball,” Gray said.

In her mind, it was either North or Putnam City because of where she lived.

“So I’m went to north and it was a great decision,” Gray said.

She’ll have another decision soon after capturing a gold ball. Gray said she was waiting until the end of the season to decide where she would play in college.

“I’ll let you guys know,” Gray said with a smile.

Photographs courtesy of Richard T. Clifton.