by By Dan Ninham (Oneida)
“You see in life many things aren’t equal but everyone gets the same 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,” said Ryley Beard. “We make time for what we truly want in life. Basketball has played a major role in shaping the person I am today.”
Riley Beard is an enrolled Apache and also descendant Tonkawa and Kiowa. She is a member of the Bear clan.
“My parents are Parker and Brenda Beard and we live in Ponca City, Oklahoma,” said Ryley.
“My Apache name is ‘KaKeYou’ meaning ‘Evening Star’. Our family name is ‘Katt’inde’ meaning ‘The Cedar People’.
“The word ‘family’ itself is so important that it means to feel secure with people around you,” said Ryley. “People who you can always count on, can always share your problems, can play with all the time, can freshen up your mood anytime. The love of a family is life’s greatest blessing.”
“I played basketball for 10 years,” said Ryley. “I am a senior at Ponca City HS. I am a 5’ 10” shooting guard, went to the Oklahoma State Tournament twice with the second one being cut short because of COVID-19.”
“I was the top three-point shooter in Oklahoma 6A my sophomore year and ranked 34th in Prep Girls Hoops my junior year. I made the All-Region team my senior year,” added Ryley.
“I prioritize academics and my GPA is 3.75,” said Ryley. “I plan on pursuing a degree in sports medicine/physical therapy.”
“My tribes core values have taught me to pride myself on strong work ethics,” said Ryley. “To give maximum effort with the determination to always work hard to get better, be prepared and to always inspire to be great. Always have a positive attitude and you can achieve anything.”
“My coaches and mentors influenced me by teaching me there are two things you can control and that are attitude and effort,” said Ryley. “Have a good attitude and put in the maximum effort in each situation you’re faced with. This will produce your best results. Positive attitude plus great effort will equal great achievements.”
“My parents, Parker and Brenda Beard, have impacted my career,” said Ryley. “Without them this journey never begins. They taught me so many lessons I will never forget and will always be grateful for.”
“I’d like to thank all my coaches I’ve had over the years,” said Ryley. “Starting with my Mom and Uncle James, Chad Chandler, John Redwine, Joe Crawford, and Jody Fincher.”
“I got the pleasure of coaching Ryley during her seventh and eighth grade year at First Lutheran School in Ponca City,” said Coach John Redwine. “The things that stood out to me were her toughness and her drive to always improve her game. I can’t even remember a time where I opened the gym for volunteer skill work or to get extra shots up that she didn’t attend. I had no doubt that she would have the opportunity to play in college because of her love for the game and her work ethic. She led by example on what it took to be great and that work ethic provided her both individual success and our team success. I’m so blessed to have the opportunity to coach her!”
“Ryley has always been a gym rat,” said Jody Fincher, head girls’ basketball coach at Ponca City HS. “She loves to be in the gym and work on her shot and it shows. As a freshman she came in and contributed immediately. Her work ethic and basketball smarts were what helped her early. Ryley got better every year as her skill level continued to improve. Her hard work was something others tried to follow.”
“In addition to my coaches, there are two other people that have played a major role in my development and they are Taylor Turner of OSU, and Jenna Plumlee from OU,” said Ryley. “I had the opportunity to have workouts with both. Jenna really gave me a different way of looking at the game. She really brought the OU experience with her.”
Taylor Turner is Ryley’s older cousin. She played basketball at NOC-Tonkawa and Oklahoma State University. She is currently a Graduate Assistant at the University of Central Oklahoma.
“I would come back home sometimes during the summer and work with Ryley,” said Taylor. “We would work on her ball handling, passing, and shooting. Working on a quick release. I would try and make as many games as I could with my own intense basketball schedule. Hoping to be able to make more games while she is at Cowley College and continue to help her develop her game.”
“I plan on helping Ryley develop her game and take it to the next level at Cowley and after Cowley,” said Taylor.
“As far as adversity goes, I would say I have overcome a lot,” said Ryley. “As a four-year starter at a 6A school, I have been in numerous games and have to play through a lot of situations. I think the hardest thing in sports isn’t always when you’re playing, but when you can’t play. The mental toughness you have to overcome to be a good teammate when you can’t play is something I know well. I’ve had multiple injuries over the years that have sidelined me at different times. Freshman year I tore the lateral meniscus in my knee, came back sophomore year to lead the state 6A in 3fg percentage. Between sophomore and junior year I had surgery for a torn labrum in my hip. Each time I rehabbed and came back stronger.”
“Looking back, I’ve been blessed to play on multiple teams that have all impacted me in different ways,” said Ryley. “Just in the last four years I’ve played with my high school, and AAU teams Swarm, Team Oklahoma, and an all native team called Otoe Ascend.”
“Over time, I’ve had tremendous support from family and friends, with this year being the most challenging of my life,” said Ryley. “I played through groin and ankle injuries most of the year. None of it compared to the last two months of the season though.”
“Ever since I started driving I’ve had the responsibility of getting my younger brothers to school,” said Ryley. “It’s something I actually enjoy most days! But the last few months it’s been different, as things have changed.”
“In February my mother was hospitalized and recently diagnosed with cancer,” said Ryley. “I wanted to do as much as I could for her to get better, while also being a senior making a run at state. As far as adversity goes, this has been the biggest challenge. I became a lot more for my brothers in a short time. Being the oldest, it’s been my responsibility to look after them while my dad stays with my mom. It’s been tough. She’s had to watch the last of my games from the hospital. Season ended early because of the virus, but with everything that I’ve been through, my only thoughts are with my mother as she fights.”
“My family and I have received the upmost support and care from the community we live in including my basketball and school families,” said Ryley.
“In the current pandemic situation I had to change my physical workouts that consists of running, playing one-on-one with my siblings and doing multiple drills and workouts,” said Ryley. “I have been and will always work on the ability to read and predict my opponents movements and playing style. My spirituality gives me strength, perseverance and courage throughout every game. I stay focused on every aspect that is going on around me and remain very confident.”
“My dad and I often talk about life,” said Ryley. “Whether I want to be good or great, and how do I want to be remembered.”
Ryley talked about the important life lessons that basketball has taught her. She said they include: “1. There is no substitute for hard work, 2. Believe in yourself, 3. Be unselfish and be a team player, 4. Overcome adversity and obstacles, 5. Discipline is important, 6. Deal with success and failure, 7. Make sacrifices and work with time management, 8. Learn to never give up, 9. Take charge, and, 10. Respect others. Continue to use what you’ve learned for the ball will stop bouncing for us all someday. One life to live! Ball Is Life!”
“Two things you can control are your attitude and your effort,” said Ryley. “Have a good attitude and put in max effort in each situation you’re faced with. This will produce your best results. Positive Attitude + Great Effort = Great Achievement.”
“My goal has always been to play at the next level,” said Ryley. “I just recently signed a full ride scholarship with Cowley College. I pride myself on strong work ethics, giving maximum effort, with the determination to always work hard to get better and be prepared. I consider myself a shooting guard who can play the 1 through 5 positions.”
Cowley College is located in Arkansas City, KS. It is a 27-mile one-way trip between home and college. The Cowley Tigers were 20-12 this past season.
“My strengths are shooting, playing big and having great court vision as well as being a leader and team player. Some of my weaknesses are dribbling and speed. I believe in order to play at the next level I will need to elevate my game with both of these weaknesses. I challenge myself in order to grow as a player,” added Ryley.
“I love to spend time in the gym working on my game as well as helping others,” said Ryley.
Photo Credit: Larry Lynn Williams
