The biggest news to come out of Mannford athletics and quite possibly the world of 4A high school basketball statewide was the resignation of Mannford High School’s 14-year basketball coach Mike Banfield. The beloved helmsman quietly ended is career with a head coaching win-loss record of 299-176. 253-112 at Mannford. He won six Tulsa 7 Conference titles — one in 2011 at Cleveland; and five in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019 at Mannford. His successor? One of his athletes, Alex Moore, who played for Banfield in 2010.
Banfield’s final season was built on steady growth, timely wins, and a team identity that showed itself most clearly when the schedule tightened. The Pirates finished 13–11 overall, staying competitive throughout 4A play and pushing into regional action with momentum.
After early losses to Berryhill and Bristow, Mannford settled in quickly. The Pirates picked up backto- back wins at the Nowata tournament, edging Nowata 57–54 and defeating Rejoice Christian 58–44, setting the tone for a midseason run where defense and execution became the calling cards. A gritty 36–31 win over Cushing in December underscored Mannford’s ability to win low-scoring games, a theme that would repeat throughout the year.
January proved to be the strongest stretch of the season. Mannford defeated Sperry 50–27, Tuttle 59–43 at the Verdigris Tournament, and Cleveland 54–41, three wins that highlighted the Pirates’ balance and defensive discipline. Tournament play continued to favor Mannford at Pryor, where wins over Oologah 59–49 and Skiatook 52–45 showcased their ability to manage tempo and protect leads late.
Down the stretch, Mannford closed the regular season with confidence, defeating Bristow 46–38, Berryhill 51–40, Sperry 77– 24, and Cleveland 51–40. The 77–24 win over Sperry stood as the Pirates’ most dominant performance of the year, reflecting their growth on both ends of the floor.
In postseason play, Mannford’s season extended into the regional round. After a district playoff loss to Cushing, the Pirates rebounded with a 52–36 regional victory over Clinton, earning a spot in the regional final before falling to Woodward 53–40. The run validated a season defined by competitiveness and consistency rather than streaks.
Fooiball The 2025 footbal campaign marked a strong turnaround season for the Mannford Pirates, a team that came into the year looking to build on past struggles and establish a winning identity on both sides of the ball under the leadership of head coach Kenny Gooch. Mannford finished strong, with a 6-4 overall record, posting five home victories and earning competitive results in the highly challenging 3A District 2 slate.
The Pirates hade more than 260 points scored on the season and showed an ability to move the chains in multiple phases.
At the heart of Mannford’s offensive production was sophomore standout Luke Naylor, who led the team in rushing with over 107.8 yards per game and accounted for 9 rushing touchdowns, finishing as the team’s top total scorer. Senior back Brayden Rodriguez and junior J.J. Hindsman pushed the rushing attack even further, averaging 77.9 and 76.9 rushing yards per game, respectively, and combining for 12 additional rushing touchdowns. MaxPreps.com The engine was quarterback Max Moore, who provided a dual threat as both a passer and a leader on the field. Moore completed 37 of 103 throws for 662 yards, finishing with 3 passing touchdowns andsix interceptions. He carried the ball 92 times for 628 yards.
The Pirates were not just a rushing team: weapons like Hagen Anderson and Brayden Genzer contributed key receiving yards and helped stretch defenses, while senior Trey Scott offered versatility with both ball skills and run support. Mannford’s receivers and backs worked in concert to give the Pirates a multidimensional offense capable of scoring from a variety of alignments.
Defensively, Mannford was anchored by playmakers who regularly changed momentum. Senior linebacker Max Moore led the team in tackles with an impressive 9.0 tackles per game, showcasing his knack for being around the ball and rallying the defense. Rodriguez also stood out on that side of the ball with 8.1 tackles per game and 2 sacks, while the front seven created consistent pressure and gang tackling opportunities.
Turnovers were another strong suit for the Pirates, with Hindsman causing 4 forced fumbles and multiple players contributing key fumble recoveries and pass breakups. Mannford’s ability to turn defense into offense was a key factor in its margin of victory in several close games.
Mannford’s 2025 schedule featured notable wins over Sequoyah (32–22), McLoud (41–13), and Bristow (21– 18), highlighting the team’s resilience and ability to finish tight district games. Even in losses — such as a hard-fought 34–44 battle with Seminole and a challenging road trip at Perkins-Tryon — the Pirates competed with tenacity. The season closed with a loss to Sulphur on Senior Night, but not before the Pirates proved they belonged in the playoff conversation.
Fastpitch Softball Fast-pitch softball set the standard early and often. Under head coach Russell Wood, Mannford stormed through the fall with a 24–8 record, building one of the strongest resumes in the Tulsa 7 Conference. The Pirates piled up statement wins at the Cushing Tournament and Kellyville Festival, including decisive victories over Sapulpa, Glenpool, Pawhuska, Cleveland, Wyandotte, and Central Sallisaw. A 13–0 shutout of Cleveland, backto- back 10–0 wins over Seminole, and a 7–0 blanking of Cushing highlighted a pitching staff that controlled games from first pitch to last out. Mannford advanced to regional play, trading blows with Broken Bow and Vinita in a postseason run that reflected both their depth and their edge. It was a season built on pressure offense, disciplined defense, and the expectation that every game mattered.
Girls Basketball Girls basketball, led by head coach Nathan Reed, delivered one of the program’s more balanced seasons in recent memory, finishing 14–10 and pushing deep into postseason play. Mannford showed early poise with tournament wins over Nowata and Rejoice Christian, then turned January into its proving ground. The Lady Pirates defeated Cleveland, Cushing, Skiatook, Bristow, and Berryhill, repeatedly showing the ability to close games late. A 49–28 win over Cushing and a 60–57 victory against Skiatook stood out as markers of growth. In the postseason, Mannford edged Cushing 38–36 in the district playoffs before falling to Kingfisher and Woodward at regionals. The record reflected a team that competed nightly and rarely drifted from its identity.
Baseball Spring brought a more difficult road for baseball, a young Mannford squad that finished 5–23 against a demanding 4A schedule. The Pirates’ wins were earned the hard way, highlighted by a pair of dominant victories over Cleveland, 14–1 and 14–4, and a key district win over Kiefer. Even in losses, Mannford found moments of resolve, including a tight 12–11 loss to Fort Gibson and a one-run game against Skiatook. The season tested depth and development, but the flashes of offense and resilience suggested a foundation being laid beneath the record.
Boys Soccer Boys soccer closed the year with a 5–7 mark, navigating 3A play with competitiveness and flashes of attacking confidence. Mannford’s best performances came in decisive wins, including a 9–0 shutout of Wright Christian Academy, a 10–0 win over Central (Tulsa), and a late-season victory against Commerce. Losses to Bristow, Collinsville, and Sequoyah underscored the challenge of the schedule, but the Pirates showed growth in transition play and finishing as the season progressed.
Girls Soccer Girls soccer faced the steepest climb, finishing 2–12 in a year defined by experience gained the hard way. Mannford’s two wins, including a 10–0 shutout of Central (Tulsa) and a 4–1 victory over Commerce, provided bright spots in a season that demanded perseverance. Against deeper programs, the Lady Pirates continued to compete, often holding shape early before depth and experience tilted matches late.