By Olivia Jones
For Stillwater High School senior Khalia Moore, basketball has always been more than a sport. It’s a place where family, motivation, and personal growth intersect. As a standout forward for the Lady Pioneers, Moore has built her high school career on purpose and perseverance, driven most by the two people who look up to her the most: her little brothers. “They’re my motivation,” she says. “I want to show them what hard work looks like.”
Moore also draws strength from her biggest role model, her mom. Through every challenge, her mom’s example has shaped Moore’s mindset both on and off the court. “She always tries to stay positive, even during rough times,” Moore says. “Seeing her push through makes me want to do the same.”
At Stillwater, no teacher has influenced her more than Mrs. Bateson, her pre-nursing instructor. “She’s always there for me when I need her,” Moore says. “She’s like a grandma to me.” That support has helped Moore maintain balance as a student-athlete. With a lighter class load, she stays disciplined by completing work in class, so she rarely has homework, giving her more time to train and recover.
Success for Moore hasn’t come from talent alone. “A lot of training and patience,” she says when reflecting on what it has taken to grow in the sport. That work has paid off in multiple ways, but one moment stands above the rest: beating Bishop, a win that symbolized how far she and her team have come.
Another highlight came against Muskogee, a team that had dominated Stillwater in the past. “They normally blow us out, and we beat them,” she says proudly.
In practice, Moore pushes herself by going up against teammates Michelle and Sai, two athletes she says make her better every day. She also praises the team’s most underappreciated player, Evelyn Wagoner, who “is always ready to get in the game and compete.”
Off the court, Moore is active in HOSA and FCCLA, and when it’s game time, her hype song is “Off The Leash” by Gucci Mane. Her favorite player is A’ja Wilson, and she dreams of playing college ball at Texas Southern. If she wasn’t playing basketball? She’d be on the softball field.
For Moore, representing Stillwater means one thing: “Showing up for each other and treating each other like family.” And that’s exactly how she plays.
