Stalwart is defined as loyal, reliable and hard-working. Those adjectives apply perfectly to Kelton Stafford, who has been a fixture of the Broken Bow Savage basketball team since he was a freshman.

Stafford’s coach, Ryan Woolsey, describes his senior stalwart. “Kelton is a great example of a program kid. He has been a member of the basketball team all four years he has been in high school and has always been where he was supposed to be when he was supposed to be there and has always had a good work ethic. That is finally paying off for him his senior year.”

Stafford admits being a fan of other sports, but says his heart is in the game of basketball. “I like to watch football, too, but basketball is my favorite sport.”

Stafford takes pride in his school’s dedication to excellence on the basketball court and explains how that success comes from putting in a lot of effort. “Broken Bow is different because of our work ethic. We try to improve and have a better team every year regardless of talent. No matter who’s on the team, the program itself works on getting better and better.”

The senior small forward’s best memories of his basketball career are connected to that process of improvement instead of a particular game or shot. His favorite memory? “The practices, I’m going to miss those a lot and just playing every day, trying to get better as a team. “

This is in spite of the fact that, as a freshman, Kelton was a member of the 2018 Savage team that played in the state tournament.  He does share some impressions from that experience. “It was really different because everybody was there; the stands (at State Fair Arena in Oklahoma City) were pretty much packed. I’d never been in an environment like that.”

Stafford and his Savage teammates qualified for the 4A state basketball tournament last season but were unable to compete when the pandemic shut down competition. 

Though quiet by nature, Kelton is full of compliments for his Broken Bow teammates. “Kieler (Young) is probably the best shooter I’ve ever seen. C.J. (Whitfield) is one of the hardest workers. (Broady) Baker is gritty around the board. “

Stafford wants his high school legacy to be based on his character. “I want to be remembered as someone who focused on their work, tried to be nice to everybody, and was just an all-around good kid.”

Kelton plans to attend college and then possibly get an advanced degree.  “I think I’d like to be a psychologist, or something similar to that.” 

Kelton Stafford’s calm, quiet demeanor and steady, reliable work ethic may well suit him in the role of counselor. Until then, he’ll fully enjoy a practice of a different kind, playing the game he loves with his friends and teammates, and making himself, them and the program better in the process.