By Bobby Allen

SDN Sports Editor

Snyder girls athletic director and head basketball coach Mike Martin will be announced Wednesday as the coach of the Texas squad for the Texas-Oklahoma High School Girls All-Star game scheduled for July 24.

A selection committee picked Martin, who led the Lady Tigers to a 28-3 record and an area championship this year.

The success of the Lady Tigers and Martin’s past record were factors in the decision.

He will be assisted on the bench by Lubbock Monterey head coach Jill Rankin-Schneider and girls basketball pioneer Harley Redding.

“They were searching for someone who had a good season and record in the past,” Martin said. “They were looking for someone in this area. Had we had an average season, I may not have been selected. The team put me in a position to get this honor.”

Martin, who reached 600 lifetime wins this season, coached at Lakeview, Higgins, Dumas, Farwell, Sudan and Amarillo High before taking the Snyder post in 2001.

He led Sudan to a 63-game winning streak and back-to-back Class 1A state girls’ championships in 1994 and 1995. His 1994-95 team finished 39-0.

Martin was named Texas Sports Writers Association coach of the year in 1994 and 1995 and served on the board of directors of the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches.

The Texas-Oklahoma All-Star game was started in 1970 by Charles Heatly, and ran from that year until 1981.

The game had been on hiatus from 1981 until it was revived in 2002.

Texas Girls Coaches Association executive director Sam Tipton said the game was revitalized thanks in large part to Karen Knight, wife of Texas Tech basketball coach Bob Knight, who was a coach in Oklahoma.

“We decided if we were going to do it, do it first class,” Tipton said. “As a result, we wanted the best girls and coaches from each state, and Mike Martin fits that mold -- there’s no better girls basketball coach in the state than Mike Martin. He’s in a class with just a few.”

Tipton, who preceded Martin as the Snyder girls basketball coach, said he is elated by the selection of Martin both professionally and personally.

“I’m thrilled because not only is Mike a tremendous coach, he’s one of my best friends,” Tipton said.

Rosters for the teams will be announced at the press conference at United Spirit Arena in Lubbock at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Three girls from West Texas are on the roster, which includes players from all classifications. They are Darchelle Griffin from Class 2A Seagraves, Sarah Benham from Class 3A Muleshoe and Katy Pounds from 2A state champion Shallowater.

“It’s an honor anytime you are selected to coach an all-star game, especially this one,” Martin said.