Spiro senior Zander Riggs is a guy you can depend on, according to his basketball coach, Dustin Gist.

“He’s one of those kids that does all the little things right all the time,” Gist said. “He’s a guy I can count on all the time and plays hard at both ends of the floor. Though he averages about 10 points a game, he doesn’t really worry much about stats but wants to do what’s needed to help the team win.

“He’s one of those guys you wish you had on your team every year. He plays forward for us but if the other team presses us, he’s a good enough ball handler that I’ll have him help bring the ball down the floor because I trust him to handle it and see who’s open.”

Zander, who is also in the school’s FFA chapter, had a close-by role model growing up.

“My older brother, Branden, is my role model and I definitely looked up to him because we’ve always been close and he’s always looked out for me. Sure, we were competitive but we mostly just talked a lot of smack and it never got physical between us,” said Zander.

A three-year starter for the Bulldogs, Zander is one of the team leaders this year and his leadership philosophy is pretty simple.

“When I see things other guys don’t, I try to point it out to them and help them understand it,” he said.

His coach agrees but points out other areas that are strong leadership pluses for Zander.

“He’s really a good leader by example with the way he works hard in practice and in games,” Gist said. “But he’s also a good communicator out on the floor and lets everyone know what we’re doing. Off the court, he doesn’t talk a lot but when he does, the others listen because they know what he’s got to say is important.”

After he leaves Spiro, Zander says he plans to go to OSUIT in Okmulgee and work in heat and air, and says he knows how he would like to be remembered when he leaves high school.

“I hope people will remember me as a good person who was someone they could depend on,” said Zander, who also plays in the outfield and pitches for the Spiro baseball team.