Sand Springs’ Lily Crain

By Mike Moguin

Sports can teach us valuable lessons in life, and Charles Page junior Lily Crain, a member of the Sand Springs girls hoops team, can relate.  

“Basketball has taught me that consistency matters,” Crain said. “It keeps me on track and affects the people around me.”

Crain’s family is from Dallas. They relocated to Sand Springs when she was 10 years old. 

Off the court, Crain serves in multiple areas at her church, including youth, worship, kids, and media. She attends CrossPoint in Sand Springs, where her father, Luke, is the lead pastor, and her mother, Jenifer, is the creative arts worship pastor. 

“So, I’m kind of like there all of the time,” Crain cheerfully said. 

“On Sundays, we’re serving on a computer in the sanctuary, kind of like on a camera and other tech stuff,” she added. “But I’m also on the worship team. I enjoy singing. It is a very big part of my life. Then I’ll go anywhere else they need me. Sometimes, I’ll serve in the kids’ ministry. I just fill in spots that need to be filled.”

Crain also has some hobbies she enjoys.

“I enjoy photography, singing, and sleeping whenever I can,” she said.

A returning starter this year for the Sandite girls, she is grateful to play for her coach, Paige Wadley.    

“I absolutely adore her. She is one of the best coaches I’ve ever had. She is a phenomenal coach,” Crain said.

A basketball accomplishment she is proud of is from her freshman year, when Sand Springs beat Owasso in overtime and reached the Class 6A Girls State Tournament. 

“To be a part of those moments is a big deal,” Crain said. “I want to thank my parents for being my biggest supporters, shoulders to lean on, and the people who have poured into me the most,” she said. “I also want to thank my amazing coaches who invest so much more than just basketball, who see me as a person, not just a player, and want to see me succeed in everything I do.”

Follow Lily on Instagram @lily_c317