The crowd erupted with cheers and applause as Kufahl became only the fourth fan in Thunder history to execute the MidFirst Bank Half-Court Shot.
A teacher and coach at Christian Heritage Academy in Del City, Kufahl held MidFirst’s oversized $20,000 check in the air, hardly able to contain his excitement.
“It felt good from the second I released it,” he said later.
Kufahl and his teammate for the evening — his wife, Jenni — took to the hardwood during the third-quarter break to compete in the contest, a free-throw showdown of two teams hoping to win a chance to take the half-court shot.
After sinking six free throws, the Kufahls won the opportunity of a lifetime.
The contest occurs during every Thunder home game, but the chances of the shooter actually draining the shot are anything but routine.
The couple has good use for the money. Jenni Kufahl was diagnosed several months ago with stage 3 colon cancer. With mounting medical bills and seven kids at home, the shot heard ’round Oklahoma City meant a lot to the Kufahls.
Heath Kufahl said he actually had promised some of the money to his students. He hopes they don’t hold him to it.
