April 19, 2019 Issue, Page 12 of 14

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Page 12 The Elk City Daily News - Elk City, Oklahoma Friday, April19, 2019 Southard adds chapter to family legacy court, previously having been work to hone her skills in- years and was looking for an- named all-conference and all- cluding her time in Amateur other such victory this year. region as well as one ofthe Athletic Union basketball that Her ultimate goal, she said, top 100 girls basketball play- helped her reach her goals. was to finish in the top three ers in the state of Oklahoma When asked about statisti- in the state. as recognized by VYPE mag- cal numbers, Southard said “T have never been on the azine. The honor of all-state she really doesn’t keep up podium at state,” she said. “I though was a special goal of with her stats. am hoping this is the year.” Southard’s because of her “J just really have a pas- Southard said her highest father Mike, who was himself sion for the sport,” she said. jump is feet, 2 inches, but an all-state basketball player, “I really enjoy playing with her goal is to clear 5-6 this according to Southard. my teammates and being a year. Southard also competes “Basketball has been in my leader.” in the girls 4x100 m relay. family for as long as I can Ellison, who has coached Thanks to her athletic remember,” Southard said, Southard since she was in the talents, Southard recently noting that she started play- seventh grade, said she is one signed a scholarship with ing the sport as early as the of those rare senior athletes Oklahoma Baptist University third grade. “Basketball has who reaches out to help oth- in Shawnee. She said during always been pretty big on ers. the recruiting process there my dad’s side ofthe family. “It is hard to find seniors were several teams who were My aunt was also an all-state who will go out of their way looking at her but that she player.” to grab freshmen and help really had a close connection She said her family has them out,” Ellison said. “Moe with OBU and felt it was the been a big part of her suc- is just like that, she is going right place for her to continue cess. to take young players and put “They are my biggest sup- them under her wing. She playing basketball and fur- porters,” she said. “It is be- just does the right thing.” thering her education. cause of them that I am able In addition to basketball, Southard, a 4.0 student, Melissa Southard, #23, jumps during tip-off during an Elk City girls’ basketball game to be where I am now.” Southard is also involved plans on majoring in business this past season. Southard was recently named as an all-state basketball player by Southard’s basketball in track and field as a high at OBU. She said she would ‘the Oklahoma Girls Basketball Coaches Association. Photo by Elk City High School coach, Tim Ellison, said that jumper, another sport where like to own her own business yearbook student Ethan Williams. while Southard has some she followed in her father’s someday in a smaller commu- good genes, it is her hard footsteps. nity, like Elk City. By William B. Carroll on April 5 she got her wish, in the western part of the work that really makes her “My dad was involved in During an interview, Sports Editor earning a spot on the all-state state. The participants will stand out. high jump at the University Southard talked about the basketball team as selected compete against players from “Moe is just a hard work- of Oklahoma,” Southard said, importance of small town Elk City senior Melissa by the Oklahoma Girls Bas- the middle-east region Sat- er,” Ellison said. “She is in noting that she has competed businesses to a thriving local Southard said one of her ketball Coaches Association. urday, June 2 at 2:30 p.m. on the gym all the time. Iam in the event since the seventh economy. She said she wants goals at the beginning of the Southard was chosen to the campus of Norman North super proud of what she has grade. to give back to the commu- season was to become an represent the middle-west re- High School. become, I think she will be Southard said she won at nity and felt that contributing all-state basketball player gion, which represents play- Southard is no stranger to successful at the next level.” regionals in the high jump to the local economy was the like her father and aunt, and ers from mid-sized schools accolades on the basketball Southard credits years of her freshman and junior way to do it. Elkettes win 2, drop 2 in district Elk City junior Angel Legrand rounds the bases after hitting a 2-run homerun during the Junior pitcher Mikah Butler catches an infield flyball Monday in the Elkettes’ 17-7 win Elkettes’ 17-7 win over Burns Flat-Dill City Monday. Staff photo by William B. Carroll. over Burns Flat-Dill City. Staff photo by William B. Carroll. By William B. Carroll helped in part by two big The Elkettes would start In the nightcap, the CBA would pick up five sin- Elkettes could not find of- Sports Editor home runs in the frame by the bottom ofthe fourth with Elkettes scored 14 runs on 13 gles and a home run to come fense, managing only one run sophomore Shailee Ross and three consecutive walks fol- hits and defeated Corn Bible within one run of the Elkettes on three hits as Weatherford The Elk City slow pitch junior Aleigh Tucker. lowed by a single by junior Academy 14-5. at 6-5, but those would be the scored in every inning but the softball team had a win-some, The Elkettes would add Ashlie Odom that led to two The Elkettes started the last runs of the game for Cru- second in a 10-1 win. lose-some week when they two more runs in the second runs being scored after the scoring early, bringing home saders as the Elkettes would The Elkettes were then set picked up both wins at home courtesy of a double by junior Eagles tried to catch an Elk six runners in the bottom of score four in the second, to face Anadarko, and while Monday, but lost both games Angel Legrand and an RBI City runner in a rundown. the first inning for a 6-0 lead. three in the third and one in Elk City was able to find suc- Tuesday in the district play- single by Tucker to give them Another single by freshman Ross and Tucker both hit the fourth to take the contest cess at the plate with seven offs at Anadarko. 6-0 advantage. Emma Schreck led to another home runs, just like in the 14-5. runs on 10 hits, they could In the first game Monday, In the third inning, both run being scored giving the first contest ofthe evening, to Throughout Monday’s con- not withstand the Warriors’ the Elkettes defeated Burns teams would plate three run- Elkettes a 12-7 lead. give the Elkettes a 4-0 lead. tests, head coach Kaleb Mur- offensive barrage especially Flat-Dill City after scoring ners each for a 9-3 score. In Another single by senior Freshman Liz Salusbury ray kept reminding his team in the third inning, when the eight runs in the bottom of the top ofthe fourth the Ea- Abby Bruner plated two runs, would add a third home run that the important games the fourth inning to pull away gles would get four more runs while a home run by Legrand for back-to-back-to-back were coming Tuesday as he Warriors plated nine runs from the pesky Eagles, 17-7. to cut into the Elk City lead brought home Bruner and led dingers for a 5-0 lead. A later urged his team to eliminate on two homers, four singles The Elkettes started off 9-7, but the Elkettes would to.a 16-7 advantage for Elk single by junior Mikah But- mental errors going into dis- and two walks. The Warriors strong with four runs in the bat around the lineup in the City. Three walked batters ler finished off the scoring, trict playoffs. ended the Elkettes shot at a bottom of the first inning bottom ofthe inning, plating later, a single by sophomore bringing home Jones for a 6-0 In Tuesday’s opening dis- district title with a 17-7 win. to take a 4-0 lead over the eight runs and winning 17-7 Talynn Jones ended the game lead. trict playoff game against The loss dropped the Eagles. The Elkettes were on the run rule. on the 10-run rule at 17-7. In the top of the second, Weatherford at Anadarko, the Elkettes to 9-13 on the season. Delivered to your mailbox. Published Tuesday and Friday. 6 months 1 year Add the E-paper for *1 per month. News Classifieds