December 6, 2019 Issue, Page 10 of 14

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Page 10 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Friday, December 6, 2019 Elkettes work on chemistry Bayle Miller Haleigh Musick Mikah Butler Norie Flowers By Don Munsch, Editor the fifth starter. we get a chance to run, we're The Elk City High School “As of right now, seniors going to run, and if not, we'll girls basketball team finished will get a lot of minutes and try to beat you at half court.” with a 14-11 record last year, we're just going to have to Ellison expects a tough making the regional finals. fill in with the underclass- conference this season, in a But the Elkettes’ coach men and grow,” Ellison said. field that will feature King- said this year starts with a Ellison said work on build- learning curve, as he looks ing chemistry has gone well. fisher, Newcastle Blanchard to build chemistry with vet- “This guys genuinely like and Tuttle. erans and younger players. each other,” he said. “Some “Super tough teams,” he The season starts this week teams try to fake it and they said. “It wouldn’t surprise with the Cleveland Tourna- do all of these things, and in me if we had four out of the ment. eight teams in the state tour- the past, I’ve had to do some “It’s going to be a rough team bonding things and nament out of conference.” start having to take these we'll continue to do some. He also mentioned Weath- four seniors and fit them in But these guys all like each erford and Clinton as solid with the underclassmen,” other. They enjoy coming teams this season. ECHS coach Tim Ellison out to practice. They enjoy said, “There’s just not a lot being around each other.” “It’s going to be competi- of team experience togeth- Flowers said the ability to tive every night,” he said. build chemistry can help the “We just have to go play.” That bonding will have to team. Miller has a bright view of The Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline is great for your wallet — and your occur during practices, but “Because we know each the season ahead. holiday spirit. Save money when you quit and supersize your gift budget. game experience against an- other and we can get along “T think we’ll have a de- other team is different, he so good together,” she said. cent season; it’s going to Get 24/7 support and benefits like Quit Coaching, text and email support, said. As a coach, Ellison said be a lot tougher than years plus a two-week supply of patches, gum or lozenges — all for FREE. “Even summer, we started players’ rapport does help a past,” Miller said. “But I coming along a little bit,” he coach in that he doesn’t have think we'll have a shot in the Just call 1-800-QUIT NOW or visit OKhelpline.com. said. “But it’s not the same to deal with players bicker- playoffs.” as the heat of game. It will be ing or developing some oth- Miller and Flowers want on Dec. 5. We'll just have to er kind of drama, explaining grow, and seniors will have it’s easier to coach when to make the most of their to get used to underclass- players come to practice in senior year, with Miller say- men, and the underclassmen a good mood and are ready ing playing with her fellow will have to get used to being to work. seniors one more time is the eS on the court in a heated game Ellison doesn’t plan to aspect of the season that ex- Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline with the seniors. So it will be make any change anything cites her the most. a learning process for us for scheme-wise offensively or a while.” defensively, “[’m just excited about my last season with all my 1/800 Uy All of the seniors — Baylee “Defensively, we’re going friends I played with since I Miller, Mikah Butler, Norie to try to mix it up between was like 10,” Butler said. Flowers and Haleigh Musick man and zone, and offen- —will play a huge role for the sively, we kind of do what Musick is optimistic about team, he said, and will play we do,” he said. “We’ve add- the season. a ton of minutes, barring in- ed a couple of things that are “We work together and we jury or foul trouble. Nae Nae new, but overall, we’re go- get along, so I think it’ll be Martin, a sophomore, will be ing to have the philosophy if fun,” she said. 1wed 7) BlueCross BlueShield of Oklahoma TIME IS GRAND OP. ENING RUNNING OUT SATURDAY 12-7 10AM SHOP OUR GIFTS, DECOR, AND TOYS FOR ALL AGES 614 FRISCO AVENUE CLINTON, OK 73601 jeld of Oklahoma n independ