December 2, 2020 Issue, Page 5 of 10

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December 2, 2020 Oilers under new management COACHES CORNER By Kerry Hookstra Beecham at guard, Mem- Slife. Hagen Justus and Coby McGilbert. By Kerry Hookstra phis Cordell at guard, Kam- Skelton will play the forward ‘According to Coach Laub, Merritt begins the 2020- eron Davis at forward, Trever position. “This team has the players to Bearcat Coaches Corner 21 basketball season with a Fowler at center, Rylan Givens ‘The team is completed give excellent depth and they new man at the helm. Oran at guard, Donavan Perry at by nine sophomores. Golden are talented overall. We can Laub comes is from Benning- guard, and Christian Skelton Amburgey is a center as are post up well and our outside Erick is set to get back in action Dec. 8 at Hollis and will play ton as he begins his third year at forward. Case Carlson and Jack Edler. shooting is going to be a Goodwell at Oklahoma Panhandle State University Dec. 10. asa head coach. He enters Five juniors add experi- River Britton will play guard strength. I am excited to see Balko comes to the Bearcat Den Dec, 12 for a 1 p.m. contest. the campaign with a senior ence and depth with Zack along with Kevin Chavra, how well we can improve and ‘The teams hit the road Dec. 15 at Sentinel and will travel to laded squad numbering seven Carr playing guard along Kelton Fish, Tyler Fuentes, keep getting better with each Olustee-Eldorado Dec. 17. The final game before Christmas Oilers. They include Gabe with Nick Dornan and Jason Riley Herndon, and Caden game and practice.” Break is Dec. 18 with Fargo-Gage/Ft. Supply coming to town for Homecoming. Oiler Basketball welcomes new head coach “We really have not been able to get any workouts going due to the virus. Many of us are in quarantine or have COVID. Most of us are set to be released this Thursday and that gives us By Kerry Hookstra his senior year in college as ate of Southwestern Okla- with high school athletics. time to get back in shape before we meet Hollis next week. The volunteer assistant at his homa State University with a ‘The 2012 graduate of Calu- season is really kind of day to day but at least it is still going,” Merritt has a fresh face alma mater, Calumet, working Bachelor of Social Science. He met High School is pleased to said Bearcat Head Coach Jase Newcomb. directing the fortunes of with Head Coach Jacob May- majored in history education. be at Merritt, He brings an up boys’ basketball. Oran Laub field as the Chieftains claimed In his career Laub has coached Lady Bearcat Head Coach Justin Janz says, “We are anx- comes to the Oilers from the Class A State Champion- junior high baseball and as- tempo approach to the game. ious to get back on the court but just don’t know when we will Bennington where he took on ship. Prior to that experience sisted with high school girls’ Laub counts his experience get everyone back to practice. We should have good workouts a rebuilding project. His first he was a volunteer assistant basketball. In the classroom working with capable coaches before the Hollis game the way it looks right now but it is still season in 2018-2019 the team in 2014 while in college as and establishing his own style an iffy deal.” went 8-17, In the 2019-2020 he again was in the Calumet his teaching assignments campaign the Bears were program working with Head include computer applica- of coaching as strong points 11-14, Before taking the Ben- Coach Eric Carr. tion, government, Oklahoma as he directs the Oiler Basket- Eagle Coaches Corner nington position Laub spent Laub is a 2017 gradu- History, and geography along ball Program. Basketball is set to open the season Dec. 1 at Indiahoma and Sayre will travel to Cheyenne/Reydon Dec. 4. The Lady Eagles Oilerettes return experience wrapped up their scrimmages with a visit from Altus Nov. 28. Eagle Head Coach Brad Coffman notes, “Our workouts have gone well. The kids have worked hard but it has been a chal- lenge to make adjustments with various players in and out with By Kerry Hookstra 5-7 forward who also steps in Hartman at 5-10. Payten Fite post Chloe Stout. quarantine. We should be ready to go for the opener.” at post as a tough rebounder. is a 5-6 forward while Angela Coach Daugherty ob- Head Coach Jeff Daugh- Lexie Frazier is one of Gomez at 5-5and Ashlee Sosa serves, “We have a nice “This has been a challenging stretch for us with various play- erty along with assistants four junior Oilerettes and is at 5-4 will play guard. combination of players and ers our due to illness or quarantine. Our scrimmage with Altus Bryce Abbe and Amber a5-4 guard. Dayli Pollard will A seven member fresh- our depth is pretty good. The went pretty well but it was obvious both team have not been Gibbons count 19 players be a 5-5 guard along with Dai- men class rounds out the upperclassmen have good in the gym as much as we would like. We are not playing at the on the Merritt roster for the lee Taylor at 5-5 while Jamie Merritt team. They include experience and we get lots level I would like to see at this point of the season. I was pleased 2020-21 basketball season. Peffer is a 5-11 post. 5-5 guard Peytyn Broadbent, of energy from the younger with the play of Claire Zinser as she stepped up to fill in for Bre- ‘The team is led by a pair of Six sophomores bring 5-5 guard Gloria Bustos, 5-7 members of the team. We nay Campbell. Our core squad is not fully healthy and it is really seniors who are returning depth and size to the squad. forward Addison Hartman, have the tools to be an excel- starters, Blakely Barnett is Breegan Barnett is a 5-8for- 5-3 guard Kayde Herndon, lent team as we develop over tough to coach around the missing players but we are working a 5-4 shooting guard while ward with Jayden Darling a 5-6 forward Ella Porter, 5-2 the year.” ter-2, and Thomp- through it,” stated Lady Eagle Head Coach Brian Richardson. Joshlyn Tomlin-Sanders is a 5-11 post along with Riely guard Kenya Sanchez, and 5-8 son-2, Elk Coaches Corner Lady Eagles ready for season Basketball workouts roll on as the Big Elks and Elkettes prepare for season opening contests. Wrestling is working out as their season approaches. Elk City was set to host the always By Kerry Hookstra Karly Easter, 5-5 guard Kiley Zoe Vincent is a 5-5 forward have been decent butI am tough Elgin squads in the season opener Dec. 1 but that has Easter, and 5-5 guard Kaytlin along with 5-5 Kendyl Wood- still not satisfied with our been postponed to Dec. 18. They travel to Woodward Dec. 8 Sayre heads into the 2020- Kirby. The only junior on the ruff and 5-6 Claire Zinser. progress to this point of the for what will be the season opener. Wrestling had a high school 21 basketball season with a squad is 5-3 guard, Destinee Rounding out the squad season. Missing players due 20 player squad including six Moler. are four freshmen. Emily Eas- meet canceled at Blanchard due to the virus but the junior high to the virus has hurt our abil- seniors as the Brian Richard- Nine sophomores bring ter plays guard at 5-6 while goes to Kingfisher Dec. 3, 4, & 5. ity to get the best out of our son directed crew looks to the largest contingent to the 5-8 Maecee Kirtley steps in practices but we will make the make a deep playoff run. Staci team. Makenna Arnold is a at post and Addi Mariano is best of the situation as girls Oiler Coaches Corner Wilson returns as assistant 5-5 guard with Meghan Ken- a 5-6 forward. Kaycee Rose coach for the Lady Eagles. nedy a 5-3 guard and Josie at 5-7, also takes on the post are stepping up to fill roles ‘The workouts for Merritt Basketball have gone well and the ‘The senior members of Merrick a 5-5 guard. Kyrene position. when they have to do the job. ‘The team will be an excellent teams are set to get into regular season play. Virus complica- the team include 5-9 post Sandlin is another 5-5 guard “We have worked hard tions have taken out the season opener with Hollis and the Raven Briscoe, 5-7 forward while Bailey Seymour is also getting ready for the season unit as we develop over the Brenay Campbell, 5-7 guard 5-5 guard with Madison and the team is putting things year,” observed Lady Eagle second contest at Arapaho-Butler. First home action will be the Trinity Dunlap, 5-9 forward Spieker playing post at 5-7. together. Our scrimmages Head Coach Richardson. season opener as the talented Canute crews come to Oiler Field House. Hollis has been rescheduled to Jan. 28, 2021. Oilerette Head Coach Jeff Daugherty observes, “We hated to OSU basketball: Rondel Walker lives out miss the first two games of the season but were glad to get the Hollis game rescheduled. Canute will be a tough opener even after losing lots of good players last year. Hopefully our experi- vision in home debut, says ‘gamedays got ence“Thewillguyshelp.”have been working hard and putting in the effort a different type of swagger’ to learn a new game plan. We have some good players returning and have a deep bench with 21 on the squad and seven seniors. Getting into basketball shape is the big thing right now and we Jacob Unruh, The Oklaho- "was just glad I could be out and he could hardly contain former AAU teammate — on have had a few injuries but we have been able to play around man there and enjoy the moment his excitement as he slid on the floor. or through them. I am just hoping we get to play a lot of games with my guys." his back. He pumped his fist Cunningham found this year and avoid too many more COVID issues,” indicated STILLWATER — Rondel On the biggest night of and yelled. Walker three times in the Oiler Head Coach Oran Laub. Walker first stepped into Walker's incredibly short He then made his free corner. Walker made three Gallagher-Iba Arena as a career, he debuted in front shot. 3-pointers in less than three young freshman at Putnam of OSU fans in grand fash- ‘Two minutes later, he minutes. By then, OSU hada ‘West High School. ion. He scored 19 points and completed another three- 21-point lead. Trojan Coaches Corner He dreamt of big mo- grabbed three rebounds off point play. "I think he and Cade might ments on the floor. He hoped the bench while providing a ‘The layups all happened have a little bit of chemistry," Basketball is rolling at Canute with their next contest set for he could get an ovation as he huge spark in key moments. with star freshman Cade Cun- Boynton said. Dec. 4 at Merritt. Down the road the Trojans and Trojanettes headed to the bench with a Tt was exactly why OSU ningham on the bench with Walker struggled in have been added to the mix in the Best of the Southwest Tour- comfortable fourth-quarter coach Mike Boynton started three fouls and leader Isaac Wednesday's opener at Texas- lead. recruiting Walker early in Likekele hampered on the Arlington, failing to attempt nament hosted by Granite Dec. 10-12. The boys are seeded #1 Saturday night, those high school. floor with two fouls himself. a shot and grabbing only a and the girls are the #2 seed. Some of the teams in the com- things happened in his first He's got confidence along ‘An eight-point lead when rebound in 11 minutes. petition include Alva, Hollis, and Navajo, all of which are not game at the famed arena. with a relentless motor on Cunningham left increased to Boynton still believed in normally among Canute’s opponents. Walker delivered a big first both ends of the court. That 11 in five minutes. his young guard. “We plan to get back into action this week. Our only game half — lifting his team when showed throughout the night. “It's just a time that's go- Boynton raved about is against Merritt and they have a team with experience. It will its leaders were in foul trouble First, he had a putback on ing to happen throughout the Walker in the preseason, —and then he closed the an offensive rebound. Later, season — not just with those saying it would be hard to be a challenge to get by them but we just keep improving and game with a flurry of 3-point- entered in a tight game and two," Walker said. "It's just keep Walker off the court. He it will be their season opener,” says Trojanette Head Basketball ers. immediately impacted the one of those things that you practices well and that carries Coach Jill Henderson. And he left to a loud ova- game on defense, hounding tell yourself and the guys out over. ‘Trojan Head Basketball Coach Brock Steffes said, “This virus tion from the scattered crowd Texas Southern guards in ag- there with you that we're just So his performance wasn't is a bad deal for the schedules but at least games are still being with the Cowboys en route gressive traps. as good and out there for a a shock. But it certainly was played. We look forward to playing at Merritt this week for to an 85-65 win over Texas ‘Then, he got going of- reason, too. So, no drop off.” special. their season opener since their first two games were canceled. Southern. fensively. Walker, who had 10 points “It felt good," Walker said. "Gamedays got a different With 3:41 remaining in in the opening half, remained “It being my first home game ‘They have lots of experience and a pretty good number. It will type of swagger, a different the half, Walker attacked the hot in the second half, this in my home state, that made bea challenge since they are going to be a little rough just com- type of feeling," Walker said. basket. His layup was good time with Cunningham — his it so much better." ing out of football.” We wanna see your photos! Did you attend a recent event and take an awesome shot? Send your photo to [email protected]