May 12, 2021 Issue, Page 7 of 12

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May 12, 2021 Sports 7 Thunder at Kings: Five takeaways Oklahoma State from OKC’s loss at Sacramento basketball: Joe Mussatto, The Oklahoman The Warriors shot 50% from 3-point Hoard scored a career-high 16 points The Thunder has used more than two dozen starting lineups this season, but range against the Thunder on Saturday. The Kings kicked the Thunder while it was down, shooting 44% (16-of-36) from against the Kings. He shot 6-of-8 from the floor and added five rebounds. Avery Anderson III none more unusual than the starting five Sunday night in Sacramento. Theo Maledon (6-5) at point guard. three Sunday. Buddy Hield was 4-of-10 from deep for 14 points. Hoard, a second-year player out of Wake Forest, is on a two-way contract with the Thunder. announces return Aleksej Pokusevski (7-0) and Darius Ba- zley (6-8) on the wing. Isaiah Roby (6-8) at power forward. Moses Brown (7-1) at The Kings had eight players reach double-digit scoring. The Thunder’s second unit also had a The Thunder (21-48) climbed into the all-important top-three in the lottery to Cowboys center. different feel. standings. That’s a lot of length. Ty Jerome (left calf strain) was out. Jacob Unruh, The Oklahoman The top three (bottom three) teams all Pokusevski was back in the starting Kenrich Williams and Tony Bradley — lineup after missing four of the last five two regulars in the rotation — did not have a 14% chance at the No. 1 pick and a Avery Anderson III is back. games with a left knee contusion. He re- play. 52% chance at a top four pick. Oklahoma State’s star guard is officially returning next sea- son, he announced Sunday afternoon on his Twitter page with a placed Luguentz Dort, who was out with OKC started the second quarter with There’s also a 48% chance that Hous- highlight video. right knee patellar tendinitis. Svi Mykhailiuk, Charlie Brown Jr., Josh ton’s pick falls to OKC at No. 5. Anderson was a breakout star for the Cowboys as a sopho- Darius Bazley led the Thunder with 18 Hall, Gabriel Deck and Jaylen Hoard. The Thunder has lost 21 of its last 22 more last season. He declared for the NBA Draft following the points in its 126-98 loss to the Kings. Mykhailiuk was a first-round pick. The season, but did not hire an agent. Here are four other takeaways: latter four went undrafted. games. He told The Oklahoman in April his primary goal was to get evaluated. If he wasn’t projected to be drafted, he planned to re- turn and improve on the areas the NBA Undergraduate Advisory ‘A big, big deal’: Why OU football, Committee recommended. Last season, Anderson became the Cowboys’ second-leading scoring threat behind Cade Cunningham. Anderson averaged 12.2 points. He had three 20-plus point performances in the last Lincoln Riley putting Drake Stoops six games. He averaged 19.2 points and shot 52.6% overall in that span. OSU has had a busy offseason. Cunningham — the likely No. on scholarship matters 1 overall pick in the draft — is not returning. Ferron Flavors Jr. also transferred. OSU added transfers Woody Newton from Syracuse and Tyreek Smith from Texas Tech. And it still has two open scholarships — even if senior Bryce Jenni Carlson, The Oklaho- Thursday on a Zoom call. the timing was tough for some along with trying to make a Williams returns due to NCAA rules because of the pandemic — man "There's occasionally families coaches considering players in squad or trying to win a job on to fill. that are fortunate and well the transfer portal. special teams or win a job on Drake Stoops got a scholar- off and maybe the monetary And Riley has made a cot- offense/defense or earn the ship. Finally. All the OU walk-on receiver aspect of it is not a big deal. "But it was a big, big deal to that kid, no question." tage industry out of mining the transfer portal. Still, giving one of his respect of the team or coaches. Whatever it is. That's a goal for every walk-on that's ever Oklahoma State did last season was catch A scholarship is the ul- available scholarships to played." pretty much anything thrown at him, including the biggest touchdown of them all in timate reward for walk-ons. They have largely the same responsibilities as scholarship Stoops was the right thing for Riley to do. (By the way, anyone say- Stoops had done all that other stuff, starting games, making big plays and endear- football: overtime against Texas. He blocked with relentlessness. He ran pre-snap motion with players in terms of condition- ing, lifting, meeting, studying and practicing. And in the case ing it's a waste of taxpayer dollars to give a scholarship to someone whose family ing himself to teammates, evident by their wild celebra- tion after he was awarded that Will Brennan abandon. He earned the scholarship Sooner coach Lincoln Riley of a walk-on turned starter like Stoops, the demands are even more equal. doesn't need it financially — OU athletics is not funded by taxpayer dollars. All revenue scholarship. Going on scholarship was the cherry on top for Stoops. Presley be the real awarded him after the spring Stoops had the same comes from donations, ticket game a couple weeks ago. Now, did Stoops need it? Not financially. amount of pressure as Theo Wease or Marvin Mims or any other Sooner pass catcher last sales, broadcast deals, apparel contracts and the like.) Even though Stoops carries "You earn a scholarship at a place like Oklahoma," Riley said, "not many guys are able deal for the Stoops, of course, is the son of legendary OU coach Bob Stoops. People who por- season. And Stoops delivered. "Honestly, I told him I one of the most recognizable names in OU football history, he is still a young man trying to do that." Stoops might not have been struggling to pay his Cowboys in 2021? tuition bill before Riley put tend they know such things really should have put him on to make his own way in the him on scholarship, but that have estimated the net worth (scholarship) before," Riley college football world. Trying Scott Wright, The Oklahoman isn't the point. That scholar- of the elder Stoops to be said, "and I would have, had to forge his own name. Trying somewhere between $10 mil- this whole scholarship situa- to figure out if he fits. ship is validation to all walk- STILLWATER — Spring football practice allowed Oklahoma lion and $20 million. tion been a little more clear That scholarship is another ons, a sign that dedication State to address some of the major offseason questions hovering Jeff Bezos, he's not, but with all these rules changing." sign he belongs. and tenacity will be rewarded over the program. Stoops probably isn't clipping It has been believed for "For a lot of the kids, it's no matter what. It's a sign to Here's a look at three big questions that the Cowboy offense coupons or hitting yard sales. quite some time the NCAA almost like validation," said everyone on the team, really, had a chance to answer in spring, starting with this: Is Brennan Riley, a walk-on himself once about what is most important Presley the real deal? Drake getting a schol- was on the verge of granting upon a time at Texas Tech. and most valued within the All signs point to yes. Presley has bulked up some since arriv- arship doesn't change his one-time immediate-eligibility "It's a sign — 'They really do ing last summer, which will help him withstand the increase in family's finances a ton — but waivers to transfers, but that program. believe in me and want to contact he's sure to take on as a slot receiver who will be fre- that doesn't mean he didn't wasn't ratified by the Division In that way, Drake Stoops invest in me.' quently targeted. deserve it. I Board of Directors and ad- "For anybody that's ever did need that scholarship. Offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn compared the second-year "I know it meant a great opted by the NCAA until late been a walk-on, it's a goal out Needed it because he had player from Bixby to former Cowboy Josh Stewart, who had 101 deal to him," Riley said on April. The move was good, but there that you're chasing, earned it. receptions in 2012. Presley might not be at the 100-reception mark yet, but he could be working his way toward such numbers. He showed in the spring game that he's going to be a regular target for quarter- OU softball: Sooners hold off Cowgirls back Spencer Sanders. Presley has the ball skills and the elusiveness after the catch to be a big-time playmaker at the college level. Tay Martin will be the top option on the outside, and will provide good balance to a to even Bedlam series receiver group that is without a proven star for the first time in a few years. Presley is a different type of playmaker at slot than what the Joe Buettner, The Norman of its 43 opponents, another elyn Alo delivered a one-run Gasso was ejected after Cowboys had with Dillon Stoner, and Presley showed a glimpse Transcript Big 12 title might be the least double with OU’s next at-bat arguing a call at third base in of what he can be in the Cheez-It Bowl against Miami. of OU coach Patty Gasso’s to score Nicole Mendes. the top of the sixth inning. "The speed of college is a lot faster than the speed of high Nicole May threw all of 13 concerns. Two innings later, Lynnsie Coleman tried getting around school," Presley said last month. "The more you get reps, the pitches, each one as significant “I think just being in the Elam sent a two-out, two-run Pennington and had her more you understand things and get a knack for what certain as the last, on Saturday. game is a victory in itself. The single to center field to double hand on the bag before it was things are. The more I got reps in the bowl game, the more I The freshman pitcher atmosphere is fun. It’s hard, the Sooners’ lead. Saile’s seemingly forced off by the caught onto things." entered Bedlam’s pressure- but it’s fun, because it’s either shutout through 4 1/3 innings infielder’s glove. Coleman was The next step is doing it on a regular basis, and Presley looks packed second game amid gonna bring out the best or ended, however, with the called out to end the top half like a player ready to make that step. unenviable circumstances — worst in you. and those are Cowgirls scoring on an error of the inning. "He's such a positive kid, that everybody loves him, so he Oklahoma State had runners the things we like to know as and an RBI sacrifice fly in the Upon Gasso’s ejection, she easily steps into that role," Dunn said last month. "He just needs on first and second and a 3-1 we go forward,” Gasso said. bottom of the fifth. exited the dugout and was es- a little more production there and everybody will buy into what count awaited her as she came “... Today was a big, im- OU regained its four-run corted to the team’s bus, while he's talking about." to the circle. portant day for us, to find out advantage with Mendes’ sixth- associate head coach Jennifer In what little could be drawn from the spring game, plus May’s first-pitch ball what we’re made of and who inning solo shot off of OSU Rocha served as the team’s what his coaches were saying about him, Sanders has taken steps loaded the bases with no outs we are. Tomorrow is going to starter Kelly Maxwell. Grace interim skipper. in the offense, making his reads and his decisions with more and the winning run at home be another measuring stick Green then doubled down the Asked if she was able to efficiency. plate in the final inning. for us, one way or the other. right-field line to plate Elam in watch the game, Gasso said He didn't throw an interception in the spring game in 28 the seventh. attempts, and didn't appear to throw any passes that were in A pair of fly outs to center It is going to make us a better The Cowgirls threatened she opted for OU’s radio play- field quickly shifted the pres- team going into postseason.” by-play voice for the final nine danger of being picked. a late comeback with Karli Cutting down on turnovers is still a crucial focus for Sanders, sure to Oklahoma State’s Syd- OU showed its poise in Petty’s leadoff homer in the outs. ney Pennington to extend the an intense top-10 battle with “I’m loyal to Chris Plank, and the results of that improvement won't be known until fall. bottom half of the frame, But he took advantage of the spring in the best way possible. rally. May struck out the Cow- timely scores and Shannon followed by Alysen Febrey’s so I put him on the radio,” Losing a second-round NFL Draft pick in Teven Jenkins is a girls’ third baseman to finish Saile piecing together a domi- one-run sacrifice fly to bring Gasso said. “I didn’t want big hill to climb, so the improvement of the offensive line will a 6-4 win for the Sooners, nant six innings in the circle. the Cowgirls within two. to watch it. I just wanted have to come across the board. Danny Godlevske has quickly whose Big 12 championship Oklahoma State held OU May closed the door, how- to listen, and I’m glad I was made himself at home at center after transferring from Miami of streak lives to see another day. scoreless and without a hit ever, on OSU’s rally, earning listening to Plank.” Ohio. Sunday’s rubber match, set through two frames before the the save after Saile struck out Next Caleb Etienne, the 6-foot-9, 320-pound junior-college trans- for 11 a.m. at Cowgirl Stadium Sooners tacked on two runs six, walked four and allowed The third game of the fer, will have a shot at winning the left tackle job when he arrives in Stillwater, will serve as a in the third, two in the fifth each of the Cowgirls’ four hits Bedlam series is scheduled for in the summer. de facto conference regular- and one each in the sixth and in her Saturday start. 11 a.m. Sunday in Stillwater. Josh Sills is back where he's most comfortable at left guard. season championship game. seventh innings. Gasso ejected The game will be televised on He was most effective at that position before injuries forced him OU’s won the last eight. Jayda Coleman put OU on In perhaps her team’s most ESPNU. to move to tackle. For a team that is all but the board first with a one-out important game of the season, Plank’s radio call can be The other spots on the line should be improved simply be- assured an NCAA tournament RBI single through the right Gasso wasn’t around to wit- heard on The Franchise 2, cause of experience, but the real proof will come in fall. berth and has run-ruled 30 side to plate Jana Johns. Joc- ness all of it. 1560 AM.