March 19, 2022 Issue, Page 4 of 8

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Sp ry March 19, 2022 Sooners shrug off missing NCAA tourney Central Oklahoma Jesse Crittenden, The Nor- Despite the frustration, “I said, ‘Let's prove them they finished the half shooting man Transcript Moser had a message for his ‘The 47 points they scored in blanks RiverHawks wrong. Let's prove them 56 percent from the floor. team in preparation for Tues- wrong.” Oklahoma coach __ Porter day’s home game against Mis- The Sooners finished the the first half tied for their fifth- Moser and his team haven't souri State to open the NIT. night with one of their best highest scoring half of the Byron Beers, Tahlequah by NSU starting pitcher Davin been shy about their disap- “We talked about the life offensive performances of the season. But MSU guard Isiaih Daily Press Pollard, and Kaleb Glass scored pointment following Selection lesson of how you react when season, using that momentum Mosley paced the Bears with on one of three wild pitches Sunday. it doesn’t go your way,” Moser for an 89-72 win over the Bears Northeastern State was shut 22 of their 41 first-half points out for the first time this sea~ by Pollard. Gray reached on an ‘The Sooners narrowly missed said. “That's what character is, at Lloyd Noble Center. the NCAA Tournament, finish- If we go down and don’t play ‘They found a rhythm early, to keep the Sooners’ lead to six son Tuesday in a 3-0 loss to error by NSU shortstop Kade- ing two spots away from the hard and lay an egg and don’t particularly from the 3-point points. rival Central Oklahoma in Ed- mon Graff. 68-team field. Instead, they play well, it’s just giving con- line. The Sooners “If youare an offensive coach (19-15) mond. Pollard allowed three earned accepted the top seed in the firmation to the [Selection] knocked down 7-of-11 triples or an offensive fan, you were The RiverHawks, who en- runs on four hits across 4.2 National Invitational Tourna- Committee that they made the in the first half — four com- watching that in pleasure,” tered the contest with a MIAA- innings. The right-hander reg- ment. right decision. ing from Umoja Gibson — and Moser said. best .337 batting average, were istered three strikeouts and is- limited to just five hits, two of those coming from Matt Kai- sued four walks. Cowboy wrestling starts national tournament ser, who had a pair of singles. Kaiser singled to right field Cohen Bell, Trey Havens and Jake Bigham each pitched expecting individual success to lead off the third inning and in relief for the RiverHawks. added an infield single during Bell gave up one hit and had the fifth. White and Freeman each added a single for NSU, a strikeout, Havens pitched a Jason Elmquist, Stillwater al runner-up Daton Fix. ling. tial to really bring it out a bet- who dropped to 15-8 overall flawless seventh inning and NewsPress ‘The Sand Springs native who Oklahoma State has had ter wrestler.” spent much of his youth at- high hopes throughout the All three days of competi- and 5-5 in the MIAA. It was recorded a strikeout, and Big- the 42nd hit of the season for ham surrendered one hit and John Smith knowsit isalong tending the national champi- season for Young, but it has tion will be broadcast nation- Freeman, who is near the top shot for his Oklahoma State onships as part of his birthday been a year of peaks and val- ally. The morning sessions of the MIAA leaderboard. Free- collected two strikeouts in the wrestling team to finish in the (March 11). He heads into his leys for the former three-time — 11 am. Thursday, 10 a.m. man entered with an associa~ eighth. top three of this year’s NCAA third national tournament as a state champion. Friday and Saturday — will tion-high .470 batting average. Broncho pitchers Beaux wrestling championships. competitor, but his first as the “Who cares? At this point, be available on ESPNU, while Brayden Rodden had NSU’s Bonvillain, Jacob Bailey, Owen But the Cowboy coach second seed at 133 pounds. who cares?” Smith said. “You're the evening sessions — 6 p.m. only extra-base hit with a lead- Logan and Kylar Patterson doesn’t want his wrestlers — On the opposite side of his gonna have to beat some- ‘Thursday and Saturday, 7 p.m. off double to left in the fourth, eight in total who will be at the bracket is Penn State’s Roman body. ... I don’t want to make Friday — will be on ESPN. combined on the shutout. but C.D. White and Blake Free- tournament in Detroit starting Bravo-Young, who beat Fix in it sound like an excuse saying NCAA Wrestling Champion- Ina starting role, Bonvillain man were retired on back- today — not to focus on that. last year’s title match at the that things are a little bit off ships to-back strikeouts, and after allowed three hits, struck out Instead, he wants his Cowboys weight. Both wrestlers start (with so many super seniors).” Oklahoma State first-round Lucas McCain walked, Collin three and walked three in four to focus on doing what the pro- the tournament with unblem- ‘Also making his first ap- matches Klingensmith popped out to innings. In middle relief, Bailey gram is known for: All-Ameri- ished records — the only wres- pearance at the NCAA cham- 125: No. 7 Trevor Mastro- UCO shortstop Jaden Parsons cans and individual national tlers in the weight class with- pionships is heavyweight Luke giovanni vs. No. 26 Kysen Ter- to enda scoring threat. and Logan combined to give up champions. out a loss this season. Surber. ukina (Iowa State) two hits and had three strike- Central Oklahoma (11-9, “We've got to go punch some “I want that match back for The sophomore from Tuttle 133: No. 2Daton Fix vs. No. 5-5) ended a three-game slide. outs in two innings. All-Americans in this tourna- sure,” Fix said, “It’s something vaulted himself to the 19th 31 Kyle Burwick (Wisconsin) The Bronchos got all they Patterson retired the last ment, hopefully — maybe a that I look forward to, but you seed in the weight class after a 141: No, 25 Carter Young vs. would need offensively with a nine RiverHawk batters in or- national champion or two,” Know, coach is right — you've run through the Big 12 Confer- No. 8 Grant Willits (Oregon single run in the third inning. der and collected six strikeouts Smith said. “We need to build gotta win your first four match- ence tournament that ended State) They followed with a pair of to earn his fourth save of the for next year, not just the end es or there's no finals match. with a runner-up finish — in 149: No. 9 Kaden Gfeller vs. runs during the fourth to com- of next year but for the season. So I obviously have to take one which he beat three conference No. 24 PJ Ogunsanya (Army) plete the scoring. season. We've gotta take something match at atime, I don’t want to foes whom had beaten him ear- 157: No. 31 Wyatt Sheets Clayton Peterson had the ‘The RiverHawks, who have out of this and move forward. overlook anybody.” lier in the season. vs, No. 2 Ryan Deakin (North- lone RBI when he drove in put together win streaks of “We're not contenders. We're While Fix is one of several “Surber started to relax and western) Parsons on a two-out single to seven and five games this sea- probably not contenders for veterans the Cowboys take fit in at heavyweight and just 174: No. 6 Dustin Plott vs. right field in the third. Parsons son and were coming off a a trophy, but I'm not going to into the tournament, they also started to see himself like, ‘I No. 27 Sal Perrine (Ohio) singled to right with one out say that we can’t do that — the have one ofthe greenest at one can do this!” Smith said. “I 184: No. 16 Dakota Geer vs. and advanced to second base series win over Washburn at rankings obviously don't say of the most veteran weights. don’t think he really saw that No. 17 Jeremiah Kent (Mis- on a passed ball to set the ta~ Rousey Field on Saturday, Sun- that. So I would hope that we Stillwater High graduate until maybe late January. I'm souri) ble for Peterson. Peterson and day and Monday, return home have some high expectations Carter Young, a true freshman just glad that I felt like I made HWT: No. 19 Luke Surber vs. Parsons both finished with two for a three-game series against still and put our emphasis on, wrestling at 141 pounds, is thea good decision keeping him in No. 14 Luke Luffman (Illinois) hits and had one double apiece Pittsburg State, beginning Fri- ‘Let’s do better than what peo- 25th seed at a weight in which there, even during some ugly Follow News Press sports to spark the UCO lineup. ple think.” 12 of the top 20 wrestlers are losses. There were a couple du- editor Jason Elmquist on Twit- The Bronchos got both of day. Start times for Friday and The most likely of those juniors or seniors — and the als that weren't good ... but I ter @jelmquistSW for updates their runs in the fourth with- Saturday are 2 p.m., and Sun- Cowboys to compete for a na- other eight are at least in their knew that as we pressed for- on Oklahoma State and high out recording a hit. Wyatt Gray day's first pitch is scheduled tional title is two-time nation- second year of college wres- ward there was a lot of poten- school athletics. crossed home plate on a balk for noon. = THE GRAHAM JAM Mark's Men Mauled by Milwaukee, Minnesota and Memphis There are still 14 games left to head coach Mark Daigneault. “They Gilgeous-Alexander scored only eight again with 32 and 25 play. But for at least three members of were all at the NFL Combine, which points as Minnesota went out of its points, respectively. the Oklahoma City Thunder, the happened to be the last couple way to shut him down all game long. Tt marked Oklahoma 2021-22 season has already come toa weeks." So with the end of the Rookie Aaron Wiggins was the bene- City's sixth consecutive close. Combine came the end of the year for ficiary of Gilgeous-Alexander's off loss, bringing the Thunder Luguentz Dort, Ty Jerome and several important players. night, scoring 25 points with nine to 20-48 for the season. Mike Muscala all underwent season- The Thunder continue to feel their rebounds, but it wasn't nearly enough Despite the setback, ending surgeries on Tuesday, March absences on the court. OKCs to push the Thunder over the top. Daigneault praised the 8, leaving OKC without its best announcement was followed that Oklahoma City got a rare three-day Thunder offense and said defender and two knockdown shoot- Tuesday night by a 142-115 shellack- break after its lackluster performance Bazley has "simplified his ers for the remainder of the season. ing at the hands of the defending in Minnesota, returning Sunday game" to become a more Dort's procedure, performed in Los champion Milwaukee Bucks. evening for a matchup with Memphis effective scorer lately. Angeles by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, was Dort, Jerome and Muscala are at the Paycom Center. Reenergized, "He's playing a pretty pre- to address a labrum tear in his left hardly the only players missing for Gilgeous-Alexander went off for dictable style that fits into Oklahoma City Thunder forward Darius shoulder. OKC. Josh Giddey continues to miss another 31 points. And he wasn't the rest of the team," Bazley (7) drives to the basket as Jerome went under the knife in games with hip issues, forcing new alone. Darius Bazley, playing with Daigneault said, "and it's Charlotte Hornets forward PJ. Philadelphia to address a sports her- faces into the starting lineup like Theo more confidence in the season's sec- allowing his versatility to Washington (25) defends during the sec- nia, and Muscala underwent both an Maledon. ond half, went off Sunday for a career- kind of rise to the surface. ond half at Paycom Center. Charlotte arthroscopic procedure and lateral lig- The good news is that Shai high 29 points. .». He's running, he's cut- won 134-116. (Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY ament repair on his right ankle in Gilgeous-Alexander continues to be Bazley scored from all levels, ting, he's rolling, he's Sports] Green Bay, Wisconsin. spectacular. And sometimes he even including 16 points in the paint and shooting spot-up 3s." The timing seemed curious, at first. gets a little help. nine from his three 3-pointers. In the "I just think he's learning how to Popovich, who recently became the With nearly half the team sidelined Take the Milwaukee game. end, OKC fell again to the No. 2-seed function inside of how we're playing,” winningest regular-season coach in since the All-Star break, why would Gilgeous-Alexander scored another Grizzlies, 125-118. But it was the Daigneault said. "... 1 would attribute NBA history. Then they'll swing over three players have surgery on the very 33 points, with eight rebounds and 14 most competitive game they'd played some of his success to the way the to the Sunshine State for a Friday same day? assists, to boot, leading the team in all all week. team's playing, too.” matchup with Miami and a Sunday The NFL Combine, it turns out, three categories. ‘The losses continued on Monday, The Thunder will try to snap the game in Orlando. was to blame. "The physicians that we His production took a big step March 14, with a 134-116 setback to There's only a few more weeks of losing streak on Wednesday, March basketball, lean on in those situations are pretty back, though, on Wednesday during a Charlotte in OKC. Géilgeous- 16 when they head to San Antonio to Thunder fans. Enjoy them, active in sports medicine,” explained 132-102 loss to the Timberwolves. Alexander and Bazley paced the team take on the Spurs and Gregg and Thunder Up! HERE COME THE ENTERPRISES & LAWNMOWER SHOPS. QearAs a 580.886.3227 OutbuildingsOK.com MowersOK.com