December 24, 2022 Issue, Page 6 of 10

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Sports 6 - The Elk City News December 24, 2022 Mims, Gabriel yet to decide their Gilgeous-Alexander’s futures as Sooners gear up for Cheez-It Bowl game-winning shot lifts Jesse Crittenden, The Norman Transcript games — he missed the Texas game due to in- Thunder past Portland jury — and completed 63 percent of his passes Last season, following the departure of Lin- for 2,925 yards, 24 touchdowns and six inter- Clemente Almanza Sports ways play tight games. The Drexler for the all-time scoring coln Riley and several Oklahoma players, there ceptions. He led the Big 12 in passing yards per Writer, Muskogee Phoenix northwest division foes are leader in Trail Blazers history. was speculation on Marvin Mims’ future. game (265..5) and finished second in passing very familiar with each other ‘The Thunder PA announcer ad- Would he stay for the bowl game? Would he touchdowns (24) and passing efficiency (154.2). ir dir="Itr”}OKLAHO- as they play at least four times dressed the historical accom- It'd be significant for the Sooners if both opt MA CITY — Monday night a season. come back for his junior season? to return next season, given their impact on the should’ve been about Damian plishment during a timeout ‘That was the case once again on Monday. The game saw and the crowd gave Lillard a Mims did both, electing to remain with the team this year. Lillard, who dominated the Sooners as he helped usher in a new era under Brent Venables. “It’s come up maybe twice since we played fourth quarter while leading 13 lead changes and 13 ties round of applause. Texas Tech,” Mims said of his discussions with the Portland Trail Blazers close throughout the game. Neither Lillard reached that mark in ‘There was no question whether Mims would toa victory. team created separation as the the third quarter when he sank Gabriel. “So honestly, not often. And that’s re- stick around for the upcoming Cheez-it Bowl ally just around the facility. No one really’s asked Instead, in a matter of sec- Trail Blazer's largest lead was in a pair of free throws. Lil- against Florida State on Dec. 29, confirming he onds, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 10 points and the Thunder's lard finished with 28 points on would play after the Sooners’ 51-48 loss to Texas me. Everyone's been kind of respectable about it, and just letting me go throughout the day and stole the spotlight with a 14- largest lead was eight points. 9-of-17 shooting and 6-of-12 Tech in the regular-season finale last month foot pull-up jumper that sealed Neither team grew a lead practice, work hard and all that stuff. No one’s outside shooting. But there’s again uncertainty about whether larger than two possessions Mims will return for his senior season. He told just been bugging me and pushing me for an an- the win for the Thunder, 123- 121. When asked about the feat, reporters on Monday that he’s yet to decide if swer.” during the entire second half. Isaiah Coe tells the story behind his injury “Just get the ball in our best ‘The lead changed four sepa- Thunder head coach Mark he'll declare for the NFL Draft. player's hands,” Thunder guard rate times in the final minute Daigneault was very compli- “We go home (Tuesday),” Mims said, “I'll prob- ‘The OU defensive lineman, a redshirt junior, also didn’t discuss his future with reporters. Kenrich Williams said on what of the game. mentary of Lillard and said he ably talk to my family. Just talk about it, sit on it was going through his mind on ‘Thunder bench steps up the rest of the week and just hopefully come up He did, however, discuss the story behind his is well-respected around the with a decision then,” wrist injury, which he suffered during the Soon- the final play. “Any time it’s late With the Thunder only hav- league. ers’ win over Iowa State back in October. in the game, we trust Shai.” ing 10 players available, ev- “I think the thing that is ‘The Sooners will also have their starting quar- Gilgeous-Alexander’s. team- erybody saw the floor. All 10 terback, Dillon Gabriel, for the game. But Gabri- “L'm going to take y'all through when it hap- most impressive to me about pened,” Coe said. “I hit my head, So the trainers, mates mobbed him following players played for at least 10 el hasn't made a final decision about his future, the buzzer-beater as the short- minutes. him is the respect that he has. either. they came up to me and they were saying, ‘Oh, handed Thunder won its sec- Off the bench, the Thunder [It’s] authentic with integrity “['m just wanting to announce on my own we were trying to get your head, trying to focus ond consecutive game against outscored the Trail Blazers, and respect from his peers,” time, when my family’s right,” Gabriel said Mon- on your head. My head is good. But I really need a fully healthy Western Con- 42-26. Sharpshooters Isaiah Daigneault said. day. “[I'm] not trying to hold it from the media yall to look at my thumb because my thumb Joe and Mike Muscala played or anything. Just wanting to announce on my looks unusually big. They just kept looking at my ference playoff contender. “There’s guys around the After starting 2-of-12 from huge roles as they each scored NBA — not to mention any own time and know just when it’s right for me head. My head is okay. Y'all really need to look at the field, Gilgeous-Alexander 11 points individually and names and my family. But nothing, no secret message my thumb. I promise you my head is okay. — that when (you) kind finished the night with 35 combined to go 7-of-11 from in between any of that. Just like that.” points on 10-of-24 shooting outside. of unpack the people that play “So they finally took the glove off and then we ‘The redshirt junior said he doesn’t have a with them, against them for a timetable for making a decision and is instead just saw a big bone sticking out the side of my and 14-of-14 from the free- Kenrich Williams also fin- hand. I was really calm about it. Everybody else throw line. In six fourth-quar- ished with 12 points on 5-of-7 long period of time, it’s a little focused on the bowl game. ter minutes, Gilgeous-Alexan- shooting. The Thunder keeps bit dicey. He’s just never one “{ just approach it like being present,” Gabriel was really panicking. But I was really calm. We der scored 12 points on 4-of-7 preaching a ‘next man up’ of those guys. The guys in the said. “... But P'm confident with just my family went back into the locker room and took x-rays shooting. mentality and while that’s an league just respect him as just and I’m having great people around me, even the and all that.” Here are three other oversaturated sports cliche, it a real dude that’s a real winner coaches. It's very helpful.” ‘The bone was dislocated, not fractured, Coe thoughts on the Thunder's continues to prove to be the While Mims and Gabriel have yet to decide that has real toughness. That's said. He said he only struggled with the injury two-point win over the Trail case. on their futures, their commitment to playing the following week against Baylor. Blazers: Damian Lillard makes his- a real team guy. I don’t know in the Sooners’ upcoming bowl game is huge, Coe said he’s fully healthy and ready to go Close contest throughout tory him but anytime the peer particularly with the team adjusting to players Entering Monday, Lillard against Florida State. Historically speaking, the group treats somebody like leaving via the NCAA Transfer Portal or bowl Thunder and Trail Blazers al- needed 21 points to pass Clyde game opt-outs. Among the Sooners to miss the “T can really walk around and say that I saw that, you take notice.” bowl game include running back Eric Gray, wide the inside of my hand. I thought that was pretty receiver Theo Wease, defensive lineman Jalen cool.” Sooners’ signing day OU women’s basketball: Redmond and offensive linemen Anton Harri- son and Wanya Morris. Efforts have ramped up in recent weeks as the Despite the Sooners’ disappointing regular Sooners prepare for the beginning of the early season, posting a 6-6 record, Mims had his best signing period. Starting Wednesday, recruits season. He posted career-highs in receptions can officially sign their National Letter of Intent (52) and receiving yards (1,006), leading the with their respective schools. team in both categories, while adding six touch- downs. He's led the Sooners in receiving yards Venables is expected to speak Wednesday Sooners get 6th straight win behind each of the past three seasons. morning to announce the Sooners’ 2023 recruit- Gabriel also had a solid campaign in his first ing class. The class ranks eighth nationally, per year with the Sooners. He started 11 of 12 Rivals.com. Providing comfort and, Supportfor End of Life cholces dominant second half Hospice care provides medical services, emotional support, and spiritual re- Tarik Masri, The Norman know that.” quarter. sources for people who are in the last stages of a serious illn ss, such as cancer Transcript The Sooners’ five made Robertson knocked down an or heart failure. Hospice care also helps family members manage the practical three’s in the game were its outside shot midway through details and emotional challeng: of caring for a dying loved one. Oklahoma entered the sec- fewest since going 3-16 against the fourth quarter to extend ond quarter against Southern Utah. the streak to 52 games. She For questions regarding hospice service or eligibility, contact: with just a one-point lead after But on Sunday, Oklahoma finished with five points on a slow start shooting from out- was able to overcome that by two of seven shooting and was Carrie Perry, RN/ Admin: trator side and five turnovers in the first five minutes of the game. shooting 64.9% on all its shots from inside the arc. It also out- one of five from behind the rebounded the Jaguars 54-26 arc. Pat Welsh, RN/ Coordinator of Patient Care In years past the combina- tion of poor shooting and and only allowed 14 points in- ‘The easiest part of the Soon- turnovers might've been side the paint. ers’ schedule is now behind Some of the most common conditions art enough to put the Sooners’ on Madi Williams finished them. Jancer * Failure to Thrive * End Stage Cardiac Disease (CHF) upset alert. with 14 points on seven of 13 They'll close out their + End Stage Cerebrovascular Disease (CVA) © End Stage Amyotrophic On Sunday, the Sooners shooting and seven rebounds. never ended up finding their Liz Scott came just a few points non-conference schedule on Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) * End Stage Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Wednesday at the Jumpman stroke from behind the arc, shy of a double-double with * End Stage Liver Disease * End Stage Renal Disease * AIDS/HI finishing 5-22 (23%) from eight points and 10 rebounds Invitational against Florida. * End Stage Neurological Di e such as Parkinsoi or Alzheimer’s deep and they turned the ball in 21 minutes of action. Big 12 play begins 10 days over six times in the fourth “Madi really set the tone in later with a road game against quarter to finish with 23 turn- the first half, and I think Liz West Virginia before hosting carrt Perry RN Professional, Passionate overs in the game. really set the tone in the sec- Baylor at the Lloyd Noble Cen- Still, the Sooners managed ond half. Just doing simple ter on Jan. 3rd. Advance, Attentive... to pull away for a comfortable things — whether it’s defend- “Can we keep the game sim- 76-50 win. ing, whether it’s diving on the Our Difference Is Our Care ple?” Baranczyk said, “I'm so With their sixth straight win floor, whether it’s getting re- the Sooners continue to prove bounds — I just think they're excited to see if we can do that, that they aren’t just winning doing a really good job.” because if we can travel with Have you ever considered becoming games, they’re getting better ‘The Sooners onlyallowedthe the defense, we can travel with at winning games. Jaguars to score nine points in the rebounding that we've had a hospice volunteer? “We need to clean up those the second quarter to take a in these last few games, you A fulfilling experience in the spirit turnovers and the 3-point 35-28 lead into halftime. give yourself a much better shot is going to go down,” OU Ana Llanusa helped the shot than hoping you can out- of giving and receiving. head coach Jennie Baranczyk Sooners break open the game shoot other people. said. “(Poor shooting perfor- with nine points in the third “For us, I think we had a mances) are going to happen quarter on three-of-three lot of experience in the non- every once in a while. It’s not shooting. Taylor Robertson, going to happen a lot because who entered the game riding conference to see what type of we're good shooters, but when a 51-game streak of hitting at team we can be even when ev- it does happen you've got to least one 3-pointer, was score- erything’s not clicking on one find other ways and I think we Jess until late in the fourth end.”