March 25, 2023 Issue, Page 3 of 8

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Sports March 25, 2023 The Elk City News -3 Cowboys fall ‘below the expectations’ with Sooners battle season-ending loss to North Texas in NIT back, fall in second Jon Walker, Stillwater NewsPress dropped a game-high 23 points, let it fly “There’s a reason you want a guy like from nearly 30 feet away over a 6-foot-9 that at the line because you feel confident round to UCLA Oklahoma State coach Mike Boynton defender in OSU guard Woody Newton. he’s gonna make them,” Boynton said of knew that'd be the final time this season Bang. Asberry, who shoots 83.7 percent from Tarik Masri, The Norman Transcript that he'd walk out of Gallagher-Iba Arena. “A lot of times, you're guarding them the stripe. “Sometimes the ball doesn’t ‘There wasn’t an alternative. for the whole shot clock. So, now you just go in, and there's not really a whole lot of Several times throughout Monday's game, Oklahoma ap- peared to be on the verge of another second round exit in the A win over North Texas on Tuesday need one quick stop for five seconds, get a explanation for it. If we put him out there NCAA Tournament. evening would've sent the Cowboys to rebound and then you're off to the races,” tomorrow, and we had the same situation, ‘The first came early in the game. The Sooners turned the ball Las Vegas for the NIT semifinals. A loss Cowboys junior guard Bryce Thompson over 13 times in the first half to trail UCLA by as many as 18 T’m confident he'd make them.” would've stopped their season right in itssaid. “Sometimes, they just go in for ‘em.” points with 4:49 remaining in the first half. tracks, bringing an unwelcome end to the “T've seen him make so many crazy All of that is behind the Cowboys now, Oklahoma played good defense to close out the half trail- campaign less than two weeks after being shots,” UNT coach Grant McCasland. though. And there isn’t another game ing 41-28, holding the Bruins scoreless over the final 2:45 of the first team left out of the NCAA Tour- “He's just got a gift for putting the ball to get ready for. There isn’t room left to game time. The Sooners opened up the third quarter outscor- nament. in the hole, ... He’s elusive enough to get improve and try to do better next time. ing UCLA 20-9 over the first nine minutes to take the lead ona In the aftermath of the Pokes’ 65-59, shots off, and he’s lethal when he does.” ‘There's no turning the page on a story jumper by Ana Llanusa. ‘The Sooners started to struggle again in the fourth. They overtime loss to the Mean Green, Boyn- The Cowboys (20-16) failed to capitalize that's already unexpectedly concluded. didn’t score for the first six minutes of the final period and ton did exactly as he’s done following ev- in overtime, being outscored 10-4 by the Boynton and Co. will set onward in their trailed by 10 with just over 1:30 remaining. ery single home game. He made his way Mean Green (29-7) throughout the final quest to return the program to the pin- Even still, the Sooners put up a fight until the end. They cut through the handshake line and to the five minutes. They went 0-for-4 after Per- nacle of college basketball. Over the next the lead to six points with 0:50 remaining when Madi Williams venue's northern baseline, locked arms ry's dagger, with their only point coming converted a three-point-play. few weeks, that'll include tough heart-to- Needing a big stop, Williams fouled UCLA’s Charisma Os- with those around him and sang the from Newton hitting a free throw. hearts about what lies ahead for players borne on a 3-point shot on the ensuing possession, and the school’s alma mater, and used his next 11 ‘That wasn’t the only opportunity they steps to walk off Eddie Sutton court to- squandered, either. with remaining eli ibility. And come sum- Sooners’ hopes of advancing to their Sweet 16 since 2013 were over. ward a somber locker room. Standing at the free-throw line with mer, that'll include welcoming a top-10 ‘The Sooners ended up falling, 82-73, to fall in the round of “Certainly fell below the expectations two shots in front of him and 20.5 sec- recruiting class to Stillwater. 32 for the second straight season. that I have — and we all have — for the onds remaining, OSU senior guard Caleb But after making his way off the court, Williams carried the Sooners offensively with 24 points on program this year,” Boynton said in his Asberry had a chance to snap a 55-55 tie into a room full of reporters and up to the 7-14 shooting and six assists. Llanusa added 15 points on 6-11 opening statement. “Tonight, in particu- and put the Cowboys ahead. lectern, none of that was at the forefront shooting, but outside of those two scorers, the Sooners were lar, North Texas just played a little bit Capitalizing on the seismic opportu- of Boynton’s mind. What’s to come didn’t 7-33 from the floor. better. ... They move forward, and our sea- nity by making both — or one, even — Taylor Robertson was held in check offensively with just two matter right then. Everything that had points on four shot attempts and no makes from behind the son’s over, So, we move on.” would’ve put the Pokes in prime position happened in the five months of basketball arc. The NCAA's career 3-point leader entered the game hav- Stuck in the thick of a 58-58 tie with to advance to the NIT semifinals. It also leading up to that moment did. ing made at least one 3-pointer in 74 consecutive games dating two minutes to play in overtime, UNT’s would’ve erased all of their offensive mis- “I'm not here to make excuses,” he said. back two seasons. Kai Huntsberry couldn't fight through haps up to that point. Being able to sur- The Sooners shot 41% from the floor and were outrebounded “We didn’t meet the expectations of the OSU's defense for the shot that he want- vive and advance, of course, would've out- 35-28. The Bruins were able to hold on for the win late despite program that I have or that I'm sure our dealing with foul trouble. ed. A switch on a ball screen left guard weighed a 17-point first half that featured Tylor Perry — the Conference USA Player the Cowboys going 8 of 26 from the field fans have. It’s my job to make sure we get Gabriela Jaquez, Camryn Brown and Lina Sontag fouled out of the Year and the Mean Green's leading and 1 of 11 from deep. better.” of the game and two other players finished with four fouls. Os- borne led the Bruins in scoring with 36 points on 11-21 shoot- scorer — searching for a worthwhile look. But Asberry blanked at the stripe, and Follow News Press sports reporter Jon ing and a pair of 3-pointers. But, with the shot clock winding down, fellow senior guard John-Michael Wright Walker on Twitter @ByJonWalker for up- Sontag finished with four blocks and five rebounds. he had to take the one that was given. missed the second chance after an offen- dates on Oklahoma State athletics, Still- ‘The Sooners close out the season 26-7 and the Bruins ad- Perry, who stands at 5-foot-11 and sive rebound with 3.7 seconds left to play. water High sports and more. vance to the Sweet 16 to face No. 1 seed South Carolina. Cowboys have worst finish in program history at national tournament Jason Elmquist, tillwater time being held in Tulsa. since the NCAA expanded by Penn State with just 21 first consolation round match “I don’t think he had a NewsPress, With the second-fewest All- team scoring to award sev- team points. Friday morning to end his good weekend of wrestling. I Americans in a single tourna- enth- and eighth-place finish- But John Smith elected to tournament — had to be hos- thought he got tight the last TULSA — Oklahoma State ment and the first time with- ers starting in 2001. It is the look at the bigger picture after pitalized due to an infection two matches, which can hap- the historic finish at the na~ pen,” Smith said. “I mean, in his arm. Smith attended to had the program's worst finish out a finalist since 2018, the fewest points scored, period, Wittlake following Friday's things can happen and you im- tional tournament. at the NCAA national wres- Cowboys managed just 28.5 since 11 points in the 1953 evening session and said the prove from them. We've seen Two weeks removed from tling tournament in its first points — the fewest points tournament — which was won finishing runner-up to Mis- Coos Bay, Oregon, native was him do a lot of great things souri in the Big 12 Conference expected to remain in the hos- over the course since he’s been championships, the Cowboys pital a few more days. at Oklahoma State with inter- Providing comfort and Supportfor End of Life cholces had four other conference “{t needed some care, but it nationals and folkstyle wres- programs (Missouri, Iowa happened pretty quick,” Smith tling. He’s a winner, and win- South Dakota State and said. “He'll probably spend ners find ways to win again.” Hospice care provides medical serv ces, emotional support, and spiritual re- State, Northern Iowa) finish ahead some time in the hospital as of ‘The future of Fix is techni- sources for people who are in the last stages of a serious illness, such as cancer of them, while tying with con- right now.” cally still a question mark, as or heart failure. Hospice care also helps family members manage the practical ference affiliate Air Force. Oklahoma State could have he hasn't completely come out details and emotional challe: s of caring for a dying loved one. “As a season, you go 14-3 improved its standing in the and stated he was returning (in duals), and I know every- team scoring Saturday morn- next season — but has alluded For questions regarding hospice service or eligibility, contact: thing's judged on the national ing with Daton Fix (133) and that he intended to in other tournament — that's fine,” the Dustin Plott (174) looking words, Carrie Perry, RN/ Adminsistrator Cowboy wrestling coach said. to close out the tournament And his college coach has “I know that we've had two strong. However, the pair com- heeded those words, as well. Pat Welsh, RN/ Coordinator of Patient Care poor tournaments in a row; bined to go 1-3 in their four “{ do (expect to have Fix that’s not fine. But we don't matches to give little to the back),” Smith said. “I hope so.” neglect mentioning the effort team scoring. Plott, Fix’s fellow All-Amer- Some of the most common conditions are: by my team and the work that Fix, who failed to make the ican, lost both of his matches * Cancer * Failure to Thrive * End Stage Cardiac isease (CH they put in — because there national finals for the first Saturday — first an 8-2 deci- * End Stage Cerebrovascular Disease (CVA) * End Stage Amyotrophic was a lot of work put in. time in his four years of col- sion to No. 3 seed Mekhi Lewis Lateral Sclerosis LS) * End Stage Pulmonary Disease (COPD) “We knew from the very be- legiate competition, won his of Virginia Tech — and then * End Stage Liver Disease * End Stage Renal Disease * AIDS/HIV ginning, this season was going consolation semifinal match Jost another closely contested * End Stage Neurological Disease such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s to be really challenging. It was with a 6-4 decision over Min- meeting with Iowa's Nelson a challenging season, a hard nesota's Aaron Nagao to set up Brands, The Hawkeye clipped season.” a rematch with Arizona State’s the Cowboy by one point in carrte Another bigger picture sce- Michael McGee — whom Fix the regular season dual, then Perry, Professional, Passionate ¢ RN nario for Oklahoma State was beat in the semifinals of last got a sudden victory takedown a scare that fell upon the pro- year’s tournament. on the edge of the mat in the Advance, Attentive... gram Friday night. McGee got the better of the fifth-place match to mark Our Difference Is Our Care Smith, who normally speaks Cowboy wrestler thanks to Plott’s second-straight sixth- with the media following each building just over a minute of place finish at the national day's two sessions at the na- riding time to earn a 2-1 de- tournament. tional tournament, wasn’t cision — which nearly ended Follow News Press sports Hav you ever considered becoming available. And he let it be in Fix’s favor as a takedown editor Jason Elmquist on a hospice volunteer? known why that was. attempt on the edge of the Twitter @jelmquistSW for up- He said former All-American mat in the final seconds was dates on Oklahoma State and A fulfilling experience in the spirit Travis Wittlake — who lost his deemed out of bounds. high school athletics. of giving and receiving. Start your subscription today! Call 580-225-3000 or stop by 109 W. Broadway in Elk City