March 8, 2025 Issue, Page 6 of 10

Page Text

SPORTS 6• SATURDAY, MARCH 8, 2025 The Elk City News Tatum Ridling - Canute Coach Sayde Allen Maci Loyd Brooke Thomas Destiny Jackson Luke Peffeer Dylan Naidoo Christopher Bell Kendall Schuster Kynli Carlson Stefanos Tsitsipas Jordan Spieth Amateur & Local Sports By Alex Alvarez seeking a second state title in a row. And speaking about Mer- LOCAL GIRLS KEEP ritt: both, the boys and the girl PLAYING THEIR WAY (Oilers and Oilerettes) teams INTO THE BASKET- achieved the honor of Academ- BALL STATE TOURNA- ic State Champions! Ryan Peake Rickie Fowler John Highsmith Luke Clanton MENT…… It was the first time that both Mong, #5 Gracie Carnes, #15 Nebraska; “Last Four In” Okla- OKLAHOMA COLLEGES the Houston Cougars with an Our local rising stars are boys and girls from the same Alli Britton and #24 Ainsley homa Sooners, Indiana, Ohio OKLAHOMA UNIVERSI- overall record of 25-4 and 15-1 making gyms hosting the school, achieve that honor at Partain; to coach Sean Hamm State and Texas; “First Four TY BASKETBALL in conference. basketball regional and area the same time, and the third and his starters: #10 Lucy Out” Georgia, North Caroli- The Oklahoma Sooners re- tournaments erupt in cheers time in a row for the girls’ team! O’Hara, #5 Campbell Garba- na, Boise State and Xavier; and mained in 13th place in the OKLAHOMA STATE from their family and friends. CONGRATULATIONS! rino, #11 Kaz Ulrich, #22 Ella “Next Four Out” Wake Forest, Southeastern Conference. They GOLF Merritt Oilerettes (2-A), Elk And more news from Mer- Sotille, #30 Abby Brown; and SMU, Cincinnati, Villanova. lost their last two games in close The Golf team flew south of City Elkettes (4-A) and Canute ritt: Luke Peffer, a senior from finally, to coach Tatum Ridling The eight teams to play for the matches: 84-87 vs Ole Miss and the border to Cabo San Lucas Trojanettes (A), continue their the boys’ team, achieved the and her starting girls: #1 Maci last four spots in the 64-tourna- 82-83 vs Kentucky. Their last to play the Cabo Collegiate at winning play. goal of 1,000 points during his Loyd, #2 Destiny Jackson, #3 ment field: top from Southern two season games will be Mar Twin Dolphin Club. On the Both Merritt and Canute play at Merritt (in less games Sandy Allen, #11 Kynli Carlson Conf vs top from American 5 vs Missouri (A) and March 8 first day, they held second with have reached the State Tour- than others who have achieved and #30 Kendall Schuster. Con- Conf; Ohio St vs Texas; Okla- vs Texas (H). The Conference a score of minus 3, 281 on the nament already and will be the same goal). Evidently the gratulations to all and thank homa vs Indiana and Marist vs leaders are the Auburn Tigers Par 71 course. Arizona State playing in the “Big House” at Peffer family is gifted with two you for the thrilling season! SE Missouri St. with an overall record of 27-2 held the lead at 8 under par. The the State Fairgrounds. The State great athletes, as Luke’s older Top 16 have not changed: and 15-1 in conference. tournament ended on Tuesday Tournament hosts eight teams sister, Jamie, is already playing NCAA PRELIMINARY South Region: #1-Auburn; in two brackets. Win three basketball in college! MARCH MADNESS 16 #2-Texas A&M, #3-Wisconsin, OKLAHOMA STATE UNI- OKLAHOMA SOONER games and you’re State Cham- Meanwhile, 4A Area games TOP TEAMS #4-Texas Tech VERSITY BASKETBALL GOLF pion! are being played at the same With the latest results, ac- West Region: #1-Florida, The Cowboys stayed 2 spots The team is in Las Vegas and Canute played and lost the time at Stroud, OK and the cording to ESPN’s last Sunday’s #2-Houston, #3-Kentucky, from last in the Big-12 Con- two of their starters had food first game of the State Tourna- Elkettes will be there on Thurs- predictions, the top seed in the #4-Michigan ference. Their overall record is poisoning: Ryder Cowan, who ment 35-40 versus Seiling. It day. The tournament is Thurs- NCAA Tournament will be Midwest Region: #1-Ala- 14-15 with a 6-12 conference played but shot 80, and Trout was a tough road to the State day-Saturday. As in the State Auburn, no surprise here. First bama, #2-Purdue. #3-Iowa record. Their last two games who stayed in the hotel. The Tournament by beating Chey- Tournament, one loss and sea- team out, Georgia, and “Last State. #4-Kansas were: loss to Baylor 61-71 and result was that the #4 ranked ene/Reydon in overtime 29- son is over, but the girls have a Team in” will be Texas. This is East Region: #1-Duke, win vs Iowa State 74-68. Their Sooners had a +19 start and 27. We are proud of all of you. say so! changing daily. “On the Bub- #2-Tennessee, #3-Arizona, #4- last two games will be: Mar 5 vs were in 14th place after the first Merritt plays their first game A big shout to Merritt’s coach ble”: Last Four Byes: Baylor, St. Johns UCF (H)and Mar 8 vs Cincin- round. Better tournament re- on Thursday March 6, after Jeff Daugherty and his starters: San Diego State, Arkansas & nati (A). Conference leader is sults to come! this issue is in print. Merritt is #3 Myleigh Flowers, #22 Marlie Professional Inidividual Sports By Alex Alvarez ment by two shots. John was eight jumped to 123rd, now he is 10th! member who was sent to jail for Africa, birdied the first playoff met in the 2020 Dubai final, and shots behind first and second Pretty good climb the last two five years! Actually, it was a great hole and won his country’s open Novak scored a win in straight GOLF round leader long hitting Jake weeks! He is now exempt to the day for golf and redemption! Aus- championship, which also quali- sets for his fifth and most recent PGA TOUR: COGNIZANT Knapp who had won in the previ- Players Championship, all events tralian Ryan Peake, who, after fied him to play in the 153 Open Dubai trophy. World no. 11 faced CLASSIC ous week in Mexico. Knapp set a in the PGA Tour, 2-year exemp- leaving jail began rebuilding his Championship in July. It was the Felix Auger-Aliassime in the final So much to talk about the PGA course record of 59 on Thursday, tion on the PGA Tour, he is in the game under Richie Smith, earned seventh time in a row that a South and earned a 6-3, 6-3 victory in an Tournament at Palm Beach Gar- followed by rounds of 70-68-72 to Masters and The PGA Champi- his Australasian Tour card, won African wins their open champi- hour and 28 minutes for his 12th dens! Snubs to Rickie Fowler and tie for 6th place at 15 under par. onship as well, and with a couple the New Zealand Open with onship. ATP title. Jordan Spieth to next week’s Ar- J.J. Spaun, one of the best tee-to- of more high finishes, will be ex- rounds of 67-64-64-66 by one nold Palmer Invitational, instead, green players on tour ended up empt in the U.S. Open as well. over South African Ian Snyman TENNIS NASCAR: the four sponsors’ exemptions in a tie for second at 17 under par One more story to finish PGA and Australian Jack Thompson. Stefanos Tsitsipas entered this Driving is a tough individual went to Rafael Campos, Justin with Jacob Bridgeman. Tour golf: Luke Clanton (Florida The win did not come easy, as he week’s ATP 500 Dubai event with sport that requires more than just Rose, Min Woo Lee and Mack- Rickie Fowler, a former Players State University), the #1 Amateur had to make a testy 10 footer on a mediocre 3-4 score in the open- good coordination: it requires lost enzie Hughes. Neither Mackenzie Champion (2015) made the news in the world and on top of the “25 the last hole to avoid a playoff. ing four tournaments of 2025. of courage to drive at 190-240 Hughes nor Rafael Campos made when he confronted a fan after he College Golfers” worthy to get With his win, he is now a qualifi- The Greek found his A-game and mph alongside others just inches the cut in Florida. Jordan Spieth missed a putt, when the fan made PGA Tour cards, earned his PGA er for the Open Championship at bested five rivals to lift his first away! The Texas near Austin TX tied for 9th at 14 under par and fun of him for missing a short Tour card and finished 18th in the Royal Portrush on July 17-20. ATP trophy in ten months. Tsitsi- at Circuit of the Americas race Rickie Fowler tied for 18th and 12 putt: “Of course you know! That’s tournament. He will remain am- Coming up on the PGA Tour: pas also broke the spell, conquer- was won by Christopher Bell fol- under par. why you’re in the stands”, re- ateur until the end of the NCAA Arnold Palmer Invitational on ing his first ATP 500 title after lowed by William Byron. Swim- But the big story was 24-year- sponded Rickie. Fitting response! Championships in May of this March 6-9; The Players Champi- losing the first 11 finals! Novak ming Star Riley Gaines gave the old John Highsmith who made Now to the winner: John year. onship on March 13-16. Djokovic congratulated Stefanos opening prayer. the cut on “the number” at five Highsmith. Before the tourna- on the title and joked with his ri- Sources: On Line, MSN Sports, under par, then followed by scor- ment in Mexico, John was 184th NEW ZEALAND OPEN DP WORLD TOUR - SOUTH val. The Serb stated that “No one ESPN, Wikipdia, PGA Tour.com ing 64-64 (fourteen under par) on in the FedEx Cup points, then, It was a good day in New Zea- AFRICAN OPEN beats Stefanos Tsitsipas 12 times the weekend to win the tourna- after a 14th place finish there, he land for a former motorcycle gang Dylan Naidoo, from South in a row!” on ATP 500 level. They By Alex Alvarez Professional Team Sports thought: the leading scorer is at Other NBA Headlines: season results: Loss to Dodgers against stronger competition. by Dallas Stars (*) with 80 points; 34.3 per game, the 34th place is Anthony Edwards was once 3-8; Loss to Chicago Cubs 5-10; Other MLB Headlines: Pacific Division: Vegas Golden NBA at 32.8, less than two points be- again spectacular against the Win vs White Socs 3-1; Loss vs Astros say longtime second Knights lead with 78 points, fol- The Oklahoma City Thunder tween them, that tells you how Phoenix Suns on Sunday night, Oakland Athletics 4-6; Loss vs baseman Jose Altuve expected lowed by Edmonton Oilers with continues giving Oklahomans great and competitive the top scoring 44 points in a 116-98 Cincinnati 3-7; Loss vs Kan- to play mostly in left field this 74 points. great hope for a championship by NBA players are! victory. The Minnesota Timber- sas City Royals 4-10. We have season Eastern Conference: dominating the Northwest Divi- LEADERS BY DIVISION: wolves superstar was a perfect not seen if Kash Mayfield has Mike Moustakas to retire with Atlantic Division: Toronto sion in the Western Conference. Western Conference: North- 14-of-14 from the free-throw pitched any of the games, but Royals, will sign a one day con- Maple Leafs 78 Points, Florida With a record of 46-11, they are west, Oklahoma Thunder (49- line and enjoyed every minute of according to baseball expert Ben tract Panthers with 79 points. 8 games ahead of the Denver 11); Pacific, Los Angeles Lakers his performance, dancing while Weinrib, Kash is one of the top Pirates place right hand pitch- Metropolitan Division: Wash- Nuggets who have a 38-20 re- (38-21); Southwest Memphis dribbling and letting the Suns 25 “Exciting Prospects set for er Johan Oviedo in 60 day injury ington Capitals with 86 points, cord. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Grizzlies (38-22) home crowd know about it after Full Season Debuts in the Major list followed by Carolina Hurricanes leads the NBA with an average Eastern Conference: Atlantic, every big play. Why do you play Leagues in 2025”, saying: Teams Even if MLB commissioner with 74 points. of 34.3 points per game, having Boston Celtics (43-18); Central, so well against Phoenix? “Be- didn’t have much data on the Rob Manfred lifts baseball’s per- Other NHL Headlines: played 56 games. Also, with an Cleveland Cavaliers (50-10); cause I play against the GOAT, prep lefty heading into the 2024 manent ban on Pete Rose today, Florida Panthers Matthew Tk- average of 34.2 points per game Southwest, Miami Heat (28-31) Kevin Durant and I want to beat Draft since he didn’t pitch in any it would take at least three years achuck our for the season with is Giannis Antetokounmpo, (*). him!” major showcase events, but May- for the Hit King to be inducted groin injury from Milwaukee, but has played Best Winning Streaks as of Thunder-Spurs game turns field’s strong spring cemented into the National Baseball Hall of Golden Knights sweep season 44 games. Jaden Williams, from Monday, are the Cleveland Cav- ugly with scuffle as multiple his place as a first-round Draft Fame. That is because of the pro- series with the Devils the Oklahoma City Thunder, has aliers with 10 straight wins. Next players ejected. prospect thanks to increased ve- cess, not eligibility. Is Alex Ovechkin close to an average of 32.8 in 54 games best is six by the Los Angeles Knicks Star Guard, Jalen locity and his long-established breaking Wayne Gretzky’s career and holds the 34th best scorer Lakers. Worst streak is 6 straight Brunson, wins Player of Week strike-throwing ability. The NATIONAL HOCKEY goals record? He is within 10 spot in the NBA. Cleveland Cav- losses by the Carlotte Hornets. Award. Oklahoma native’s first foray into LEAGUE goals, so you answer the ques- aliers had a slightly better record (*) – Miami Heat is the only pro ball will paint an even better Western Conference: tion! with the same number of wins team that is leading their division MLB picture, with tangible pitch data Central Division: Winnipeg Sources: On Line, MSN and one less loss at 46-10. Just a with a losing record. Latest San Diego Padres pre- to go along with how he fares Jets lead with 88 points, followed Sports, ESPN, Wikipdia.