Sports
North feeling confident
It’s going to be a tough road, but North volleyball coach Jessica Dickerson is confident that her squad has what it takes to win a state title.
The Lady Huskies play the first match of the 2008 state tournament at Moore on Friday, when they take on inner-city rival Santa Fe, which is the No. 3-ranked squad in the state. A team North is 0-2 against on the year.
Even though North enters as the underdog against the Lady Wolves, North likes its chances in a single-elimination tournament.
“I kinda like it. I think it gives the underdog a chance to win the tournament. Before, a team that was supposed to win, could drop an early match then work its way back into the championship game. It gives every team a chance,” Dickerson said.
North has won six of its last seven matches, and seems to be coming along as a team.
“We’re executing as a team. In the beginning you’re working on skills, but later in the season you get past all of that and are able to focus on playing as a team. I think as a team we are playing really well,” Dickerson said. “We’ve had a lot of players step up this year. Torie Flynn, our middle blocker, and Sam Denning, our outside hitter, have had great years. Laura Iwuchukwu has also played a big role for us and has had really good practices.”
One thing Dickerson, and all the coaches have seen this season is parity.
“All eight teams are good this year, I think there is more parity this year than there has ever been,” Dickerson said. “Any of the eight teams can win it.”
Case in point, Union, the No. 2-ranked team in the state has losses to No. 8 Broken Arrow, No. 5 Owasso, No. 3 Santa Fe, and top-ranked Memorial.
Memorial is the only team in the tournament that has escaped the upset, with its lone 6A loss coming to the Lady Redskins, at the Union tournament.
“All of our players are excited and ready to play. I just want the team to go out and play our game,” Dickerson said. “I’m very confident that this team can potentially go out and win a state title.”
North will take on Santa Fe at noon on Friday.
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Shawn Schenk redemption
The No. 1-ranked Santa Fe boy’s basketball team will be making their third straight state tournament appearance today when they take on Norman North in the quarterfinals in Skiatook.
Under head coach Shawn Schenk the Wolves have come within seconds of playing in the finals only to have it slip away. Last year’s squad was one and done, but don’t think that is about to happen this year. The Wolves have one of their most talented squads since the days of Obi Muonelo and Ekpe Udoh, and is primed for a run to the finals this weekend.
“Oh, they’re hungry,” Schenk said. “Everybody in this thing is prepared to play. I just think this team has a whole nother level they can take it to. We’re one of the best teams in the state, and there is nobody out there we can’t beat.” -
Johnson keys Memorial’s state run
Madison Johnson could only watch last year as yet another talented Edmond Memorial team had their state tournament dreams dashed. The Lady Bulldogs were in prime position to lock up a state berth against rival Santa Fe in the Area consolation finals when their floor leader went down with a torn ACL. The loss proved too much for Memorial overcome as another opportunity slipped away.
“During the game I supported them, I tried to motivate them, but we ended up losing, so it was kind of devastating for me to get hurt then,” Johnson said.
The Memorial guard didn’t need any reminders of what was at stake in her final high school season. Johnson knew the Lady Bulldogs would again be stocked with talent her senior year and anything short of state would be a disappointment. -
Bulldogs know what to expect from Bombers
The No. 7-ranked Edmond Memorial boy’s basketball team will take on a familiar foe on Thursday night at 8:30 in Skiatook, when it battles No. 5 Midwest City.
Memorial has come up on the losing end of two regular-season meetings — a close 69-67 loss at home and a 67-47 loss on the road, the Bulldogs worst loss of the season — and they are hoping the third time is the charm. -
Oklahoma Christian squads earn bids to NAIA National Tournnaments
Oklahoma Christian University basketball is not done yet, as both teams earned an at-large bid to their respective NAIA National Tournaments on Tuesday.
The Oklahoma Christian women are one of four schools from the Sooner Athletic Conference competing in the tournament. -
North girls take PCO meet
The Edmond North girls kicked off their season with a first place finish at the Putnam City Meet last Saturday.
The Lady Huskies finished with three gold medals on the day. Hannah Helker and Miranda King each took first in the 400-meter dash and pole vault competitions. Helker later joined Meredith Farley, Rachel Jeffery and Taylor Jordan on the first-place 1600-meter relay team.
On the boys side it was the Santa Fe squad coming out on top. Gunnar Nixon won both the 100-meter hurdles and high jump to lead the Wolves past Del City for the title.
The Santa Fe boys also picked up gold medals from Walter Henderson in the 100-meter dash, and in both the 400 and 1600-meter relays. -
Saints win Purcell Invitational
The Oklahoma Christian School boy’s golf team won rain-shortened Purcell Invitational on Monday, defeating Heritage Hall by two strokes.
“The first tournament is always difficult, but especially this year due to the cold wet weather and a lack of practice,” OCS head coach Cheryl Hitchcock said. “I think the boys did really well.”
Rustin Purser and Jackson Ogle each shot 1-over-par to lead the Saints. Purser won the scorecard playoff to take medalist honors. Alexander Hall took third at 3-over, while Scotty Verplank and Preston Schaefer also did well. -
Shawn Schenk Redemption
The No. 1-ranked Santa Fe boy’s basketball team will be making their third straight state tournament appearance today when they take on Norman North in the quarterfinals in Skiatook.
Under head coach Shawn Schenk the Wolves have come within seconds of playing in the finals only to have it slip away. Last year’s squad was one and done, but don’t think that is about to happen this year. The Wolves have one of their most talented squads since the days of Obi Muonelo and Ekpe Udoh, and is primed for a run to the finals this weekend.
“Oh, they’re hungry,” Schenk said. “Everybody in this thing is prepared to play. I just think this team has a whole nother level they can take it to. We’re one of the best teams in the state, and there is nobody out there we can’t beat.” -
Geter leads Bronchos to sweep of Northeastern
Brittany Geter led off the top of the seventh inning with her first career home run to lift Central Oklahoma to a 2-1 second-game victory over Northeastern State and give the Bronchos a Lone Star Conference North Division doubleheader sweep here Tuesday.
Molly Shivers pitched a six-hit shutout in a 3-0 first-game triumph before Geter came through in the nightcap as UCO improved to 11-5 on the year in the opener of league play. The two teams meet again Saturday for a 1 p.m. twinbill in Edmond. -
Jags down 'Dogs 7-2
The No. 5-ranked Edmond Memorial baseball team suffered its first setback of the season on Tuesday night, falling 7-2 to Westmoore at home.
Memorial (3-1) got in a 2-0 hole in the first inning and trailed 3-0 going into the bottom of the third before getting back into the game. -
No. 3 Wolves rout Putnam City 10-2
The No. 3-ranked Edmond Santa Fe baseball team had a streak broken but still walked away with a 10-2 win over Putnam City Original on Tuesday night on the road.
In it’s first three games the Wolves out-scored its opponents 37-0 — 13-0 win over McAlester, 13-0 win over Bonham, Texas, and a 11-0 win over Durant — but an unearned run and a earned run against Putnam City ended the streak. - More Sports Headlines
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