From the moment Lance Harper steps out on the floor, there’s little doubt he’s the leader of the Central Oklahoma men’s squad. The 6-foot-6 senior plays with an unmatched level of intensity and has developed into one of the elite players in the Lone Star Conference.
But when the former Edmond Memorial standout stepped on campus three years ago, he wasn’t even sure he’d even crack the roster.
“I had no idea what to expect when I came here,” Harper said. “I had no idea I’d be having this much fun, especially down the stretch, when you see your goals in sight, it’s an unbelievable feeling.”
As a senior at Edmond Memorial, Harper knew he wanted to play college ball, but after drawing only a few offers, he decided to give up his dream and headed to the University of Oklahoma to focus on academics. But that itch never faded.
“After my second year I started missing it, intramurals wasn’t cutting it for me, I called Coach (Terry) Evans and talked to him about walking on and that spring he let me try out.”
Evans was immediately impressed with Harper’s long frame and high basketball IQ, but wasn’t sold on him.
“When he transferred he wasn’t real strong, not really in shape and I told him unless he got in the weight room and got in shape he wouldn’t get to play,” Evans said.
Harper heeded the advice, adding muscle to his lean frame, while also steadily improving his game. During his rookie year with the Bronchos, Harper quickly developed into a solid reserve and stepped it up a notch last year and was named an All-Lone Star Conference North Division honorable mention, after averaging 10.6 points, 4.5 rebound per game. Harper credits the success to his friend and former teammate Sam Belt.
“I can’t explain how much I learned from Sam, just seeing how he took everything in stride and became one of the best players in the country,” Harper said. “I just kind of sat back and watched how he developed and how great of a player he was. I don’t like being compared (to Belt), but I learned a lot of my stuff from him.”
But with Belt gone, it was time for Harper to do it on his own. The senior answered the call with a breakout year and is among LSC leaders in scoring (16.8), rebounding (7.8) and field goal percentage (.555).
Just talking about Harper’s meteoric rise is enough to bring a smile to his coach’s face. Evans said he believed Harper could contribute as a defender, but has been pleasantly surprised by his versatility and leadership skills.
“Lance took it as a challenge and he’s made himself into a great player,” Evans said. “I’ve been most proud of him as a leader. When he first came he would hardly say a word, last year he just did his job, but this year he’s really stepped into that leadership role and really surprised me in that area.”
Evans is hoping Harper and the talented UCO squad can keep it up down the stretch. After a spectacular 2007-08 campaign they have picked it up a notch this season and could host regional tournament with a strong finish. They earned no worse than a tie for the LSC North men's title and can claim the crown outright tonight with a win over Texas A&M-Commerce;.
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Edmond Memorial graduate Lance Harper has started every game for the Bronchos this season, and is leading the team in scoring, at 16.8 points a game. Drew Harmon
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Harper blossoms for Bronchos
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UCO Endeavor Games athletes qualify for 2014 world championship powerlifting team
At the University of Central Oklahoma’s Endeavor Games for Athletes with Physical Disabilities June 6-9, four athletes qualified for the 2014 World Championships in the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) powerlifting competition.
The qualifying athletes include Trevor Bunch from O’Fallon, Mo.; who is making his World Championships debut; Scott Danberg from Cooper City, Fla., a five-time Paralympian; Bryce Segura from New Iberia, La., who is competing in his first World Championships; and Mary Stack from Ann Arbor, Mich., a four-time Paralympian. -
Two UCO rowers named All-American
Central Oklahoma rowers Jenna Goodner and Michaela Stam have been named to the NCAA Division II All-America Team, it was announced by the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association.
Goodner was a first-team selection, while Stam was a second-team choice. All-America selections take into account a candidate’s strength of schedule, regular season record, end of season regatta results, nomination rank, coach’s comments and 2,000-meter ergometer score. -
The remembrance remains fresh
The celebration is not over.
The Deer Creek girls basketball team continued to relive March’s state basketball championship Friday at Deer Creek High School with a Class 5A state championship ring ceremony.
Head coach Totsy Manning greeted each of her players by presenting them with a title ring.
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Traffic shouldn’t be an issue with upcoming national soccer tournament
About 15,000 people are expected at the U.S. Youth Soccer Southern Regional at the Edmond Soccer Complex on Danforth Road near Kelly Avenue June 21-27.
The number of out-of-state guests should not be a problem according to Assistant City Manager Steve Commons. The tournament will attract more than 200 boys and girls teams, ages Under-13 through Under-19, from the 12 state associations that make up U.S. Youth Soccer Region III (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, north Texas, Oklahoma, South Carolina, south Texas and Tennessee).
As a matter of fact, Commons feels very upbeat about the prospect of Edmond hosting the national tournament. -
LaFaye takes Pick-A-Partner crown with 135
The KickingBird Men’s Golf Assocation’s Pick-A-Partner was won by Robert LaFaye Saturday with a 135.
Sean Conrad took second (136) while Kevin Wright and Kevin O’Neil deadlocked for third place at 137. -
UCO overtakes Division II foes for national title
Starting out the postseason, the University of Central Oklahoma Bronchos softball team puttered out in the MIAA Tournament.
But UCO shifted it into another gear when the rounds of regionals began and rode the wild momentum going undefeated en route to securing the NCAA II national championship over Kutztown (Pa.) in Salem, Va.
The Bronchos dominated, going 9-0 straight through to the national title contest on May 27. -
2013 US Youth Soccer Region III Championships to bring more than $8 million to Edmond area
he 2013 US Youth Soccer Region III (South) Championships presented by the National Guard, to be played June 21-27, will provide an estimated economic impact of more than $8 million to the Edmond area.
Local restaurants, hotels, retail stores and others will benefit from the more than 3,600 players, coaches, teams and tournament officials, along with an estimated 12,000 spectators attending the seven-day tournament. Visitors to the Edmond area will book an estimated 10,000 room nights at area hotels.
The top 200 Boys and Girls US Youth Soccer teams from Region III, including at least 19 teams from the host Oklahoma Soccer Association, will compete at the Edmond Soccer Club Complex. -
Memorial graduate Morris totes home MVP trophy
It’s always good when Oklahoma beats Texas in anything and Saturday night’s 101-95 victory by Oklahoma over Texas in the annual Faith 7 Basketball Bowl at Oklahoma Baptist University's Noble Complex was a real cause for celebration.
But the happiest person in the gym might have been Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall. You might remember that Marshall and his band of opportunistic Shockers shocked the basketball world and several NCAA experts with their improbable run to the much coveted Final 4 in April.
But Marshall, one of the clinic speakers during the annual Oklahoma Basketball Coaches Association annual festival, didn't want to talk about the Shockers’ monumental achievements of the spring. His big grin and jovial nature could easily have been a glimpse into the Wichita State future. -
Stars’ Crabaugh, Jensen become MLB draftees
Oklahoma City University’s Cody Crabaugh and Chase Jensen have been chosen in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Saturday.
The San Diego Padres took Jensen in the 22nd round with the 658th overall selection, while the Miami Marlins picked Crabaugh, a former Edmond North player, in the 32nd round with the 952nd choice.
Crabaugh, a senior right-handed pitcher from Edmond, compiled a 13-2 record and 2.12 earned run average, three complete games, a shutout and 77 strikeouts in 93.1 innings pitched this year.
In the NAIA, Crabaugh ranked fourth in wins this year. He led the SAC in wins and ranked second in ERA to his teammate Derek Howell. Crabaugh struck out seven in eight innings, both season highs, against Mid-America Christian on May 3 in the SAC Tournament. His whitewashed St. Gregory's on March 20 in Shawnee, Okla. He became a second-team NAIA all-American and first-team all-SAC selection this season. -
UCO Endeavor Games come to a close
The UCO Endeavor Games for athletes with physical disabilites began with clinics used for warm-ups for competitors and a learning session for athletes new to the sports.
From beginners to Paralympians, the competitive fields wound down on Sunday throughout the Edmond area.
The UCO Endeavor Games are Wheelchair and Ambulatory Sports, USA level 3 sanctioned event. Athletes ages 7-21 are encouraged to use their Endeavor Games results to qualify for the National Junior Disability Championship (NJDC). NJDC is the largest multi-sport, multi-disability event for juniors in the United States.
The WASUSA premier event brings together hundreds of athletes with physical disabilities from all over North America to compete in archery, field, table tennis, track, swimming, and weightlifting. - More Sports Headlines
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UCO Endeavor Games athletes qualify for 2014 world championship powerlifting team
