January 7, 2020 Issue, Page 8 of 10

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Page 10 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Tuesday, January 7, 2020 Canute girls basketball team off to hot start By Don Munsch Editor “All four of them are go- score well enough to make Dawson said. out he won’t let them scrim- they are,” he said. “We stick Canute’s girls basketballing to, by the time this year’s up for it,” he said. “We just Dawson likes the makeup mage in practice because to the basics in practice; we team has been one of the top over, score over 1,000 points don’t want teams to be able of his team. he is scared they might hurt beat up on other teams.” The teams in Class A this year, for their career. So, pretty to pull it out and try to slow “T wouldn’t trade them for each other. “ Trojanettes play Hobart at and coach Bobby Dawson special group right there.” the game down. And we anybody,” he said, pointing That’s how competitive home today. said he will be able to rely The fifth starter will be shoot the 3 really well.” on multiple players in each game this season. junior Sydney Thrasher. “She’s pretty much split He said the team can al- ways improve defensively, Can the Big 12's football fortunes be The team, whose record is time with my first girl off the and the team can always cut reversed after a disastrous bowl season? 12-3, will start four seniors bench, Kylee Smith, who’s a down on turnovers on the By Berry Tramel But in 2007, the Big 12 king, and easy lies the head this season. freshman,” Dawson said. offensive side of the ball, al- The Oklahoman, Okla- had four teams in the final that wears the crown -- was “They’re all really good Last year’s team went though Canute doesn’t turn homa City Associated Press top 10: but a mustard seed. seniors, too,” Dawson said. 23-7 and advanced to the the ball over a ton. No. 4 Missouri, No. 7 Kan- The Big 12 and the SEC “T couldn’t even tell you who state tournament. The Tro- Dawson hopes to make an- Big 12 football came to a sas, No. 8 Oklahoma, No. 10 were virtual equals in 2007. our best player is. All four of janettes’ strength this year other run at the state tourney merciful season’s end New Texas. Those were the days, They even had the same them could be our best play- has been in their ability to and then have some success Year’s Night. Georgia beat my friend. OU and Texas number of schools. But er on any given night.” play fast, score well and go when the Trojanettes get Baylor 26-14 in the Sugar carrying the Big 12 banner, then Florida beat OU in the Those players are Haley up tempo and make teams there; the team lost the first Bowl, and the Big 12 limped with help from North Divi- 2008 title game, Alabama Schreck, Kirstyn Strain, uncomfortable by pressing game at state last year. Ca- home with a 1-5 post-season sion schools. beat Texas in the 2009 title Kylie Savage and Madison and getting up and down the nute will play several ranked record. game and Auburn beat Or- The Longhorns were only Faylor. “All of them aver- floor, Dawson said. teams this season that will Only Texas delivered a two years removed from egon in the 2010 title game. age double figures [each “Sometimes, that costs us only help players get bet- victory, a 38-10 whipping the 2005 national title. The The next summer, Nebraska game],” Dawson said. to give up easy stuff, but we ter as the season continues, of Utah in the Alamo Bowl. Southeastern — Conference was in the Big Ten and Colo- The Utes were a good team; had won back-to-back na- rado was in the Pac-12, and ‘Just a classy dude’: Nerlens they arrived in San Anto- nio with an 11-2 record and tional titles but just six of the previous 27 championships. soon enough Texas A&M and Missouri had joined the Big 12/Big Eight teams had Noel first got to know ranked 11th nationally. SEC. Utah thus becomes the Big won seven of the previous Conference tides run in 12’s best victory of the 2019 27 championships. cycles. But not this one. Thunder coach Billy Donovan season, and nothing else is close. The Big 12 had zero The college football nar- In the last decade, the SEC tative that now is considered has soared, the Big 12 has dipped. on the recruiting trail non-conference wins over Power 5 opponents with so bedrock gospel -- the SEC is much as a 500 record. Mis- By Maddie Lee This season, Donovan how to get along with people sissippi State and Boston The Oklahoman, Okla- has called on Noel's pass- and set the vibes right. He's a College, both 6-7, are the homa City ing ability more often than leader in his own right, and 1 most notable conquered this The first time Billy Dono- last year. And Noel has em- saw that early on. That's why side of Utah. Both fired their America’s van saw Nerlens Noel play braced the familiar role. En- Florida was in my Top 3." coaches after the season. basketball, the lanky center tering the Thunder's game Noel sped up his recruit- Compounding such a Drive-In. was in high school. at Cleveland on Saturday, ment process in February dubious season was OU’s Donovan, then head coach the OKC center is average 2012. He re-classified to the Peach Bowl debacle against at Florida, had already led 12 assists per game off the Class of 2012 and set up a LSU, a 63-28 browbeating the Gators to back-to-back bench. That's double his as- series of college visits. He in the playoff semifinals. national titles, in 2006 and sist production last season. originally planned to visit 2007 suddenly seems far 2007. But that was a few And he's doing it with a Florida but committed to away. Which heck, maybe it years before the height of coach that eight years ago Kentucky before making it is -- 13 years ago; 2007 was kept showing up at both a Noel's recruitment. In 2012, down to Gainesville. in the decade before last. Noel's last year of high New Hampshire school gym "Florida was up there for school, Kentucky won the and Noel's AAU games. me," Noel recalled earlier NCAA championship. "He (Donovan) command- this season, "but I just want- Donovan said he figured ed respect with his profes- ed to wrap it up. It was tough out "pretty quickly" that sionalism," Tilton School for me because I wanted to Noel wasn't going to end up coach Marcus O'Neil said in get down there. IfI had to re- at Florida. "But I tried going into a phone interview. "When he was talking to a high school do it, I definitely would." Noel and Donovan's paths Sunday, January 12 ¢ 2:00-4:00 his junior year and then go- ing into his senior year," kid, I don't think his de- crossed again in SEC play. meanor or tenor changed at On Feb. 12, 2013, Noel, the & Sunday, January 19 « 2:00-4:00 Donovan said. "But then, all. He's all business. And I Wildcats’ star freshman, tore AUCTION DATE: SATURDAY, January 25, 2020 * 10 A.M. as it started coming down,I could see that as something his ACL in a loss at Florida, knew we were going to have that would resonate with ending his season. OWNER: Muriel G ore ahard time. And the people I Nerlens, even at that time." "I felt bad for him because respected, they were honest. Noel was the consensus he probably had every op- They probably said, 'You're No. 1 recruit coming out portunity to be player of the on the outside looking in on of high school, so a lot of year in our league," Dono- coaches were in the stands. van said. "And when he this one.'" But he remembers Donovan. went out, their team totally Donovan, now coach of the Thunder, had an impres- "Just a classy dude," Noel changed because they didn't told The Oklahoman. "He's have his presence in the mid- sive track record for produc- PROPERTY LOCATION: — just real laid back. He's just dle." ing NBA talent when he was a people person that knows The injury also hurt No- at Florida. Bradley Beal, Al 1903 Bell Ave., Elk City, Oklahoma ha @ ZT Horford and Udonis Haslem highlight the list of Florida i LEGAL DESCRIPTION: Lot 10 in Block 3 of the Grandview alumni in the NBA. But Donovan is the first to joke Good luck to all area Addition to the City of Elk City, Beckham County, Oklahoma. PROPERTY DESCRIPTION: This is a beautiful brick home sitting about the masses of future student- athletes! on a corner lot and has approximately 2, 665 sq. ft. living area. NBA players he recruited 5 There are four nice size bedrooms all with walk in closets, 2 full and didn't land. They're scattered through- bathrooms, % bathroom, spacious living room with fireplace, out the league, but not many dining room, kitchen with dining area, large center island with ended up on Donovan's range top, built-in oven and dishwasher, pantry, desk and plenty of own team -- a young squad cabinet and counter space. There is also a large utility with a walk that includes players who in closet and a 25’ x 43’ double car garage with storage cabinets were high school under- and access to the back yard. This home has central heat and classmen in Donovan's final air, ceiling fans, water softener, R/O, covered back patio, privacy year coaching college ball. fence, front and back yard sprinkler system, and a small storage Donovan lightly recruited building. Looking for a beautiful home in a great neighborhood Terrance Ferguson, who and close to schools and churches — Don’t Miss This Sale!!! forwent college to play in Also selling: Furniture, Kitchenware, Household, Australia. But Noel's case is Shop Tools, & Miscellaneous Items unique. AUCTION WILL BE HELD JANUARY 25, 2020, AT THE "T saw Nerlens play a ton BECKHAM COUNTY ACTIVITY BARN - EAST OF BECKHAM in high school," Donovan COUNTY COURTHOUSE, SAYRE, OK said. "And he kind of played in a lot of the high-low ac- Auction Conducted by: tion where he was at the top of the key and he'd throw high-low passes or he'd dis- 2009 S. Main St, Elk City Grant’s Auction & Realty tribute. He's always been a The Phillips Family 580-225-0269 - Website: www.grantsauction.com really good passer, and he's lly owned and Mike Grant — Sales Associate - 580-821-1186 for over 30 years a really quick roller to the Cindy Grant- Real Estate Broker - 580-821-1738 basket." 580-243-1200