February 22, 2020 Issue, Page 10 of 10

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Page 10 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Saturday, February 22, 2020 Elks look to change offensive scheme this season and missed the playoffs by a get aggressive with the ball, started. The team’s first game. they need to strategize and game is March 5 at Cordell. “Usually, when you have know where to kick it. Barnett said he hopes fans a program that’s not well es- “We are very performance come out and “be loud and tablished, maybe you have a based, and we have to be de- be proud” at games this year. couple of athletes, you put velopment based,” Barnett “In the event if we do lose them close to the goal,” he said about the overriding a game, which obviously is said. “If you get the ball, you goal. a possibility, it won't be be- kick it to a general area usu- Barnett said players” cause we didn’t get enough ally over the defense, and strengths lie in their passion touches or that we only it’s a kick and run style of for and knowledge of the trained in favorable condi- [play]. Very fast paced. Lit- game. Plus, the players have tions,” Barnett said. “We’ve tle possession.” athletic pedigree working been out in every condition Barnett and assistant for them, in that most play that Oklahoma has given us coaches Walton Hubbard other sports. Offensively, as far as weather goes.” and Pat Senger want to Barnett can count on several 2020 Elk City High School change that mindset. As Bar- players to score goals. boys team: nett told the Elk City Rotary “We have a lot of options, Eduardo Bustillos, Kevin Club earlier this year, the Barnett said. Carmona, Joseph Cloud, team’s style of play will be Clinton, Weatherford and Nike Cloud, Joseph Dailey, Elk City soccer players Julian Quezada, left, and Eduardo Bustillos do a stretching exercise during a practice on Monday at Big Elk Stadium, as one in which players will Cache appear to be tough Aden Frey, Edgar Garcia, coach Josh Barnett looks on. The team kicks off its season March 5 at hold possession of the ball battles this year, Barnett Jake Henderson, Brayden Cordell. Staff photo by Don Munsch. and pass it around to wear said, and he expects Chicka- Leyja, Bryce McClinton, down opponents and make sha probably will be good, Saxon Poole, Julian Queza- By Don Munsch, Editor will attack opponents this the most important goal for them play cat and mouse, too. He also thought Classen da, Aldo Ramos, Isai Reyes, Josh Barnett wants to spring. his team is to avoid a “direct instead of being a team ag- SAS should be tough along Bryan Tinoco, Jack Turn- change how the Elk City Barnett, who takes over as style of play” this year. The gressively moving the ball with Newcastle this year. er, Alex Waters and Will High School soccer team head coach this season, said Elks finished 7-7 last season the field. If the players do Players are ready to get Wright. Basketball roundup and Hayleigh Buie each con- tributed 7 points each for the onascacen ‘anes By Don Munsch, Editor was second in points with 8 Elkettes. cana mcauss Girls for Elk City. Merritt 46, Hollis 35 Elk City 46, Elgin 12 Bethany 52, Elk City 46 Jamie Peffer led the ema SY sexxexen Baylee Miller led the Baylee Miller led the Oilerettes with 15 points. wate ae ws Elkettes with 14 points, with Elkettes with 20 points, with Joshlyn Tomlin-Sanders also ‘habe 12 of the points coming on 12 ofthose points coming on scored in double figures with 3-pointers. Norie Flowers 3-pointers. Haleigh Musick 10 points. Brooklen Roberts of Canute, middle right, made Honorable Mention for the Washita Valley Conference basketball team. Abigayle Reimer of Corn, middle left , made All-Conference, while Bradyn Brown of Weatherford, far left, and made Honorable Mention. Pictured with the players on the far right is coach Stacy Reimer. Submitted photo. “Don’t be too stubborn to ask for help.” Merritt High School senior basketball player Zachary Piancino, receives a kiss from his mother, Genni Prator, at senior night Tuesday at Merritt. Standing to the right is Warren Prator, Zachary’s father. Photo by Terri Chervenka. -Ronnie How small Christian college Stilwell, OK in OKC has become a David in NAIA men’s basketball By Jenni Carlson, The moving from strictly a Bible limited funds. Frankly, bud- Oklahoman, Oklahoma school educating ministers gets are small. The basket- City to more of a liberal arts col- ball team, for example, takes OKLAHOMA CITY - lege, but with an enrollment vans to away games. Right by Marcus Moeller's of 1,938 students, it still But the school has updated office hangs a huge picture ranks 42nd out of 92 schools existing facilities and built of Mid-America Christian's in NAIA Division I. new ones for its eight athletic men's basketball team from In the latest national men's programs. Fundraising is on- 2016. basketball poll, however, it going, too, for a $6 million That was the year the small ranks No. 2. athletic performance facil- school on Oklahoma City's How has it punched so ity that would, among other southwest side won the well above its weight? things, provide locker rooms Those close to the program for all outdoor sports, none NAIA title, besting a mighty say there's no one reason of which currently have one. team from Georgetown Col- why Mid-America Christian Spending millions might lege. The Kentucky program will likely make its fourth raise eyebrows. In an era is a powerhouse, but that national-tournament appear- when educational _fund- season, it had four Division- ance in six seasons. ing is a struggle, how can a I transfers, including two But it starts with sports be- small school spend such big who'd started the previous ing important, season at Louisville. That starts at the top with bucks? "A lot of people feel "It’s kind of a picture of, Mid-America Christian like athletics doesn't have 1-800-QUIT NOW or to use a Biblical reference, president John Fozard. anything to do with Chris- David vs. Goliath," said "If you heard him kind of tian faith or churches or any- give his testimony of when thing like that," Fozard said. Moeller, the athletic director at Mid-America Christian. he walked into the situation "| just disagree with them." "But you know, I do think at Mid-America, the finan- He believes athletes will more and more, we are feel- cial situation we were in 20, take their faith out into the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline 21 years ago ... he cast the world, including some who ing less and less like that. vision for our university," are from other states and "And to be honest with Moeller said of the move to you, that's the goal." being a more broader-based, even foreign countries. Fo- ‘OKhelpline.com But even as Mid-America zard sees sports as a way liberal-arts school. "Noth- Christian makes another ing is too small to take to his to develop leaders who will push for a national title, that plate."He is in it with us ev- then shepherd others to the David analogy isn't com- ery day." Christian faith. The school's pletely gone. The college That doesn't mean Fozard mission is better fulfilled in has grown in recent vears. supplies athletics with un- that wav.