February 15, 2025 Issue, Page 6 of 10

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6+ SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2025 The Elk City News Luke Spitz - Canute Graci Snowder - Canute Thomas Detry Michael Kim Margo - Pewee Player Ellis - Pewee Player Luna - Pewee Player Chrisianna - Pewee Player Amateur & Local Sports By Alex Alvarez on Saturday the 22nd. two games left in the regular sched- ball (Coach Jay McClure), Golf bottom of the standings in the Big-12 CLASS “2A” ule, Cache on February 11, and King- (Coaches Tyler Foale and Rachel Conference with a record os 12-11 BASKETBALL AROUND THE Merritt Boys (Coach Donnie Hus- fisher on February 14. Their last three and 4-8 in conference play. They won Poole), Tennis (Coach Gina Cur- ARI band) Current record, 10-10. The games in order were: Loss to Bethany tis), Soccer (coach Jason Xenos) and their last game, against Arizona State CLASS “A” team has one game left in the regular 30-87; Loss to Chickasha 35-45 and Track & Field (coach Andy Peffer). 86-73. Coming up: TCU at Home on Canute Boys (Coach Brock Steffes) schedule against Hobart on February Loss to Harding Fine Arts 42-74 And will include schedules for Can- Feb 12; Texas Tech (A) on Feb 15; and have finished their regular season 11. Their last three games in order Elk City Girls (Coach Sean ute and Merritt as well. UCF (A) on Feb 19. with a record of 18-6 and rated #16 in were: Loss to Mangum 33-51; Win Hamm). Current Record 14-6. The the state. Their last three games in or- against Arapaho-Butler 45-43; Loss team has three games left in the reg- OKLAHOMA UNIVERSITY OKLAHOMA UNIVERSITY der were: Win vs Sentinel 56-47, Los against Balko/Forgan 39-54 ular schedule: February 11 versus BASKETBALL GOLF to Hammon 63-72 and win agains! Merritt Girls (Coach Jeff Daugh- Cache, February 14 versus King- The Oklahoma Sooners continue ‘The Sooners participated in their Burns Flat-Dill City 65-42. erty). Current Record 21-2. The team fisher and February 17 versus Altus. in 12th in the Southeastern Confer- first golf tournament of the season by Canute Girls (Coach Tatum Ri- has one regular season game left ‘Their last three games in order: Loss ence with an overall record 16-7 and traveling to Puerto Rico, the tourna- dling) have also finished their regu- against Hobart on February 11. to Bethany 42-59; Loss to Chickasha 3-7 in the conference. Their last game ment was Monday through Wednes- lar season schedule with a record of Coming up: District Tournament 43-51 and win versus Hardin Fine was a loss against ‘Tennessee by a day, so we do not have final results. 21-3. Their last three games in order on the 14th, regional on February 20- Arts 61-3, Girls are ranked 15th in scofre of 70-52. Coming up: Missouri On Monday, the team stood on third were: Win vs Sentinel 723-25; Loss vs 22, and “area” tournament on Febru- the state. (H) on Feb 12, Against LSU (A) on place at 13 under par, behind Ole Hammon 51-58; Win versus Burns ary 28. The girls are ranked 7th in the First games of the Spring Schedule Feb 15 and Florida (H) on Feb 18. Miss (-16) and Purdue (-14). Ryder Flat-Dill City 74-4. Girls are ranked state. of the Elk City High School sports Cowan began his season with a solid 4th in the state. CLASS “4-A” teams were published last week. In OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVER- 5 under par 67 and two behind Mon- Coming up: District Tournament Elk City Boys (Coach Tyler Foale). the last issue of February, we will SITY BASKETBALL day leader Brett Schell from North Saturday February 15 and Regionals Current record 2-16. The team has re-publish March schedule for Base- The Cowboys continue near the Florida. Sports Can Change Everything In A Kid’s Life By Alex Alvarez ough sports. A beautiful gym learning to compete, learning spend her time watching other ested in coaching a team for a play, she learned true life les- or sports center is worthless the difference between win- kids play basketball. At first, she few weeks. She couldn't, but sons, like team work, persever- ‘The Super Bowl is over, without the people who make it ning and losing, never realiz- would just watch but was afraid she knew who could: Ava Lily's ance, responsibility, discipline, now comes “March Madness’, work for the best of the youth in ing that they are also learning to ask to participate. Sometimesdad! And dad promptly accept- friendships, and very impor- then the NBA playoffs, spring the area. Public places, like the something deeper, they are she would recognize someone ed and the league began with a tantly, to never give up. Her dad training in MLB, then summer Arrowhead Center in Elk City, learning life skills. NEVER in one of the teams, and natu- team that included young Ava coached her team and taught sports, etc. And the cycle re- YMCA or other sports places DISCOURGE A KID FROM rally cheer for that team to do Lily and other 5-6 year old girls. her and other girls all of these peats. What people know, but in other cities, are usually ran PLAYING A GAME FOR better, maybe a classmate, or a After days of practice and traits that are not taught but do not realize at that moment, by organizations like Kids Inc., ANY REASON. Here’ a short neighbor. getting stronger, she began through sports. She played 2-3 is that every one of those ath- or parents, or neighbors who story that will probably “hit One time, after yoga class, reaching the basket with her times a week while her mom letes that gave you a moment's enjoy sports. home” in more than one way: mom went to the courts to look shots, and then... she made was in yoga, met many other thrill, was once a kid, who Alll these places, and those Five-year old Ava Lily stood for her, just at that moment, a a few baskets. Long were the girls and played in the league could barely hold a football or who run sports programs, are at the edge of one of the Arrow- girl came to Ava Lily and asked, days when she didn't think she with a team. In her last game basketball in both hands, or worthy of your tax dollars and head Center's basketball courts “Do you want to play with us? could play the game. Now, she of the season, she contribut- who could barely throw a base- your personal support. Add while her mom was taking yoga We need one more to com- began coming with mom when ed with two great baskets, best ball 30 feet, at best. to this your local schools that lessons. Mom had seen Ava plete our team today” Avas she came to yoga classes, began on the team! Her attitude to- This particular column is offer sports year-round: they throw bundled socks or crum- eyes grew bigger than a base- playing basketball in her school wards people changed and she intended to help encourage all deserve our respect, not to bled paper into the waste bas- ball, but she whispered, “I'm off time. Her style and perse- even became a better student adults to help kids get into a mention our gratitude. Every ket of her room. She wondered not good enough’, The girl did verance did not go unnoticed as she, without realizing, ap- sport of their choice, and also as kid that is busy after school or if watching the Oklahoma City not take “no” for an answer and by those who watched her, as plied the same determination a tribute to those who promote on weekends playing sports, is ‘Thunder when dad was watch- handed Ava Lily a real basket- she always stuck her tongue she showed on the court to her sports among kids, whether itis one less kid that doesn’t waste ing tv had anything to do with ball, it was pink and blue, not out, just like the great Michael schoolwork. Her mother no- a place, or those who run and time, living a sedentary life or it, “was she pretending to play the traditional dull orange col- Jordan in his prime, not sure if ticed she was more confident, promote the place, and those worse, doing something that is basketball?” So, knowing that they ever told her about it. Ar- making friends more easily, ot. Mom also encouraged her. volunteers who help coach not good for everyone else. And there she went, with her rowhead and other basketball and smiling more often. the sports center was open to these kids: those people who I enjoy attending sports kids while she was doing yoga, shoes squeaking on the shiny courts became Ava Lily’ “sec- Years later, after college grad- are less interested in looking events played by really young she began taking Ava to the floor of the court. Afterwards, ond home” Wow, what a small uation, Ava Lily volunteered to for “superstars” and more inter- kids, and I love watching them center. Maybe Ava would get a parent approached mom gentle encouragement did for coach young girls and devoted ested in searching a kid’ inner “PLAY”, in every sense of the interested in playing the “real” and told her that they needed this girl! her extra time at the Arrow- soul to help him/her develop word. I know they are learning thing. one more team to complete a She not only learned to playa into a productive adult thor- more than the sport, they are It worked! Ava Lily began to league, maybe she was inter- game she didn't think she could See CHANGE page 8