February 7, 2026 Issue, Page 3 of 13

Page Text

SPORTS The Elk City News A Young Carlos Watching the Man he just beat 8 years later SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2026 • 3 Carlos-Alcaraz Career Grand Slam Champion Kids Inc Manager Amanda Hunter - Chipping in as Coach Everlee Splaun happy to see dad Darrell in the stands! Elena Rybakina 2-Time Major Champion College & High School Basketball By Alex Alvarez Road to The Final Four: Two thirds of the season completed, and bar any problems among the top teams, some have a lock in the NCAA Championship Tournament that culminates with the March Madness and the “Final Four” in both, the men’s and women’s brackets. It is impressive to watch some of the games of the top teams with the top players, like Arizona or Duke or any of those teams. And of course, resurgent teams on the last third of the season, like Florida, last year’s champion, who is taking a national title contender form with solid wins in the SEC and a 11-2 record in their last 13 games, they are now in second place in the SEC, just behind the Texas A&M Aggies. Florida started slow and quickly accumulated 4 losses, but is now straightened and climbing in the SEC. Here are the Top 10 in Men and Women: No changes in either. MEN: Arizona 22-0, UConn 211, Michigan 20-1, Duke 20-1, Nebraska 20-2, Gonzaga 22-1, Michigan St 19-3, Iowa St 20-2, Illinois 19-3 and Houston 19-2. WOMEN: UConn 23-0, UCLA 21-1, South Carolina 21-2, Texas 21-2, Vanderbilt 21-2, LSU 21-2 Louisville 21-3, Iowa 18-4 Michigan 19-3, Oklahoma 17-5. The teams, as by NCAA rules, will play a maximum of 32 regular season games, and after their conference championships, the top 68 teams in both, men and women, will be chosen, with 62 teams seeded and four teams having a shootout for the last two spots in March Madness. The Sooner Women continue in the top 10 with a ranking of #10 and best among men or women in Oklahoma Universities. OKLAHOMA COLLEGES BASKETBALL Oklahoma Sooners. Men. Southeastern Conference Coach: Porter Moser Record: 11-11 overall, 1-8 in SEC Conference. Last three games: 0-3. Losses vs Missouri 87-88, Texas 69-79, Arkansas 79-83 Coming up: Kentucky (Feb-4), Vanderbilt (Feb-7), Georgia (Feb14) Conference Position: Last. Conference Leader: Texas A&M 17-4 #10 Oklahoma Sooners. Women. Southeastern Conference Coach: Jennie Baranczyk Record: 17-5, Conference 5-4 Last three games: 2-1. Loss to Texas 7-78, wins vs Texas A&M 8558, Auburn 72-65 Coming up: Vanderbilt (Feb-9), Florida (Feb-12), Alabama (Feb15) Conference Position: 8th Conference Leader: South Carolina 21-2 Oklahoma State Cowboys. Big12 Conference Coach: Steve Lutz Record: 15-6 overall, 3-5 Con- Australian Open By Alex Alvarez A HISTORIC AUSTRALIAN OPEN The 114th Australian Open ended with historic semifinals and a final that was bitter-sweet for many. All four players seeded 1-4 made the semifinals: #1 Carlos Alcaraz who played his match versus #3 Alexander Zverev and #2 Jannik Sinner who played versus #4 Novak Djokovic, easily the sentimental favorite of the tournament, who, at 38 years old, is still thirsty to add one more major championship to his record of twenty-four. Prior to the 2026 Australian Open, the last eight majors had been won by either Carlos Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner, both of whom had exchanged the #1 ranking in the world. Four majors each in the last two years, so it was expected another #1 vs #2 final, especially when Carlos won his epic semifinal against the towering 6’6” Alexander Zverev in a five-set, 5 hours 37 minutes match against the German who is still seeking his first major. Carlos won 6-4, 7-6, 6-7, 6-7, 7-5, in a match where Zverev had the lead in the deciding set 5-4, and was serving for the match, but Carlos’ “never give” attitude, allowed him to win three games in a row, giving the German, born in Hamburg, Germany of Russian immigrated parents the seventh defeat against the Spaniard in the13 matches they have played. The way the other semifinal went, Carlos would have about five hours more to recuperate from his match as the second semifinal also went five sets and over 4 hours of play. Sinner won sets 1 and 3, giving the Italian a solid lead into the fourth set against a man almost twice his age, but the Serbian, pushed by the chants of “Novac, Novac, Novac!” would not give up and looked into his inner man to draw strength and experience from the past and won the last two sets. The final score was 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4. It is the heart of champions -without trying to minimize Sinner’s performance or heart- and an emotional boost by the crowd that gave Novac the victory. It was like someone said, “like a second racket during the match!” and Sinner did not know which side of Novac he wanted to hit his ball to. In the championship match against Carlos Alcaraz, Novac looked great and won the first set 6-2, but ran out of gas and lost the next three sets to hand the Spaniard his seventh major championship, his first Australian Open and the youngest ever to complete the career Grand Slam as he has trophies of all four majors on his mantel. On the women’s side, three of the four top four seeds made it to the quarterfinals, and only one made it to the semifinals and the final, and that was #1 players in the world Aryna Sabalenka. #3 Coco Gauf lost in the quarterfinals to #12 Elina Svitolina, #4 Amanda Anisimova lost to #6 Jessica Pegula, in the semifinals, and #2 Iga Swiatek lost to #5 Elena Rybakina, who was born in Moscow, Russia, but now plays for Kazakhstan, also in the semifinals, and went on to beat Aryna Sabalenka in a three set final 6-4, 4-6 and 6-4 for her second major title. Both, Sabalenka and Sinner, were two time defending champions of this championship. Sources: ESPN, Wikipedia, Personal Library, MSN Sports, On-Line media. SUBSCRIBE TODAY Current news and great deals delivered right to your door! ference Last three games: 1-2. Win vs Utah 81-69, Losses vs Iowa St. 7184, TCU 65-68 Coming up: BYU (Feb-4), Arizona (Feb-7), Arizona ST (Feb-10) Conference Position: 9th Conference Leader: Arizona Wildcats 22-0 #18 Oklahoma State Cowgirls. Women. Big-12 Conference Coach: Jacie Hoyt Record: 18-5 overall, Conference 7-3 Last three games: 2-1, Wins vs Arizona 88-69, BYU 67-51, Loss vs Colorado 65-79 Coming up: Arizona St (Feb-4), UCF (Feb-7), Kansas St (Feb-10) Conference Position: 5th Conference Leader: TCU Horned Frogs 20-3 ELK CITY BASKETBALL – IDLE NEW YEAR’S WEEK #11 CANUTE CLASS A BOYS: Coach Brock Steffes. Record 12-8 Last three games: 0-2 (One game Cancelled). Losses vs Mangum 6062, Hydro/Eakly 57-60 Coming up: Hammon (Feb-3), Burns Flat (Feb-6) #2 CANUTE CLASS A GIRLS: Coach Tatum Ridling. Record 19-1 Last Three 2-0 (one game cancelled): Wins vs Sentinel 78-24, Pawhuska 64-38 Coming up: Hammon (Feb-3), Burns Flat/Dill City (Feb-6) MERRITT CLASS 2-A BOYS Coach Tyler Snowden. Record 7-12 Last Three: 0-2 (one game cancelled). Losses vs Hammon 24-59, Wellston 43-53 Coming Up: Frederick (Feb-3), Arapaho Butler (Feb-6), Hobart (Feb-10) #4 MERRITT CLASS 2-A GIRLS Coach Jeff Daugherty. Record 16-3 Last Three: 2-0 (one game postponed). Wins vs Hammon 57-22, Wellston 65-35 Coming Up: Frederick (Feb-3), Arapaho/Butler (Feb-6), Hobart (Feb-10) ELK CITY CLASS 4-A BOYS Coach Tyler Foale. Record 0-16 Last Three: 0-3. Losses vs North Rock Creek 36-71, Washington 4358, Bethany 33-80 Coming Up: Woodward (Feb 2), Elgin (Feb 3), Clinton (Feb-7) #20 ELK CITY CLASS 4-A GIRLS Coach Mason Jones. Record 11-6 Last 3: 2-1. Wins vs Cache 45-42, Bethany 42-37, Loss vs Washington 21-67 Coming up: Woodward (Feb-2), Elgin (Feb-3), Clinton (Feb-7) Sources: ESPN, MSN Sports, OSSAA, On-Line media sports. Sports Tidbits By Alex Alvarez NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE The Power Rankings are in, and Colorado Avalanche are still #1. The best improvement belongs to the Buffalo Sabres, who went from #9 to #6. With Tage Thompson with the post points for the Sabres with 56 points and 28 goals and in 25th place overall in the league, the Sabres are showing that it is a team game as well, and not just a “one player” game. NBA Is the Los Angeles Lakers any closer to a title with Luka Doncic than they were a year ago? It doesn’t look like it! It was the strangest trade ever, in mid-season, of a player in his prime, that took his previous team to the championship playoffs, and poof! Magic. He’s gone! Now neither Dallas nor Lakers are doing as well. GOLF: One more player leaves the LIV Tour to come back to the PGA Tour: Patrick Reed. The fiery player, who is hated by some and loved by others, will be back in September! We needed him in the last Ryder Cup! Nelly Korda wins her first tournament in 14 months with a closing 64. Great for Nelly, and for America, as not many American players have challenged the rest of the world. TENNIS: Epic first major of the year on the men’s side: All top four seeds reached the semifinals, both semifinals went five sets, and the #1 player in the world won over a former #1 almost twice his age: “I gave you my best and it wasn’t good enough” (Novac Djokovic to Carlos Alcaraz) Novak Djokovic had recently said that both, Carlos and Jannic played at a much higher level, and it would be “very difficult to beat them”. After he beat Jannik in the semifinals he was asked, “Didn’t you say they play at a different level and it would be difficult to beat them?”, he said, “I said difficult, not impossible, I just had to find that level.” He did for Jannik, but not for Carlos. Coco Gauff needs to concentrate on playing tennis and not politics. She lost in straight sets in the quarterfinals Someone has to say it! NFL Christian McCaffrey joined Adrian Peterson and Joe Burrow as a finalist in the offensive Player of the Year and Comeback Player of the Year in the same season. Pretty tough to do! For the record before Super Bowl tomorrow: During the 2025 playoffs, Patriots are first in Points Per Game allowed at 8.7, first in takeaways with 8 and first in rush yards differential with +178. I’m taking them over the Seahawks who will not erase the tough loss of 2015 when Malcolm Butler intercepted in the in-zone and the Patriots won 28-24. “What did he say?’ Bettors, watch yourselves! Millions of dollars ride on the words of sports announcers who are supposed to “now all”. The problem is, many say different things and if you only watch the one with the incorrect analysis, your bet is a loss! Fernando Mendoza a lock for #1 pick for the Raiders! Can one player make a difference? We’ll have to see! OTHER The XXV Winter Olympics start today in Italy. 41-year old Lyndsey Voon, who won two World Cup races last month and qualified for the Olympics, had a crash in her last race two weeks ago and injured her knee (no word if it was the knee that was operated on a couple of years back or the other knee). She withdrew from the slalom race the next day, but preparing for Cortina, Italy next week! Get well! Sources: ESPN, Wikipedia, Personal Library, MSN Sports, On-Line media. Professional Team Sports By Alex Alvarez SUPER BOWL LX: Seattle Seahawks vs New England Patriot 2.0 While Seattle continues as favorite by 3.5 points, don’t forget the recent stats where the Patriots are #1 during the playoffs: Points per game allowed, only 8.7; Takeaways 8, Rush Yards differential +178. However, those are just statistics that make bettors win or lose money because they bet on something they heard on TV or because they subscribe to betting outlets that give you information on upcoming events. But remember, the game is played on the field, not on paper, and no one knows how a player will perform or do a one in a million play that turns the game his team’s way, or how a quarterback will make a little mistake of inches that will cost him the game. Take their Super Bowl meeting in 2015: with seconds to go and Seattle trailing by four points, Russell Wilson took his team inside the 5 yard line with three downs to go. It was a 90% to 10% chance that Seat- tle would score a touchdown to go up by three with just seconds left in regulations time. Disaster (for Seattle) struck, Pete Caroll or Russell or both, called for a tough play that called for a pass instead of using their ace runner, and the ball was intercepted, giving the Patriots the Vince Lombardi trophy. Or how about another Patriots Super Bowl game. It’s 2012. The Giants against the undefeated Patriots who were more than a touchdown favorites. With 59 seconds to go, no one knows how Eli Manning survived a big rush by the Patriots defense, and sent a pass to David Tyree, who in the air secured the ball against his helmet and gave the Giants a chance to four more downs for a touchdown that would win the game. One play, one unlikely play, and Eli and the Giants went on to win 21-17. This will be the 12th appearance of the Patriots in a Super Bowl, they have won six times, and two of their five losses to the New York Giants, both times they were the favorite. It will be a great game, and the Patriots will go on to win their 7th Super Bowl, or will they? NBA: ARE YOU TIRED OF OKC THUNDER WINNING? Not most of us! Their current record as of last Sunday night is 39-11 and are 5.5 games ahead of San Antonio Spurs (33-16 and six games ahead of the Denver Nuggets (33-17). and besting the Detroit Pistons who are leading the Eastern Conference with a record of 36-12. In the Western Conference, behind the Nuggets and Spurs, you have: Houston Rockets 31-17, Minnesota Timberwolves 31-20, Los Angeles Lakers 29-19, and Phoenix Suns at 30-20. The Pistons are also leading the Eastern Conference by 5.5. games over the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics, both at 31-18, next are: Toronto raptors and Cleveland Cavaliers at 30-21 and Philadelphia 76ers at 28-21. Individually, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads the scoring on the Oklahoma Thunder with 32.0 points per game and 0.96 points per minute played; followed by Chad Holmgren with 17.7 points per game and 0.604 ppm; Jalen Williams with 16.8 ppg, and 0.567 ppm; and Ajay Mitchell with 14.1 ppg and 0.536. In the league, Luka Doncic (Los Angeles Lakers) leads Points per game with 33.6 (0.927 ppm). The Thunder is 1-2 in the last 3 games (6-4 in the last 10). Their next games in the schedule are Orlando (Feb-3), San Antonio (Feb-4) and Houston (Feb-7). NHL- STANDINGS AS OF LAST MONDAY Eastern Conference: Tampa Bay Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes 74 points; Detroit Red Wings 72-points; Montreal Canadiens 70-points; Buffalo Sabres 69-points; Boston Bruins 68-points. Western Conference: Colorado Avalanche 81-points; Minnesota Wild 76-points; Dallas Stars 75-points; Vegas Golden Knights and Edmonton Oilers 64-points; Utah Mamooth 62-points. Sources: ESPN, MSN Sports, OnLine media sports.