A Decade Dedicated to
Christmas Cheer
Sooner Born
Gridiron Standouts
Veteran of the Month
Betty Worley
December 2020 • Issue 12 • Volume 3
2020 High School
BASKETBALL Preview
Don’t Medical Distance The COVID-19 pandemic has many people worried about their health. Please don’t be afraid to seek essential medical treatment. It’s important to still: • Call 911 or visit the Emergency Room if you experience chest pain, stroke symptoms or other urgent medical needs • See your physician for wellness visits and routine exams • Take your child to the doctor for well child checks and stay up to date on immunizations • Talk to a provider about your mental health and seek help if you experience troubling signs of depression, anxiety or thoughts of harming yourself Norman Regional’s team is taking extra precautions to ensure your safety including masking, enhanced disinfection measures and staggered appointment times. We also offer several options to see a provider virtually through your phone, tablet or computer. Call us today at 405.515.5000 to be matched with the perfect physician for you.
Getting Us All to a Healthier Place NormanRegional.com
Features
DECEMBER CONTENTS 2020
ISSUE 12– VOLUME 3 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Mark Doescher
A Decade Dedicated to
10 Christmas Cheer
Lindsay Cuomo
PHOTOGRAPHY
by Thomas Iscenko Moore Police Department celebrates 10th anniversary of their Shop with a Cop event.
Veteran of the Month:
14 Betty Worley
MANAGING EDITOR
by Bill Moakley The force behind the force.
Getting Ahead of Your Health
Mark Doescher
CONTRIBUTORS
10
18 by Lindsay Cuomo
A New Path
Technology center offers program to help people get commercial driver’s license.
The Oklahoma Imapct
Local student-athletes contributing to the Sooners’ success on the field.
Moore Lions Basketball
32 by Steve Marshall
In Memory of
RANDY LAFFOON
Local physician talks about the power of preventative medicine.
26 by Chris Plank
ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES
Tracie Gray - tracie@sportstalk1400.com Trevor Laffoon - trevor@sportstalk1400.com Perry Spencer - perry@sportstalk1400.com
1960 - 2020
22 by Sharla Bardin
Sharla Bardin | Lindsay Cuomo Thomas Iscenko|Steve Marshall Tyler McComas | Bill Moakley Rae Lynn Payton | Chris Plank
26
19th Street Magazine 2020 E. Alameda Norman, Oklahoma 73071 Phone: (405) 321-1400 E-mail: 19thstreetmagazine@gmail.com Copyright © 19th Street Magazine Any articles, artwork or graphics created by 19th Street Magazine or its contributors are sole property of 19th Street Magazine and cannot be reproduced for any reason without permission. Any opinions expressed in 19th Street are not necessarily that of 19th Street management.
Season preview of boys and girls prep basketball teams.
Southmoore Sabercats
36 by Steve Marshall
Season preview of boys and girls prep basketball teams.
Westmoore Jaguars
40 by Tyler McComas
Season preview of boys and girls prep basketball teams.
A High Tech Solution
44 by Lindsay Cuomo
32-40
Moore Public Schools completes installation of ionization systems in all district schools.
Young Bassmaster
48 Snags Top Honors
by Rae Lynn Payton Local youth fisherman places 7th at his first national championship fishing tournament appearance.
sportstalk1400.com
48
Cover photo by: Mark Doescher
B U S I N E SS
BY: THOMAS ISCENKO
A Decade Dedicated to Christmas Cheer
Moore Police Department celebrates 10th anniversary of their Shop with a Cop event
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hose who have the spirit of Christmas in their hearts in turn help others find it. This notion is what drives the Moore Police Department as they prepare for the 10th anniversary of their Shop with a Cop event on Dec. 12.
Partnered with both Target and Chickfil-a since their openings in Moore on 19th Street, the Shop with a Cop program has made a positive impact on the community providing both an outlet for philanthropy and goodwill but also spreading cheer and putting smiles on the faces of hundreds of children with an unforgettable experience. “At its core, it’s a program meant to get us involved with the community and build up a bond,” said Sgt. David Dickinson, the event’s coordinator. “It allows us to give back. It’s a fun time for the kids. They love it and so do the officers.” 10 December 2020
Every year since 2010, Moore schools, community daycares and Moore Youth & Family Services recommended children based on need to participate in this yearly event. The celebration starts with a Chick-fil-a breakfast, followed by a rousing parade of police cars that cruise through town and down 19th Street with the pomp and circumstance of lights and sirens on their way to Target where officers and kids shop together, each with a budget of $200 dollars per child.
To commemorate the day, the kids also receive a unique silver coin, a token Dickinson said is a cherished memory for many involved. “I still get approached by kids who took part in Shop with a Cop, eight, nine or even ten years ago. They still have their silver coin,” he said To date, Dickinson estimates more
than 270 kids have participated in the event and such a special day would not be possible if it weren’t for the community support and annual donations, Dickinson said. “We have about 50 organizations and donors who contribute yearly to make this day possible,” he shared. Perhaps the most magical part of this Christmas tale is that it is kids helping kids. “The biggest contributions come from Central Junior High and Highland East Junior High,” Dickinson revealed. “They raise about half of the budget which is remarkable when you consider it takes $6,000 to $8,000 to make this event happen.” To learn more about the Shop with a Cop program or to contribute, contact Sgt. David Dickinson with the Moore Police Department at 793-4662. -19SM
COMM U N I T Y
BY: BILL MOAKLEY
Veteran of the Month: Betty Worley The Force Behind The Force
B
etty Worley is proud of her service to her country. She should be.
“A lot of people know me, but not as a retired veteran,” Worley noted. “Most people don’t ask women if they are veterans.” Born in Brinkman, Okla., Worley is a 1956 graduate of Capitol Hill High School and Central State College, now known as the University of Central Oklahoma. She served three years active duty in the United States Navy from 1959 to 1962. She would have stayed in the Navy, but at the time, women were not allowed to serve more than three years. Married women were not allowed to serve at all. Following her three years of active duty, which she served in Washington, D.C., Worley married, found her way back to Oklahoma and, in 1976, resumed her military career with the U.S. Air Force Reserve program, specifically the 72nd Aerial Port Squadron at Tinker Air Force Base. The 72nd APS performed cargo buildup and shipment for worldwide distribution. She did the heavy lifting as a forklift, terminal tugs and aircraft loading equipment driver. On Nov. 26, 1990, Worley’s squadron was called to active duty in support of Desert Shield/Desert Storm. The squadron was one of only six Air Force Reserve units worldwide to be activated. “We were among the first 72,000 members to be activated,” Worley pointed out. “In 12 hours, our unit was in place.” On Thanksgiving Day alone, the cargo terminal at Tinker processed 950 tons of cargo, moving items ranging from MREs (meals ready to eat) and pudding to M&M’s and top-shelf meals as well as medical equipment and supplies, sand bags and tires. Worley explained that seven-person teams load aircraft. A typical C-5 plane can take up to four hours to load. “At times, we had a backlog of cargo equal to 17 C-5 loads
14 December 2020
PRESENTED BY
CENTURIONCG.NET
Betty Worley recently presented a JROTC award to a Capitol Hill High School student.
ready to go,” Worley said. “That doesn’t mean much to you until you understand that a C-5 can carry 60-to-70 tons of cargo. That’s 120,000 to 140,000 pounds.” In addition to supplies, Worley and her fellow soldiers sorted, palletized and shipped 14 truckloads of sorted mail each day. What was first considered a 90-day deployment stretched to six months. Crews worked 12-hour shifts. In December 1990, Worley and others worked 16 days straight with no time off in wind chills of negative-40 degrees during one of Oklahoma’s harshest winters on record. “I had to go and do inventory and I had on long johns, a sweater, a parka, gloves, a knit cap and another cap,” Worley recalled. “I walked like the Michelin Man.” Some 45 planes would be loaded around Christmas in 36 hours. By January, the squadron had processed five billion tons of items and 220,000 people. The squadron received their deactivation orders in May 1991. Worley said she sometimes gets annoyed when she mentions she was on active duty and people discount her service because she was stationed at Tinker, not overseas. “My response to those folks is the troops in the desert couldn’t have done their jobs if it hadn’t been for us doing our job to supply them with their war materials,” Worley pointed out. “Our motto was ‘The Force behind The Force.’ They fought the sand, the scorpions and the heat, in addition to the enemy. We fought snow, ice, bitter cold temperatures and frostbite.” Worley hopes pride in the United States and its military never goes out of style. “I’m proud of my military service,” she said. “I’m proud of being a veteran. I’m proud to say I served my country when called on.” Worley is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and has ancestors that have been called on to serve the country during the fight for independence, Frontier Wars of 1790, War of 1812, Civil War, World War I and II, Korea, Vietnam and Desert Storm. -19SM sportstalk1400.com
19TH STREET MAGAZINE | 15
MOORE CHAMBER
Visit www.MooreChamber.com
HE A LT H
BY: LINDSAY CUOMO
Getting Ahead of Your Health Local physician talks about the power of preventative medicine
I
n a year where health and wellness have captured the headlines worldwide, locally Dr. Sumit Som is encouraging Oklahomans to take an active role in their healthcare with what he considers a very powerful tool, prevention.
weight issues and are pre-diabetic that I see every three months.”
“To me, it’s all about prevention,” Som said. “For the majority of us, how we live plays a huge part in our health. Medicine has focused on treating patients after they are sick but there is value in prevention. It feels so much more logical to address the issue before something bad happens.”
For Som, lifestyle plays an important role in how he cares for his patients. Som incorporates non-medicinal options to improve patient health, incorporating traditional medicine and a holistic approach.
Som encourages establishing a relationship with a primary doctor, so you can “know your numbers and stay on top of issues that might develop.” “Having a relationship with a primary doctor that knows you and knows your story, there is a benefit to that,” he explained. “The frequency of that depends on your health. I see some 60-year-olds that are in great health that I only see once a year but I have some 25-year-olds dealing with 18 December 2020
“I do recommend at least once a year so you can do a physical exam and make sure you are on top of things.”
“I am 100 percent behind my patients trying options that work for them,” he shared. “Lifestyle is just as important as what I prescribe, taking into account all aspects.” This whole health approach drew him to join the Norman Regional Health System. “When so many organizations were scaling back during COVID, they reached out to me,” he said. “I could tell they had a long-term plan and they were trying to grow and improve healthcare.”
Som recently joined the Norman Regional Primary Care South OKC clinic and sees adults for annual wellness visits as well as for long-term diseases such as hypertension and diabetes as well as sick visits. Som is even available through virtual visits. But Som said he doesn’t cut corners when patients come into his office because he places high value on the relationship he has with each patient. “I like to have less visits in a day so I can spend more time with each individual. I don’t want to rush because if you give them that time, they can share important information that you might not get otherwise and can really delve into everything they need to address.” Dr. Som is accepting new patients at his office located at 2605 SW 119th St, Ste A in Oklahoma City. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit normanregional.com/finda-doctor or call 912-3400. – BSM
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COMM U N I T Y
BY: SHARLA BARDIN
A New Path Technology center offers program to help people get commercial driver’s license
M
oore Norman Technology Center is powering up a new program for individuals interested in driving large vehicles. The center will be offering classes to help people obtain a commercial driver’s license, which is required to operate large vehicles like those used for municipalities, transportation and construction. “CDL drivers are one of the biggest job opportunities out there and they make good money,” said Traci Saor, adult programs coordinator with the technology center. The program also assists companies in the area with training needs and creates more interest in the transportation career field, Saor added. “We’re open to creating whatever training companies need in our area,” she said. Permit test prep courses began in November and will take place at the center’s campus at 13301 S. Pennsylvania Ave. in Oklahoma City. Classes are open to individuals 18 or older with a driver’s license.
22 December 2020
The program also includes a driving class and a fuel management course. Some of the classes use a transportation simulator that looks like the cab of a vehicle and features monitors that can simulate driving a bus or a truck “that we can use for demonstration and work on specific skills,” Saor said. Upcoming goals for the program include the center becoming a licensure-testing site with a third-party examiner and developing a driving track near the center’s Franklin Road campus. Mike Max with Silver Star Construction said the center’s new program will be a benefit to companies since classes are close by which creates more opportunities for training employees. “This is going to be a big thing for us,” said Max, safety director with the company. “We’ll be sending a lot of drivers to them.” He also said the program can give employees at Silver Star Construction a way to acquire their commercial license, enhance their skills and “gives
our employees options for a different career path.” Max said the program might also help people become interested in truck driving, which is a field in need of more personnel. He’s heard from representatives in construction and transportation who talk about a driver shortage around the country. “Everyone’s having problems finding qualified drivers,” he said. One of the reasons is the number of drivers retiring is outpacing people entering the field, he said. “It’s a very important occupation,” Max shared. Some of the benefits of getting into the field include improvements in pay and equipment and the “hours of service” are well regulated, he explained. For more information about the center’s CDL classes, visit mntc.edu or contact Traci Saor at 801-5705. -19SM
MNTC’S TRAINING FOR INDUSTRY PROGRAM
Moore Norman Technology Center can train your employees at low-to-no cost through an initiative backed by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce called the Training for Industry Program (TIP). Call to see how we can move your business forward - together. mntc.edu/tip | 405-800-5804 FRANKLIN ROAD CAMPUS: 4701 12th Ave. NW, Norman, OK 73069
SOUTH PENN CAMPUS:
13301 S. Penn Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73170
MNTC’S SMALL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
Moore Norman Technology Center’s Small Business Management program offers professional support and coaching to entrepreneurs who want to stabilize and build their businesses. Learn to develop plans and processes to: • Find a work/life balance • Increase sales using effective strategies • Work successfully with business partners • Hire and train the right employees
• Determine how to transition to new leadership
mntc.edu/sbm | 405.801.5000 FRANKLIN ROAD CAMPUS: 4701 12th Ave. NW, Norman, OK 73069
SOUTH PENN CAMPUS:
13301 S. Penn Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73170
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S P O RT S
BY: CHRIS PLANK
SOONER REVIEW PRESENTED BY
McIntyre Law is a proud supporter of OU athletics. Contact McIntyre Law for all your personal injury needs
The
Oklahoma Impact 26 November December 2020
IT JUST MEANS MORE
Tre Brown was 17 years old when he attended a Junior Day in Norman. The hope was to catch enough of an eye to get a scholarship offer from Oklahoma. It did not take long for Brown to draw the attention of the coaching staff and get what he had wanted, an opportunity to play for Oklahoma. The scholarship offer to play for the Sooners made the dream come true. “This is the one I’ve been waiting for,” an emotional Brown recalls telling his father. Despite not committing that day, Brown eventually made his commitment to Oklahoma. sportstalk1400.com
“Those tears were probably as good of a commitment as any,” His father Prince said. “I always knew since he was 2 years old, he would go to Oklahoma.” “Growing up, I always wanted to be an OU player. I grew up an OU fan and this is where I wanted to be,” Brown said. Brown has been the hero, wrapping up a win over Texas twice in his career, including the game-ending interception in the fourth overtime to beat Texas this season. But his story is one that can be repeated in some fashion for most of the Oklahoma-born Sooners on the roster. They always wanted to be a Sooner and once they got the opportunity there was no turning back. Sooner defensive lineman and Tulsan LaRon Stokes still remembers that first interaction with Defensive Line Coach Calvin Thibodeaux. “When he DM’ed me on Twitter, I looked at it and then I looked at my roommate at NEO,” Stokes said. “I said, if any school offers me, I will go to OU over any of them. When he started that (dialogue), that was a big deal. I called my mom and said, he ain’t offered me yet, but I hope so. I was just so happy.” For some, it is a part of their DNA. Drake Stoops turned down several scholarship offers to walk-on at Oklahoma. “He’s just a kid that’s grown up watching OU football his whole life, being a kid here in Norman — playing at OU just means so much to him,” Stoops’ high school coach Brent Barnes said. “You can see all of it.” For others, it may have taken a little bit of time but the desire to be a Sooner was never truly in doubt. When Creed Humphrey was rolling through his junior season at Shawnee, the Oklahoma offer was one that had not yet materialized. Humphrey had initially committed to Texas A&M but eventually ended up signing with the Sooners. “Ever since a little kid, I’ve always dreamed of playing OU football and being a leader on the team,” Humphrey said. “Seeing all that materialize
has been awesome.” Humphrey doubled down on his commitment to the Sooners when he decided after his redshirt sophomore season to return to the college game instead of turning pro. “My dream has always been to be one of the best players at OU,” Humphrey said. “I have so much love for this program and I want to be able to give it my all.” Humphrey was named a captain alongside another Oklahoma product, senior safety Pat Fields. It marks the first time since 2009 that a pair of Oklahomans served as captains for the Sooners. Sam Bradford and Gerald McCoy were captains along with Brody Eldridge and Ryan Reynolds for the ‘09 campaign. “It already meant a lot to me just being an Oklahoma guy and a guy from Tulsa playing here,” said Fields about being selected as a captain. “I kind of already took a lot much more pride in it, but it’s huge for me because I know it’s a huge honor and a privilege to be a captain of the Oklahoma Sooners. Not too many guys will ever be able to say that, but I know with that responsibility, I have a high expectation to live up to.” “When we recruited him and got to know him, we could envision that this kid could come in here and potentially be a captain one day or be a leader in this program,” Riley said of Fields. “You could tell that he had some of those skills.” Beyond just the success on the field, being a leader and setting a standard is important to this group of Oklahomans.
THE TALENT IN OKLAHOMA
With all the incredible stories surrounding a passion for Oklahoma football, the reality is that in-state numbers of Sooner Born gridiron standouts pale in comparison to states like Texas, Ohio and California. According to Sports Talk Network host and recruiting guru James Hale, it isn’t a matter of the talent level, it is more a matter of numbers. “Actually, Oklahoma’s talent level is pretty high, but because of the popula-
Photos by: Mark Doescher
A
s the Sooners roll through the 2020 football season, improvement and progress are obvious in every aspect on the field. What might go unnoticed though is the impact that in-state talent has had in helping the Sooners find its footing this season. The Sooner Born, Sooner Bred mentality has made a major difference this season. Both Sooner captains played high school football in Oklahoma and 23 players on the current roster are instate players. Of those 23, currently 13 are listed on the two-deep. Oklahoma high school football might not be considered a hotbed for college talent, but, this year, Oklahomans have made an impact for the Sooners. “It’s hard to have a great college football program if you don’t have really strong football players in your state and keep them home,” said Sooner head coach Lincoln Riley. “The football in this state, in the few short years I’ve been here, I see it getting better and better.” Isiah Thomas, from Memorial High School in Tulsa, has been described by Defensive Coordinator Alex Grinch as the team’s MVP. Shawnee-product Creed Humphrey and Tulsa Union grad Pat Fields are co-captains, both playing virtually every snap. Fields former high school teammate Jordan Kelly is having a breakout season while Union-product Tre Brown has been one of the best secondary players on the Sooner roster this season.
19TH STREET MAGAZINE | 27
Photo by: Mark Doescher
tion you only have a few players that are nationally ranked,” Hale said. “They just don’t have the overall volume because of the population numbers.” Hale has covered recruiting for 40 years with a heavy focus on Oklahoma athletics specifically football and talks recruiting from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays on Sports Talk 99.3FM and 1400AM. “Oklahoma only recruits the elite of the elite across the country. A few players every year will leave the state of Oklahoma. Sometimes they will lose a player or two like Dax Hill or a player to Ohio State. It happens that players might not want to stay in state at all and that breaks down,” Hale said. “But the players like Creed who committed to A&M but came back to Oklahoma… look how great he’s been at OU. Tre Brown came to camp and Mike Stoops coached him up to the point he eventually got a scholarship and he’s been a two- or three-year starter. You can go on and on. Isiah Thomas was running track and Oklahoma noticed this big guy running and they offered him. He’s turned out to be an outstanding player.” The state of Oklahoma has been littered with great high school football programs for as long as anyone can remember. From the powerhouse that was Midwest City in the early 90s to what Jenks, Union and Owasso have been able to accomplish in Green Country, add to that list the never-ending power that is Ada football and places like Carl Albert and Clinton,
28 December 2020
high school football has been played at an elite level in Oklahoma for years.
Now it seems as if the number of possible high-level prospects has grown as well. “I think that because the coaching in Oklahoma is really top notch, you’re seeing more and more great coaches coming to Oklahoma,” Hale added. “More and more kids know how to train in the offseason now and that’s a big deal. They go to personal trainers... running back gurus and quarterback gurus... they are getting better and better because of the personal training year-round.”
THE MVP
Of all the stories that have taken center stage for Oklahoma football throughout the 2020 season, the development of Oklahoma born defensive end Isiah Thomas may be the most impressive. “Isaiah Thomas is a great example for us. He’s having a tremendous year,” Riley said. “That’s an example of a young guy that maybe could’ve got discouraged when it wasn’t the fairy tale start and this guy’s hung in there kept working and turned himself into a heck of a player.” During his first two seasons, Thomas amassed a combined 11 tackles with just two total sacks. Thomas was not playing much and, with opportunities other places, could have easily transferred. “A quote that I stick to every day is adversity defines a man’s true character,” Thomas said. “I knew that if I wanted to see how well I could really
be and how good I could actually play, I would have to play through this adversity. I stuck it out and the outcome is working out pretty well for me.” Thomas has emerged as one of the most consistent defensive linemen for the Sooners and has tripled the number of tackles for losses in his first two years combined and doubled his number of sacks. But you don’t hear much about Memorial High School when talking about legendary football programs in Oklahoma. In fact, Memorial had not had an OU recruit since Randy Hughes in the early 1970s. Thomas takes pride in representing Memorial and has served as an example that it’s not always about where you play. “A lot of student-athletes that play football don’t believe that you can go Division I out of Tulsa Memorial. They think that you’d probably have to play basketball,” Thomas said. “I’m a walking example that if you believe in yourself and you apply the work … you could end up at a school like this or any Division I program.”
THE FUTURE
The importance of recruiting the best talent in Oklahoma is not lost on Lincoln Riley. In fact, the Sooner head coach has already locked up two of the best in-state prospects for the 2021 class and has secured a commitment from the top in-state receiver prospect for 2022. The Sooners won the 2000 National Championship with over 60 percent of its starters from in-state and the 2020 campaign has been fueled by instate players leading the way through a challenging and turbulent year. For those who are Sooner born and Sooner bred, it just means more to don the crimson and cream and represent the interlocking OU. “Kids that come from Oklahoma that play at OU they say it was the dream of their life,” Hale said. “Whether they were a big-time player or not, they got a chance to play for the Sooners. The state of Oklahoma’s talent level, I brag on it, the players that go to OU or OSU or somewhere else usually turn out to be pretty good players.” –19SM
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S P O RT S
BY: STEVE MARSHALL
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he Lions are looking forward to the season with a good number of returning starters and athletic ballplayers. Coach Gregg Hardin begins his sixth year with Moore and has the Lions coming off a 9-15 record, but feels like his team is ready to take-off and make some noise in 6A this year. “Overall, we feel like we have a chance to be a really good club that has good leadership,” Hardin said. “The test this year will be the maturation against toptiered teams.” Senior Forward Dylan McDougal (6’3) averaged 8.5 ppg and five rebounds per game and is a top scorer and team leader for the Lions. The other returning senior starter is senior guard Justin Martin (6’0) who Hardin calls a good shooter and defender. Junior Guard Marcus Dockins (6’0) is a great defender according to Hardin and
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at rival Westmoore and a home game against their other rival, Southmoore on Dec. 4. They will follow up with tournament action at the Tahlequah Invitational Dec. 10-12. The Lions will also play in the Putnam City Invitational Jan. 7-9 and host the prestigious John Nobles Tournament Jan. 21-23.–19SM
LIONS
he Moore Lady Lions missed out on a chance to claim a state championship last year due to concerns around the coronavirus which caused the cancellation of all post-season play. However, this may play to their advantage as their hunger for the Gold Ball has doubled this season with a very talented returning cast. Brent Hodges begins his sixth year as the head coach and has plenty of talent returning to contend led by Texas signee and Oklahoma’s Gatorade Player of the year Aaliyah Moore (6’2, Sr) who averaged 21.7 points and 11.1 rebounds per game and led Moore to a 21-5 record. Moore is joined in the frontcourt by Central Florida signee Raychael Harjo (6’2, Sr.) who was named to the Central Oklahoma Athletic Conference second team. Harjo also had offers from Tulsa, Missouri State and Texas Arlington, av-
32 December 2020
can create his own shot off the dribble. Other notable players include Malachi Lee, Greg Lewis, Lonato Henderson and Rejond Hayes Sophomore forward Malachi Lee (6’2) is a very talented young gun that knows the game mentally and has the physical skills to be a good player. He can put points on the board and runs the floor well. Senior guard Greg Lewis (6’0) will lead at the point guard position and provide good defense against opposing teams. Junior center Lonato Henderson (6’4) provides defense and scoring at the post position. Junior guard Rejond Hayes (5’9) is a point guard that can slash and defend well. Coach Hardin has high expectations for this season but knows it will be a difficult task having success in Class 6A. He thinks his Lions will be up for that task and can’t wait to begin. The season begins Dec. 1 with a game
eraging 13.5 points and 8.2 rebounds per contest. Peyton Andrews (5’10, Sr.) tallied 8.5 ppg and 3.5 assists while Bre Huffman (5’10, Jr.) averaged 4.2 ppg, adding five rebounds per game. Both return after being named to the conference honorable mention team last year.
Hodges fully expects another run at the state tourney and the team will rely on their size, shooting and experience to take them deep into post-season play. The season begins Dec. 1 with a game at rival Westmoore and a home game against their other rival, Southmoore on Dec. 4. They will follow up with tournament action at the Bixby Invitational Dec. 10-12. The Lions will play in the Putnam City Invitational Jan. 7-9 and host the prestigious John Nobles Tournament Jan. 2123.–19SM
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S P O RT S
A
BY: STEVE MARSHALL
fter coming off a season that saw his SaberCats go 22-4 to make it to the state tournament, you wouldn’t think head coach Tim Stogsdill would classify the season as “disappointing.” But the SaberCats were one of the strongest teams in the state last year only to have the tournament canceled.
(6’5) will bring the most varsity experience with tremendous floor leadership and state tournament experience.
The SaberCats are looking to reload and make it to a third straight state tournament appearance in 6A.
“You don’t know week to week with COVID-19 and with players being quarantined,” Stogsdill said. “We need to have guys ready to step in and contribute. So far this preseason, we are seeing that. It’s been really fun to see this group grow together in just a short time. Hopefully we can stay healthy and be playing our best basketball the end of February and sneak up on someone.”–19SM
“We graduated nine players off of a very talented team,” Stogsdill said. “We are a young group overall with strong guard play and great team chemistry committed to playing at a high tempo on both ends of the floor.”
Watch for this young team to really come together as the season moves along and be a bit of a sleeper team in 6A.
Senior point guard Damian Kline (6’1) and forward Jamarion Butler
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SABERCATS
outhmoore will look to rebound after a 1-22 season last year and fourth-year head coach Shawn Clark feels his team has some of the necessary ingredients to have a much better season. “After picking up a couple of transfers and gaining two that will make us better, our expectations are to be more competitive on both ends of the floor,” Clark said. “As our young players gain more experience and confidence, I can see us increasing our win total of a year ago.” Senior guard Kayla Nealy (5’10) is the lone returning starter for the SaberCats after averaging seven points per game to go along with four rebounds and two steals per contest. “Nealy is my lone returning starter with the most varsity experience,” Clark said. “She’ll be the person we will rely on for
36 December 2020
our leadership, but I can see others will eventually step up.”
Clark sees that the strengths of the team will be chemistry, a high basketball IQ at all positions and team defense. The area that will need improvement is the inexperience on the varsity level which should improve as the season rolls on.–
19SM
TM
S P O RT S
BY: TYLER MCCOMAS
W
estmoore turned a corner on Valentine’s Day night last season. After limping into a late-season matchup at Mustang with just three wins, the Jaguars did the unthinkable and collected a 69-63 upset on the road. It was a moment that signified a coach and his team were about to turn things around.
expected to play big minutes. Zach Hays and Evan Barber, who both broke into the starting lineup last year as a freshman, Enrique Molina, a high-quality ball handler and shooter, and Lamondo Cargile, who’s a move-in but played with the team during the summer, will also be big pieces for the Jags this season.”
Now, entering year two of the Todd Milwee era, the Jags are out to prove even more exciting things are coming to the program. Leading the charge will be David Owusu, who led the team in points and rebounds last season. He had 32 points in the upset win over Mustang and 28 points the next week in the playoffs against the No. 1 team in 6A.
“Towards the end of last season our chemistry really clicked,” said Millwee. ”We were young and small but you could kind of feel it coming together. That stuck throughout quarantine and through the summer. We’re excited about this season.”
“He’s improved quite a bit over the summer,” said Millwee. “We’re really excited about him. He’s going to do big things for us this year.” Along with Owusu, Tyshon Covington is
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JAGUARS
here are many reasons why Matt Thornton is optimistic about his team. Sure, he’s fielding a team that’s lacking in experience, but the core group of the Jags will still be able to do three important things well: shoot, handle the ball and score in the paint. Leading the way for Westmoore will be Ryan Franklin and Jaiden Smith, who’s entering her third year as a starter. Franklin will be counted on as the key inside presence on the team, while Smith is expected to provide both an offensive and defensive punch from the guard position. Brittany Romines will also be a key contributor, as her senior leadership is vital for a team that’s still getting its feet wet at a lot of positions. “We have a lot of kids that didn’t play in a lot of varsity games this year,” said Thorn-
40 December 2020
Though undersized in most matchups, the Jags will counter with several guards that can both handle the ball and shoot it well. Look out for players such as Sihr Manuel, Xavier Williams, Zion Faboro, Zach Bandy, Anthony Ramos and Rhett Monroe. –19SM
ton. “This year is one of those where I feel like we’ll be better at the end of the year than we are right now. We have a lot of room to grow but we also have a lot of good pieces. We’re excited.” Kayleigh Danscuk is another senior that will be counted on to play big minutes at one of the guard spots. She’ll likely be a starter alongside sophomore Albany Briles, who has shown a lot of promise in her young career. A key question for the Jags is whether Tiffany McCain can fully recover from a knee issue that’s hampered her. If that happens, she’ll provide quality depth that’ll be needed to make a deep playoff run in 6A-1. “I really like our chemistry,” said Thornton. “They’re intelligent and not just good basketball players, but they’re also great people. That makes a difference.” –19SM
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B U S I N E SS
BY: LINDSAY CUOMO
A High Tech Solution
Moore Public Schools completes installation of ionization systems in all district schools
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et into motion less than six months ago, Moore Public Schools has now completed the installation of ionization filtration systems in all 35 schools. The air-filtration systems are an additional mitigation effort to combat COVID-19, influenza and other viruses, said Dr. Robert Romines, district superintendent.
“Back in May, when we started to develop our Return to Learn plan, we tried to put in place as many mitigation strategies as possible to return students to the classroom safely and safeguard our students and each other,” Romines said. The project cost the district approximately $1.4 million to complete. “Schools are provided a building fund every year and we had just completed some bond projects with residual funds left over,” Romines said. “We had plans for those funds but we put those projects on hold because this took precedence.” 44 December 2020
The district has requested reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency in an effort to recoup some of the expense. “The ionization systems are costly but it covers more than just COVID-19 and will still be pumping clean air even after COVID isn’t an issue anymore,” Romines explained.
“The great thing about the product is there are no parts to replace and they never wear out,” said Jeff Horn, assistant superintendent of operations, who managed the installation. Construction began in July with the goal of being complete before winter. They began in the district’s three high schools and 35 cafeterias, followed by the junior high schools, finishing at the elementary schools. “We started with the high schools because we felt it was more difficult to social distance there,” Horn shared. “We have 4.5 million square feet to deal with so it’s been a process to get
it all installed before flu season is in high gear.” “It’s not like an air conditioning unit you’d find in your home,” he added. “Some of these systems are about the size of half of a classroom and had to be designed to accommodate that scale.” The filtration systems produce ionized particles that help kill viruses, mold, mildew and other harmful airborne particles by working inside the schools’ existing heating and air conditioning units, producing positively and negatively charged ions. “These ions attach themselves to the virus and rob it of hydrogen, killing it even on hard surfaces,” Horn explained. “If there are other airborne particles, the ions attach to those and make the particles larger so they can be filtered out.” Moore is the first large school district in Oklahoma to install ionization filtration systems. –19SM
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BY: RAE LYNN PAYTON
Young Bassmaster Snags Top Honors Local youth fisherman places 7th at his first national championship tournament
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oung anglers from across the nation met in Huntingdon, Tennessee this October to compete for the national championship title in the Bassmaster Junior Series. Metro teen Preston Keller placed seventh with his fishing partner, Dakota Carter, at their first national championship appearance.
Newly eligible to compete at the age of 13, the pair had two days to practice and become familiar with the Carol County 1000-Acre Recreational Lake, followed by the two-day fishing tournament where total of 54 teams competed with kids from 28 states. Keller and Carter met for the first time at the state tournament held at Lake Murray earlier this year. Together they placed second which qualified them for Nationals.
Conditions at the nationals were difficult with cold temperatures and rain, but slowly improved, during their twoday practice. The duo had little luck the first two days using Keller’s favored flip technique and fish finding patterns, 48 December 2020
so they had to adjust.
With only an hour left to practice on the second day, the boys found success as they discovered the fish and their key to catching them.
Once the tournament began, they caught eight qualifying fish in all, four fish each day. Each fish had to be at least 12 inches in length. Anything smaller was thrown back. They continued to assessed and adjust along the way, proving successful in the end.
Carter caught a 3lb. 9 oz. fish on the last cast of the last day at the boat ramp as they were coming in, tipping the scales in their favor. “I always wanted to fish at the highest level I could for my age,” Keller shared. “This is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time.” Keller hopes to qualify and compete again and his future goals include going to college, possibly joining a college fishing team and becoming a game warden.
With a huge support system, which includes his parents, family, friends and local businesses sponsoring him, he practices daily with a little two-man boat pulled by his lawnmower to reach their farm ponds. His granddad, James Jackson, has been a devoted fan and lifelong influence for Keller and his love of fishing. Regardless of the conditions or obstacles, Jackson is a loyal fishing buddy. His brother, Konnor Keller, who is currently serving in the Navy, has also played a major role in Preston’s love of the sport. You can keep up with Keller on his YouTube channel, Prestonsreelfishing, where he shares fishing and hunting videos, as well as his fish tank updates and words of advice.
When asked what he loves most about the sport of fishing he said, “I just love the initial bite and how it’s something anyone can do.” He shared a piece of advice for fellow anglers: “Just keep casting lines.” –19SM
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