After hearing dire predictions on the weather for close to a week, I survived. Hopefully so did you, or, of course, you would not be reading this.
Eek! Up to an inch of ice followed by even more sleet (isn’t sleet ice?) and seven or eight inches of snow! That’s what we were told and threatened.
Stores couldn’t keep generators in stock! Ice and sleet and snow, oh my!
Hmm.
As usual, the weather wasn’t as bad as we were warned. I am thankful to Garrett and all the others who spent extra time telling us what could happen, don’t get me wrong. Unless, like, you want to.
But hey, didn’t we go a little overboard here? And no, I’m not talking about the Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn movie, as if.
All day Friday, the local? weather channels, which to me is only the Channel 5, the stations in NW Arkansas aren’t local, showed us the REAL conditions, like we couldn’t see for ourselves. Darren Bobb would send us out to one of the reporters stationed at the mall or driving around and OH MY GOODNESS! It was snowing.
Yep, looked like any other snow I have seen, only without the yellowish snow from where dogs and people have done their bidness. Apparently all the reporters were stationed in various locales to show the current situation.
Okay, that one looks like it does here. Hey, that one has snow! So does that one and the other one!
The ones that rather irritated me are the Icamera, or whatever they called it. Whoa, reporters were driving around showing what the weather was like to be driving around in! Hey, didn’t the weather service say not to drive around unless it was an emergency? And look, there is a car off the road. Yes, there is another one.
All the while I was wondering more if that was Darren’s real hair or the dreaded toupee.
I did have to brave the weather conditions, of course. I drove to Poteau and (drum roll please!) around Poteau! Yes, there was snow! Yes, there was ice! I got there before the heavy stuff was really going on, but the Gene Machine, the truck I drive, did rather well. My girlish friend was ill and I was summoned to run errands.
The cautious Craig said “No way!” The caring Craig said, “Of course, dear!” (Not that I have ever addressed anybody as “dear” unless it was the start of a letter). The guy Craig said, “YES!”
Sorry, but it is a guy thing. We have to face the conditions and conquer them to prove our manliness and dumbness. I drove the chickmobile, since I figured it would be better than driving the Gene Machine. The road conditions had ice and snow! Just like they did on television. Did some sliding, nothing grand or the way my bud Terry Earls used to tear up his car downtown or in the medical center parking lot.
I had to go to Walmart. Ugh. But it wasn’t that bad. It wasn’t late so the freakazoids had not arrived, just a bunch of guys strutting their stuff for driving in the ice and snow. Along with some women, kids and the workers. After that, I slid down to the Pizza Hut to pick up a sandwich, cause that’s the kind of a guy I am. Not for me, but for my special someone. Apparently only Wally’s and Pizza Hut were open, although neither were exactly doing some brisk business.
She lives up on a hill and I tried two different roads to arrive, but failed. Argh! No four-wheel drive! Of course, you only need four-wheel drive approximately once every three years, so I don’t really see the need. But I had to park at a business down the hill and hoof it up a hill, a steep one!
I was cold. I was snowy, if a person can be snowy, and wearing running shoes. I know, nice planning Craig! Why, thank you! But I arrived back at her house and it looked just like it did on the news. I looked for a reporter but they were only concerned with the Arkansas places, as usual.
And then on Saturday, I drove again! Yeah, I was a stud. I wanted to run into somebody so I could brag about my studliness, but they were all home. I thought about calling, but my bravado had died once I got to Heavener as I knew complete focus was needed since many of the drivers had probably 1. Never seen snow or ice before; and 2. had probably never driven in said conditions.
I creeped along slowly, hoping to not meet any traffic. Success! I saw a few people making snow something or the others. One was using a bucket and building what looked like a snow tower. I did test the snow in case I needed to snowball somebody, but the snow was weak.
And that is my story, and I’m sticking to it, unless…
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
State of the union and more
A rather lame day yesterday, complete with a slight tummy virus!
I did drive across town without getting plowed by a Toyota car, truck or minivan, which is good. I was on high alert as I crossed the highway, vigilant in observing any Toyota vehicle!
I thought I saw one, but it was a Nissan. I breathed much better. No stuck accelerator! Fact is, I was more concerned with vehicles that had previously been involved in an accident and had never bothered to get it fixed.
Latest prediction says the ice storm will be worse in LeFlore County than was predicted last night.
Great. We need another ice storm, as if. A lot of the damage from the 2000 ice storm still exists. Yes, I remember that one well. I stood out on the back deck and listened as limbs from pine trees snapped, sounding like somebody was shooting a shotgun back in the woods.
I never lost electricity from the 2000 ice storm, but a lot of people did. All I lost was, gasp, the cable! Ugh. And the bill was not adjusted for the week or so without cable. Yes, I asked. No, I was told in that familiar customer service response.
Speaking of customer service, had to call a certain electrical company that services much of LeFlore County about a bill. First off, the number they gave me was not the one I needed.
The wrong number kept me on the line for approximately 10 minutes and I had to go through the typical crud like whether I spoke English or Spanish. Then I had to enter my account number, name, length of hair on my back and finally I quit replying and got to talk to a person.
I was then informed that I had to call another number. After the same junk as I did before, I was told to leave a message and the call would be returned promptly. It has now been approximately 22 hours and no call. I don’t consider that promptly.
Finally, I skipped the state of the union address last night, otherwise known as the President Obama pep rally. I am surprised they did not dim the lights and use a spotlight as he approached the pedestal as he high-fived all the cronies.
I did see enough to make me watch a basketball game instead. I have never figured out why it is necessary to clap, stand and whoop and holler after every statement.
I think he could have mentioned that he needed to go No. 1 and the crowd would have roared, aside from the Supreme Court justices, who looked like they wanted to take a nap.
Good thing there wasn’t anything on television that I missed last night. 24 was on Monday night and that is about the only regular show I watch on television. I am skipping American Idol this year, just because of Paula. Ha ha, as if. I actually watched Idol last year, realized how much of my life I had wasted and vowed not to watch it this year.
Rachel Ray just said Brendan Frazier, who is a guest on her show this morning, is known for the diversity of his work. Uh, right. He should have stuck with Encino Man.
I did drive across town without getting plowed by a Toyota car, truck or minivan, which is good. I was on high alert as I crossed the highway, vigilant in observing any Toyota vehicle!
I thought I saw one, but it was a Nissan. I breathed much better. No stuck accelerator! Fact is, I was more concerned with vehicles that had previously been involved in an accident and had never bothered to get it fixed.
Latest prediction says the ice storm will be worse in LeFlore County than was predicted last night.
Great. We need another ice storm, as if. A lot of the damage from the 2000 ice storm still exists. Yes, I remember that one well. I stood out on the back deck and listened as limbs from pine trees snapped, sounding like somebody was shooting a shotgun back in the woods.
I never lost electricity from the 2000 ice storm, but a lot of people did. All I lost was, gasp, the cable! Ugh. And the bill was not adjusted for the week or so without cable. Yes, I asked. No, I was told in that familiar customer service response.
Speaking of customer service, had to call a certain electrical company that services much of LeFlore County about a bill. First off, the number they gave me was not the one I needed.
The wrong number kept me on the line for approximately 10 minutes and I had to go through the typical crud like whether I spoke English or Spanish. Then I had to enter my account number, name, length of hair on my back and finally I quit replying and got to talk to a person.
I was then informed that I had to call another number. After the same junk as I did before, I was told to leave a message and the call would be returned promptly. It has now been approximately 22 hours and no call. I don’t consider that promptly.
Finally, I skipped the state of the union address last night, otherwise known as the President Obama pep rally. I am surprised they did not dim the lights and use a spotlight as he approached the pedestal as he high-fived all the cronies.
I did see enough to make me watch a basketball game instead. I have never figured out why it is necessary to clap, stand and whoop and holler after every statement.
I think he could have mentioned that he needed to go No. 1 and the crowd would have roared, aside from the Supreme Court justices, who looked like they wanted to take a nap.
Good thing there wasn’t anything on television that I missed last night. 24 was on Monday night and that is about the only regular show I watch on television. I am skipping American Idol this year, just because of Paula. Ha ha, as if. I actually watched Idol last year, realized how much of my life I had wasted and vowed not to watch it this year.
Rachel Ray just said Brendan Frazier, who is a guest on her show this morning, is known for the diversity of his work. Uh, right. He should have stuck with Encino Man.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Moon halo and more?
Things are getting back to normal around the old Journal as the LCT hangover fades away.
Yep, covered 20 games during the LCT last week. Four games a day times five (I took Wednesday off for the consolation games to rest my aching back and old knees).
I was close to being basketball’d out (notice basketball’d is not an actual word). After watching four games a day, it seemed like I was watching something on the DVR on Tuesday as I only saw two games. My, but it went by almost as fast as shows do when I can skip through the commercials and halftime stuff.
After the game was over, I was alerted to a halo (not the game, a halo) around the moon. I found this interesting and wondered how many people would see this as a sign for some end of the world crud or that…never mind. That would have been rude and we’re all about not being rude on this here blog!
Several people suggested that I take a picture of the halo. I tried, but it wasn’t light enough to show up. I looked up moon halo as a public service and found the following information:
The familiar 22° halo around the Sun or Moon occurs because of refraction in tiny hexagonal ice crystals in the air. With the 60° apex angle of the prism formed by extending the sides of the crystal and the index of refraction of ice (n=1.31) one can calculate the angle of minium deviation to be 21.84°.
I did not know that! Who says reading my blog isn’t educational?
Anyway, it was rather cool, but it was also cool outside and I did not spend near the time I would admire it longer if it was a balmy 60 degrees, but then I don’t think the halo would have appeared.
It is now time to switch subjects. We need to figure out how to get a gym like the Stubblefield Center in LeFlore County. Of course, it would have to pay for itself, but in addition to the county tournament, it could host district tournaments, regionals and areas, plus concerts, graduations, etc.
Prior to actually attending a game there, I was not in favor of the LeFlore County Tournament being played gasp, out of LeFlore County. But for the players and fans, it was a big-time environment.
I do hate the money leaving the county to be spent in Arkansas. But until we get something similar in the county, the semifinals and finals should be played there. There were record crowds on Saturday with over 2,600 for the girls’ finals and 2,800 for the boys.
We used to cram the fans in at CASC’s gym, but never got close to this number. Plus everybody had a seat during the past two years, at least those who chose to sit, and it didn’t feel like a bunch of sardines crammed together in a can and was a nice and cool environment.
Short of playing in the big house at the state tournament, nothing I have seen has topped this environment. I worry that Spiro will try to hold the finals in its new gym next year.
Spiro’s gym is awesome, but can only seat 1,500 unless some portable bleachers are arranged on the stage at one end. If they can seat 1,800, that would still be 1,000 less than attended the finals this year. Hmm, 1,000 times $5 a pop equals $5,000.
Sure, the rent on the Stubblefield Center is $1,000 a day, but that is still a loss of $4,000.
Enough for today. As Spock the sharp-eared one used to say, “Live Long and Prosper”!
Yep, covered 20 games during the LCT last week. Four games a day times five (I took Wednesday off for the consolation games to rest my aching back and old knees).
I was close to being basketball’d out (notice basketball’d is not an actual word). After watching four games a day, it seemed like I was watching something on the DVR on Tuesday as I only saw two games. My, but it went by almost as fast as shows do when I can skip through the commercials and halftime stuff.
After the game was over, I was alerted to a halo (not the game, a halo) around the moon. I found this interesting and wondered how many people would see this as a sign for some end of the world crud or that…never mind. That would have been rude and we’re all about not being rude on this here blog!
Several people suggested that I take a picture of the halo. I tried, but it wasn’t light enough to show up. I looked up moon halo as a public service and found the following information:
The familiar 22° halo around the Sun or Moon occurs because of refraction in tiny hexagonal ice crystals in the air. With the 60° apex angle of the prism formed by extending the sides of the crystal and the index of refraction of ice (n=1.31) one can calculate the angle of minium deviation to be 21.84°.
I did not know that! Who says reading my blog isn’t educational?
Anyway, it was rather cool, but it was also cool outside and I did not spend near the time I would admire it longer if it was a balmy 60 degrees, but then I don’t think the halo would have appeared.
It is now time to switch subjects. We need to figure out how to get a gym like the Stubblefield Center in LeFlore County. Of course, it would have to pay for itself, but in addition to the county tournament, it could host district tournaments, regionals and areas, plus concerts, graduations, etc.
Prior to actually attending a game there, I was not in favor of the LeFlore County Tournament being played gasp, out of LeFlore County. But for the players and fans, it was a big-time environment.
I do hate the money leaving the county to be spent in Arkansas. But until we get something similar in the county, the semifinals and finals should be played there. There were record crowds on Saturday with over 2,600 for the girls’ finals and 2,800 for the boys.
We used to cram the fans in at CASC’s gym, but never got close to this number. Plus everybody had a seat during the past two years, at least those who chose to sit, and it didn’t feel like a bunch of sardines crammed together in a can and was a nice and cool environment.
Short of playing in the big house at the state tournament, nothing I have seen has topped this environment. I worry that Spiro will try to hold the finals in its new gym next year.
Spiro’s gym is awesome, but can only seat 1,500 unless some portable bleachers are arranged on the stage at one end. If they can seat 1,800, that would still be 1,000 less than attended the finals this year. Hmm, 1,000 times $5 a pop equals $5,000.
Sure, the rent on the Stubblefield Center is $1,000 a day, but that is still a loss of $4,000.
Enough for today. As Spock the sharp-eared one used to say, “Live Long and Prosper”!
Saturday, January 23, 2010
County tournament blog!
Well, here we are. The final day of the LeFlore County Tournament. I will update this blog throughout the day so check back often.
We're here at the Stub (what I call the Stubblefield Center). Drivers can relax, I arrived here safely and did not cause any wrecks, collisions or fender benders.
The third-place game between Poteau and Pocola is just tipping off.
Normally, a third-place game is sort of like pulling teeth. Hopefully it won't be like that today.
Good seats ARE still available! Another update soon.
------
It is now 2:46 and 31 seconds left in the first quarter. Half of the lights in the Stub just went out and there is a delay while we wait for the lights to come back.
The score is tied at 6 so the basketball has not been the best. I always thought playing in a third-place game would be like pulling a tooth. Not that I ever played in a third-place game, but nobody wants to be playing in this game and that is how both teams are playing.
Neither coaches have been thrilled with the officiating so far. Lights still out! Another update soon.
-----
Now 2:57 play has resumed but the lights are still off. Some confusion on which end the players are going to play on. It is a little darker down at the one end, but still light enough to play.
Meagan Severe hit a 3 at the buzzer to give Pocola a 9-6 lead after one quarter. Teams have switched ends?
----
Updated 3:12
The lights are back on. Almost halftime, Pocola leads 20-16. As you can probably tell by the score, this has not been an offensive explosion by either team.
One of the Lady Indians shot a few minutes ago just behind the free-throw line and hit the top of the backboard.
Just talked to Heavener boys coach Scott Gregory and he said Brandon Kirkland is here today and rode the team bus. Kirkland will likely have surgery on Monday for his broken collarbone.
The Pocola cheerleaders, who are dressed in black for some reason, are throwing tee-shirts into the stands. Sadly, they did not throw any in my direction.
Okay, we are at halftime. Pocola leads, 20-18. The music is loud, bad and giving me a headache. Just thought you would like to know that.
Hmm, I think it might be time to check out the old hospitality room. Arkoma has done a good job putting on the tournament and providing an impressive spread for the hospitality room.
Speaking of food, it is a good thing I don't cover games here all the time. I'd weight three bills and be poorer than I already am. The hot dogs are smoking! Best I have had in a while, unfortunately they cost $3!
Eek!
Hmm.
----
3:24
Second half about to start. Forgot to mention, Courtney Allison has three fouls for Poteau in the first half but is playing. Whoa, first shot was good by Jodi Meier and the game is tied.
If you have any questions, please send a text to 918-649-4712 and I will answer.
3:41
End of third. Pocola scored last six points to take a 34-31 lead. Pocola, which was 9-30 on free throws Thursday in the loss to Heavener, is 14-22 midway through the third quarter.
Speaking of Pocola, sophomore Taylor Martindale will be a great player. Martindale, along with Chelsea Baggs and Meagan Brown of Howe are impressive players as sophomores.\\
-----
4:12
Pocola won the third-place game for the girls, 52-44. Martindale and Meagan Severe each scored 14 for Pocola. Addie Guthrie led Poteau with 15.
Talked to Brandon Kirkland. He is at the game with his left arm in a sling. He said he was not aware of the injury after the collision with Taggart Lockhart. Kirkland went back down the court, touched his shoulder and felt the bone sticking out.
He will have the operation this week and will hopefully be back in time for baseball.
-----
4:28
Midway through the first quarter, Poteau leads Heavener, 15-2, and it is obvious that the Wolves are struggling without Kirkland. Poteau, meanwhile, is not suffering any hangovers from the last-minute loss to Spiro last night.
I am going to write more about it later in the week, but the Stub is an awesome facility for basketball. It holds 3,100 and there isn’t a bad seat in the place.
Before I got to experience a game in this environment, I wished there was some way the tournament finals could return to CASC.
This is just way too good, though. Nobody has to stand in the baseline and it is plenty cool, nothing like CASC is when the gym is packed.
5:04
It is halftime and it is not looking good for Heavener. The Wolves trail Poteau 48-23 and it is obvious they want to get through with this game and get reorganized next week in practice.
For some reason, unlike the rest of the week, the early games today were scheduled at 2:30 and 4 p.m., instead of 4 and 5:30. That means there will be an hour and a half break between the third-place games and the ones tonight.
The Stub will be emptied in between, I guess to clean the place, not like it needs a whole lot of cleaning with the smallish crowd in here today.
I noticed the jacket of the officials said Arkansas Officials Association. I have no problem with bringing in different officials for the tournament, but was surprised to see the officials for the afternoon game were out of Arkansas.
---
6:39
The showdown between Heavener and Howe is only 24 minutes away. Howe is dressed in red while the Lady Wolves are in their home uniforms.
The crowd is starting to flood into the Stub. Looks like there will be a bigger crowd here tonight than there was for the semifinals last night.
All the lights aside from one came back on and there have not been any other problems.
Looks like the whole county is represented here tonight. There are plenty of people from Heavener and Howe here, of course, but there are also fans from Wister, Cameron, Pocola, Poteau, LeFlore and everywhere else.
Looks like both games should be good ones
We're here at the Stub (what I call the Stubblefield Center). Drivers can relax, I arrived here safely and did not cause any wrecks, collisions or fender benders.
The third-place game between Poteau and Pocola is just tipping off.
Normally, a third-place game is sort of like pulling teeth. Hopefully it won't be like that today.
Good seats ARE still available! Another update soon.
------
It is now 2:46 and 31 seconds left in the first quarter. Half of the lights in the Stub just went out and there is a delay while we wait for the lights to come back.
The score is tied at 6 so the basketball has not been the best. I always thought playing in a third-place game would be like pulling a tooth. Not that I ever played in a third-place game, but nobody wants to be playing in this game and that is how both teams are playing.
Neither coaches have been thrilled with the officiating so far. Lights still out! Another update soon.
-----
Now 2:57 play has resumed but the lights are still off. Some confusion on which end the players are going to play on. It is a little darker down at the one end, but still light enough to play.
Meagan Severe hit a 3 at the buzzer to give Pocola a 9-6 lead after one quarter. Teams have switched ends?
----
Updated 3:12
The lights are back on. Almost halftime, Pocola leads 20-16. As you can probably tell by the score, this has not been an offensive explosion by either team.
One of the Lady Indians shot a few minutes ago just behind the free-throw line and hit the top of the backboard.
Just talked to Heavener boys coach Scott Gregory and he said Brandon Kirkland is here today and rode the team bus. Kirkland will likely have surgery on Monday for his broken collarbone.
The Pocola cheerleaders, who are dressed in black for some reason, are throwing tee-shirts into the stands. Sadly, they did not throw any in my direction.
Okay, we are at halftime. Pocola leads, 20-18. The music is loud, bad and giving me a headache. Just thought you would like to know that.
Hmm, I think it might be time to check out the old hospitality room. Arkoma has done a good job putting on the tournament and providing an impressive spread for the hospitality room.
Speaking of food, it is a good thing I don't cover games here all the time. I'd weight three bills and be poorer than I already am. The hot dogs are smoking! Best I have had in a while, unfortunately they cost $3!
Eek!
Hmm.
----
3:24
Second half about to start. Forgot to mention, Courtney Allison has three fouls for Poteau in the first half but is playing. Whoa, first shot was good by Jodi Meier and the game is tied.
If you have any questions, please send a text to 918-649-4712 and I will answer.
3:41
End of third. Pocola scored last six points to take a 34-31 lead. Pocola, which was 9-30 on free throws Thursday in the loss to Heavener, is 14-22 midway through the third quarter.
Speaking of Pocola, sophomore Taylor Martindale will be a great player. Martindale, along with Chelsea Baggs and Meagan Brown of Howe are impressive players as sophomores.\\
-----
4:12
Pocola won the third-place game for the girls, 52-44. Martindale and Meagan Severe each scored 14 for Pocola. Addie Guthrie led Poteau with 15.
Talked to Brandon Kirkland. He is at the game with his left arm in a sling. He said he was not aware of the injury after the collision with Taggart Lockhart. Kirkland went back down the court, touched his shoulder and felt the bone sticking out.
He will have the operation this week and will hopefully be back in time for baseball.
-----
4:28
Midway through the first quarter, Poteau leads Heavener, 15-2, and it is obvious that the Wolves are struggling without Kirkland. Poteau, meanwhile, is not suffering any hangovers from the last-minute loss to Spiro last night.
I am going to write more about it later in the week, but the Stub is an awesome facility for basketball. It holds 3,100 and there isn’t a bad seat in the place.
Before I got to experience a game in this environment, I wished there was some way the tournament finals could return to CASC.
This is just way too good, though. Nobody has to stand in the baseline and it is plenty cool, nothing like CASC is when the gym is packed.
5:04
It is halftime and it is not looking good for Heavener. The Wolves trail Poteau 48-23 and it is obvious they want to get through with this game and get reorganized next week in practice.
For some reason, unlike the rest of the week, the early games today were scheduled at 2:30 and 4 p.m., instead of 4 and 5:30. That means there will be an hour and a half break between the third-place games and the ones tonight.
The Stub will be emptied in between, I guess to clean the place, not like it needs a whole lot of cleaning with the smallish crowd in here today.
I noticed the jacket of the officials said Arkansas Officials Association. I have no problem with bringing in different officials for the tournament, but was surprised to see the officials for the afternoon game were out of Arkansas.
---
6:39
The showdown between Heavener and Howe is only 24 minutes away. Howe is dressed in red while the Lady Wolves are in their home uniforms.
The crowd is starting to flood into the Stub. Looks like there will be a bigger crowd here tonight than there was for the semifinals last night.
All the lights aside from one came back on and there have not been any other problems.
Looks like the whole county is represented here tonight. There are plenty of people from Heavener and Howe here, of course, but there are also fans from Wister, Cameron, Pocola, Poteau, LeFlore and everywhere else.
Looks like both games should be good ones
Friday, January 22, 2010
Poteau girls show heart
Nobody likes to lose on a basketball court or in life.
Sometimes, though, you find more about a person or a team when it is going through adversity.
That is the case for the Poteau girls basketball team. The Lady Pirates entered the county tournament with only two wins and few people expected them to do much this week.
In the first round, the sixth-seeded Lady Pirates barely survived a first-round game against little Whitesboro.
Next up was third-seeded LeFlore. Another close game, but Poteau clawed and scratched its way to advance to the semifinals against Howe, the two-time defending champions which was undefeated on the season.
Earlier in the month, Howe had downed the Lady Pirates fairly easily in a game at Poteau.
So the odds were definitely stacked against Poteau.
Not many people gave the Lady Pirates a chance. In the earlier game, Howe jumped out to a huge lead but Poteau played fairly even over the last three quarters.
This time, Poteau kept the game close. The Lady Pirates spread the court on offense and showed good patience. On defense, Poteau packed the defense to try and slow down Howe’s powerful inside game.
Every time Howe landed a punch, the Lady Pirates hit right back. It didn’t take long to realize this was a different game and a different team.
Howe led 10-9 at the end of the first quarter before Poteau rallied to take a lead at halftime. The lead grew to seven early in the third quarter before Howe rallied.
The Lady Lions eventually grabbed a 33-28 lead in the fourth quarter. Poteau had given a great effort, but the Lady Pirates were hanging on to the end of a long rope.
But Poteau was not through. Behind two threes by Courtney Allison, who had picked up her fourth foul in the first half, the Lady Pirates tied the game with 3:12 left.
Howe bounced back and Allison, who led all scorers with 19 points fouled out with just over a minute remaining.
The Lady Lions still could not shake the determined Lady Pirates. In the last seconds, Poteau had a chance to tie the score but it wasn’t meant to be. Howe’s Chelsea Baggs hit a clinching free throw and the game was over.
Poteau’s outstanding effort was not rewarded with a win. The loss hurt and there were some tears from the players wearing the white uniforms on this night. But while the scoreboard read Howe 40, Poteau 36, there were no losers on this memorable night.
Sometimes, though, you find more about a person or a team when it is going through adversity.
That is the case for the Poteau girls basketball team. The Lady Pirates entered the county tournament with only two wins and few people expected them to do much this week.
In the first round, the sixth-seeded Lady Pirates barely survived a first-round game against little Whitesboro.
Next up was third-seeded LeFlore. Another close game, but Poteau clawed and scratched its way to advance to the semifinals against Howe, the two-time defending champions which was undefeated on the season.
Earlier in the month, Howe had downed the Lady Pirates fairly easily in a game at Poteau.
So the odds were definitely stacked against Poteau.
Not many people gave the Lady Pirates a chance. In the earlier game, Howe jumped out to a huge lead but Poteau played fairly even over the last three quarters.
This time, Poteau kept the game close. The Lady Pirates spread the court on offense and showed good patience. On defense, Poteau packed the defense to try and slow down Howe’s powerful inside game.
Every time Howe landed a punch, the Lady Pirates hit right back. It didn’t take long to realize this was a different game and a different team.
Howe led 10-9 at the end of the first quarter before Poteau rallied to take a lead at halftime. The lead grew to seven early in the third quarter before Howe rallied.
The Lady Lions eventually grabbed a 33-28 lead in the fourth quarter. Poteau had given a great effort, but the Lady Pirates were hanging on to the end of a long rope.
But Poteau was not through. Behind two threes by Courtney Allison, who had picked up her fourth foul in the first half, the Lady Pirates tied the game with 3:12 left.
Howe bounced back and Allison, who led all scorers with 19 points fouled out with just over a minute remaining.
The Lady Lions still could not shake the determined Lady Pirates. In the last seconds, Poteau had a chance to tie the score but it wasn’t meant to be. Howe’s Chelsea Baggs hit a clinching free throw and the game was over.
Poteau’s outstanding effort was not rewarded with a win. The loss hurt and there were some tears from the players wearing the white uniforms on this night. But while the scoreboard read Howe 40, Poteau 36, there were no losers on this memorable night.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
My county tournament days
It was some 29 years ago that I retired from competitive sports.
That marked the end of my high school days at old Heavener High School.
Like thousands before and after, I played in the LeFlore County Tournament, not that well, but I did play.
I was part of Heavener teams that competed three years. Well, actually two. We didn’t compete all that well my junior year but I will get to that later.
As a sophomore, I was part of the Rest of the Wolves, buried deep down the bench, called upon only in case of serious foul troubles or because of a blowout.
We had a pretty good team that year with lots of seniors garnering most of the playing time. For the Rest of the Wolves, we found ways to entertain ourselves on the bench such as chatting with cheerleaders for the opposing teams, slapping towels on the ground at inopportune times, rattling the bench by...never mind, and being a thorn in our coach’s side for the most part.
During my three years, we were never one of the teams that drew a bye in the first round. My sophomore year, we played Whitesboro at CASC. It has been way too long to remember scores but it must have been a blowout because I remember playing in the game and we won!
Next up was Poteau, also at CASC. It was a fairly competitive game (since I remember not playing), but we lost. I would like to think things would have been different if I had been summoned off the bench and they probably would have been. The game wouldn't have been that close!
That Poteau team played Spiro in the finals and lost, 71-57.
Ah, my junior year was next, as if. Frankly, we stunk that year. No, we did. No seniors, only juniors and sophomores. Heavener was the host school that year, which made no sense as we were opening the new gym the following year.
Again, Poteau! Not that it mattered who we played. We would have lost unless our opponent was some school for the blind and maimed, and unfortunately no such school competed in the county tournament. We were beaten badly, which came as no surprise. However, the unmighty Wolves did win one game that year!
That Poteau team did win the championship that year by beating Spiro. Somehow, I like to think our competitive effort spurred the Pirates on to the win, but in all likelihood, it was the fresh legs from not having to play too hard to beat us.
And next, of course, was my senior year. We were decent that year, which made sense as everybody was back and we had some good sophomores.
Our first game that year was at Pocola against, uh, Pocola. No, the seeding people were not kind to us. It was a late game against a team that ripped us earlier in the season.
Somehow, we won. Don’t ask me how or why, but the Wolves won! Did we get a break the next night?
Uh, no. Our next opponent was Spiro, fresh off a bye while we were both brain dead and leg dead from playing the late game the previous night. We stayed close to Spiro, not that it mattered in the end. It was actually the closest we played Spiro in my glory days.
And yes, that Spiro team did win the county championship that year over Poteau, 48-26.
There was no losers’ bracket back in those days. You lost and you were done. So overall, our record while playing in the county tournament was 2-3.
Not bad, but certainly not good enough to play in the big stage of the semifinals and finals.
It wasn’t until later that I realized what an honor it was to play in the county tournament. Sure, it would have been nice to walk off with the county championship, but there were always better teams in the way, just like it is and has been for so many before and after.
That marked the end of my high school days at old Heavener High School.
Like thousands before and after, I played in the LeFlore County Tournament, not that well, but I did play.
I was part of Heavener teams that competed three years. Well, actually two. We didn’t compete all that well my junior year but I will get to that later.
As a sophomore, I was part of the Rest of the Wolves, buried deep down the bench, called upon only in case of serious foul troubles or because of a blowout.
We had a pretty good team that year with lots of seniors garnering most of the playing time. For the Rest of the Wolves, we found ways to entertain ourselves on the bench such as chatting with cheerleaders for the opposing teams, slapping towels on the ground at inopportune times, rattling the bench by...never mind, and being a thorn in our coach’s side for the most part.
During my three years, we were never one of the teams that drew a bye in the first round. My sophomore year, we played Whitesboro at CASC. It has been way too long to remember scores but it must have been a blowout because I remember playing in the game and we won!
Next up was Poteau, also at CASC. It was a fairly competitive game (since I remember not playing), but we lost. I would like to think things would have been different if I had been summoned off the bench and they probably would have been. The game wouldn't have been that close!
That Poteau team played Spiro in the finals and lost, 71-57.
Ah, my junior year was next, as if. Frankly, we stunk that year. No, we did. No seniors, only juniors and sophomores. Heavener was the host school that year, which made no sense as we were opening the new gym the following year.
Again, Poteau! Not that it mattered who we played. We would have lost unless our opponent was some school for the blind and maimed, and unfortunately no such school competed in the county tournament. We were beaten badly, which came as no surprise. However, the unmighty Wolves did win one game that year!
That Poteau team did win the championship that year by beating Spiro. Somehow, I like to think our competitive effort spurred the Pirates on to the win, but in all likelihood, it was the fresh legs from not having to play too hard to beat us.
And next, of course, was my senior year. We were decent that year, which made sense as everybody was back and we had some good sophomores.
Our first game that year was at Pocola against, uh, Pocola. No, the seeding people were not kind to us. It was a late game against a team that ripped us earlier in the season.
Somehow, we won. Don’t ask me how or why, but the Wolves won! Did we get a break the next night?
Uh, no. Our next opponent was Spiro, fresh off a bye while we were both brain dead and leg dead from playing the late game the previous night. We stayed close to Spiro, not that it mattered in the end. It was actually the closest we played Spiro in my glory days.
And yes, that Spiro team did win the county championship that year over Poteau, 48-26.
There was no losers’ bracket back in those days. You lost and you were done. So overall, our record while playing in the county tournament was 2-3.
Not bad, but certainly not good enough to play in the big stage of the semifinals and finals.
It wasn’t until later that I realized what an honor it was to play in the county tournament. Sure, it would have been nice to walk off with the county championship, but there were always better teams in the way, just like it is and has been for so many before and after.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
One great game
In the first two days of the 78th LeFlore County Tournament, there were already some good games.
On Tuesday night, there was a great game.
Heavener and Howe renewed their rivalry and it was like the Hatfields and the McCoys again.
Players, fans and coaches know and in many instances are friends with persons from the two towns located only five miles apart. Many of the residents work with each other and have known each other for decades. They even go to church together and would go out of their way to help each other in times of need.
But when the school with the red and white and the other featuring purple and gold meet inside a basketball gym, it is war. Howe fans hold up signs proclaiming their school to be the real HHS while Heavener fans carried around a stuffed Lion on a string.
When the two teams met Tuesday, there was an intensity and atmosphere lacking in 99.9 percent of all games. You could feel it inside the gym. This was a special night. Most of the county finals don’t find the players and fans this jacked.
The old (but refurbished) gym at CASC was packed. LTC organizers made a wise decision when they moved this game from Arkoma to CASC. There is no way Arkoma’s gym could hold this crowd.
Besides, a game of this magnitude needs to be played in the grand palace of basketball in LeFlore County, where so many county champions were crowned in years past and so many fans once played back in their glory days.
Howe is the smaller school, but basketball rules and there is a good tradition. Basketball at Heavener is important also. Plus, this was the LeFlore County Tournament. The winner gets to continue on toward a possible championship. The loser falls into the losers bracket, something nobody in these two communities want to see happen.
Plus, with no games scheduled between the two teams for the remainder of this year the winner gets bragging rights until the next time the two schools hook up.
Yes, there was a winner in Tuesday’s game. Heavener came from 12 points down in the fourth quarter to force overtime and then escape with a 78-73 win.
On this night, there was no loser, despite what the scoreboard might say. How could one team be considered a loser after its players put everything into winning and left every ounce of energy and emotion on the floor?
And make no mistake, this was the way high school basketball should be played. Both teams busted their tails from the opening tip until the final second faded off the scoreboard clock. They both wanted to win in the worst way, but there were no nasty incidents or dirty play.
The game got physical at times, but that is going to happen when you have two teams that put as much emphasis on stopping the other team as they do in scoring points.
There were big shots and exciting moments. The roar from the crowd only subsided during breaks from the action. There would be an eruption from the section containing the Howe fans followed shortly by a roar from the Heavener crowd.
Fans and players who played earlier stayed to watch this classic. Many players and fans from schools who played at other locations also dropped by to watch.
And the best thing is this might be Part 1. Heavener’s girls and Howe are the top two seeds in the girls’ bracket and could meet in the finals Saturday night at UAFS, although Pocola and Poteau have something to say about that.
On Tuesday night, there was a great game.
Heavener and Howe renewed their rivalry and it was like the Hatfields and the McCoys again.
Players, fans and coaches know and in many instances are friends with persons from the two towns located only five miles apart. Many of the residents work with each other and have known each other for decades. They even go to church together and would go out of their way to help each other in times of need.
But when the school with the red and white and the other featuring purple and gold meet inside a basketball gym, it is war. Howe fans hold up signs proclaiming their school to be the real HHS while Heavener fans carried around a stuffed Lion on a string.
When the two teams met Tuesday, there was an intensity and atmosphere lacking in 99.9 percent of all games. You could feel it inside the gym. This was a special night. Most of the county finals don’t find the players and fans this jacked.
The old (but refurbished) gym at CASC was packed. LTC organizers made a wise decision when they moved this game from Arkoma to CASC. There is no way Arkoma’s gym could hold this crowd.
Besides, a game of this magnitude needs to be played in the grand palace of basketball in LeFlore County, where so many county champions were crowned in years past and so many fans once played back in their glory days.
Howe is the smaller school, but basketball rules and there is a good tradition. Basketball at Heavener is important also. Plus, this was the LeFlore County Tournament. The winner gets to continue on toward a possible championship. The loser falls into the losers bracket, something nobody in these two communities want to see happen.
Plus, with no games scheduled between the two teams for the remainder of this year the winner gets bragging rights until the next time the two schools hook up.
Yes, there was a winner in Tuesday’s game. Heavener came from 12 points down in the fourth quarter to force overtime and then escape with a 78-73 win.
On this night, there was no loser, despite what the scoreboard might say. How could one team be considered a loser after its players put everything into winning and left every ounce of energy and emotion on the floor?
And make no mistake, this was the way high school basketball should be played. Both teams busted their tails from the opening tip until the final second faded off the scoreboard clock. They both wanted to win in the worst way, but there were no nasty incidents or dirty play.
The game got physical at times, but that is going to happen when you have two teams that put as much emphasis on stopping the other team as they do in scoring points.
There were big shots and exciting moments. The roar from the crowd only subsided during breaks from the action. There would be an eruption from the section containing the Howe fans followed shortly by a roar from the Heavener crowd.
Fans and players who played earlier stayed to watch this classic. Many players and fans from schools who played at other locations also dropped by to watch.
And the best thing is this might be Part 1. Heavener’s girls and Howe are the top two seeds in the girls’ bracket and could meet in the finals Saturday night at UAFS, although Pocola and Poteau have something to say about that.
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