LOCAL

Band on Threshold Of Surpassing Goal
Active City Retirees Get 5 Percent Raise
Bret Carter Running for Mayor

Band on Threshold Of Surpassing Goal

By KRISTIN HAYES

News Education Editor

It looks as if Ponca City and the state will be represented at the 2001 inaugural parade in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 20.

According to Mark Caspersen, band director, the band had raised $81,000 as of 3 p.m. Wednesday.

Caspersen was thrilled with the totals received. “I am so thankful to the entire community. They have really pulled together,” he said.

Although lacking about $3,000 to reach the $84,000 goal, Caspersen feels confident. “I believe when all is said and done, along with the fund raisers we’ve got planned for this week and weekend, we will be fine.”

Caspersen would also like to take some members of the eighth grade band to Washington. “They’ve helped us out so much this year,” he said. Taking those extra students would mean raising about $10,000 more.

The band members have been busy practicing for the parade this week. According to Caspersen, the band worked hard on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. “We had a lighter practice today,” Caspersen said. “We’ve planned a 7 a.m. rehearsal on Friday morning and another one on Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m.”

Caspersen said the musical selections are coming along well. “The kids are working really hard. I’m very proud of them. They are doing great,” he said.

Musical selections chosen for the parade are “Washington Post,” “Liberty Bell,” “Oklahoma” and the Po-Hi Fight Song.

On Tuesday night, a parent’s meeting was held to determine which sponsors would go.

Caspersen said 40 sponsors would attend the D.C. trip, all of whom will pay for the trip on his or her own. “That leaves us with a ratio of about one sponsor per four students,” he said.

He noted this week has been filled with excitement and realization. “I think the weight of what’s going to happen to them has intensified. The emotions are very high, and they’re thrilled to be a part of this,” he said.

Further donations can be made at Pioneer Bank and Trust in Ponca City, the Bank of Nichols Hills in Oklahoma City or directly to the Instrumental Music Department at the high school.

The band will leave on Jan. 16 for the 22-hour ride on chartered buses, donated by the Choctaw Nation.

Active City Retirees Get 5 Percent Raise

By JEFF POLITTE

News Staff Writer

Ponca City’s Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution giving active city retirees a 5 percent pay raise, effective March 1.

The decision was made during a regular session earlier this week.

According to city officials, this is the first such pay raise for city retirees the commission has ever approved. The raise is not expected to have any impact on the city’s budget.

“This is the first time we’ve ever increased benefits for active city retirees,” said Ponca City Finance Director Mark LaBossiere. “This was an attempt to do something for our retirees.”

According to LaBossiere, the money for this raise was found in the city’s externally managed retirement fund, and won’t affect the city’s budget. This he attributed to a strong stock market over the last few years which left the city’s pension fund fully funded, where it had only been 50 percent funded in 1990.

“This should be a late Christmas present for retirees, because our plan doesn’t allow for increases,” he continued.

Also discussed at the commission meeting was the city of Ponca City’s audit results.

Doug Van Meter, senior manager at Baird, Kurtz and Dobson, out of Enid, whose firm performed the external audit, said the audit went very well. “It’s a very good report for the city. We didn’t find any irregularities.”

Van Meter noted the city’s finances were a challenge because they were more complicated than most other cities in the state because of grants.

LaBossiere said, “This shows that the city’s Finance Department has systems in place to assure that revenue and expenses are being properly recorded and that our financial books accurately reflect the state of the city.”

LaBossiere also said this means the city has the proper checks and balances in place to prevent inconsistencies. “This is everything from having separation of duties in areas of receiving cash and recording transactions to purchasing and approval of payment to vendors,” he explained.

“The most important thing when referring to a good audit, is it gives the community confidence that their city’s finances are being handled properly,” LaBossiere continued. He also said the good audit report helps the city to have a higher bond rating and to qualify for state and federal grants.

Bret Carter Running for Mayor

Bret Carter, 40, a technician at Conoco, officially announced his intentions to run for mayor in Ponca City during the March 6 elections this morning. He is the first such candidate to officially announce his intentions for the office this year.

Carter says his proven track record and ability to generate excitement for the things that are important to Ponca City are two reasons he believes he should be elected mayor.

“One of my chief goals if elected,” Carter said, “will be to work with city staff and the other commissioners to constantly search for more ways to involve citizens in the governing of our community.

“I want to generate excitement within our community for the future we can build as a community.”

Carter says he believes a mayor should:

• Work to involve people in every step of the decision making process and in community dialogue.

• Look for innovative new answers to old problems.

• Be a leader who has the willingness to listen to the “will of the people” as well at the courage to act.

• Have a record of performance in the community — a leader who has produced tangible results in the community.

• See the possibilities in the future of Ponca City.

• Be ready to build a vision of the future with fellow Ponca City citizens.

• Lead with youthful passion and energy towards a future rich with possibilities for all Ponca City residents.

Carter says he believes he can be such a mayor and that the vision he holds of the future for the community and the methods he sees for attaining that future will be part of the discussion during the mayoral campaign.

“I am passionate about where we can go as a community,” he explained. “I believe we can build a future where all our citizens can work cooperatively to create a community that is a great place for all of our citizens to live and that we can all be proud to call our home.”

Carter, who was born in 1960 in Pueblo, Colo., graduated from Blackwell High School in 1978. After high school, he graduated from NOC, where he studied business administration. Later, he went on to study architecture at OSU.

According to Carter, who had been employed as a Conoco technician since 1982, in addition to formal education, he has studied independently neighborhood development, principle-centered leadership and non-profit leadership and organization.

His community related activities include being vice-chairman of the Ponca City Main Street Authority, 2000-2001; chairman of the Main Street Design Committee; a board member of the Historic Preservation Advisory Panel, a panel he became chairman of in 1997; president of the Ponca City Landmark Conservancy; and a volunteer for the Festival of Angels as a step-on guide.

He has a wife, Michelle, and an 11-year-old son, Clay, who attends Garfield Academy.

Filing Period For Mayor Jan. 22-24

DEATHS

Wanda Pauline Gillispie
Mary Edna Hill Baldwin
Services Pending
Arthur L. Romary
Aaron Gordon Gayton
Chloe Dyan Wilson

Wanda Pauline Gillispie

PRAGUE — Wanda Pauline (Cornwell) Gillispie, former resident of Tonkawa, died Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2001, in Oklahoma City. She was 78.

The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 12, 2001, at the First Baptist Church in Prague with the Rev. Tim Emmons officiating. Burial will be at 2:30 p.m. at the Riverview Cemetery in Tonkawa under the direction of Parks Brothers Funeral Service in Prague.

Wanda Pauline Cornwell Gillispie was born Dec. 6, 1922, in Tonkawa, the daughter of Roy and Edith Icenogle Cornwell. She lived in Prague after moving there in 1995 from Tonkawa. She worked as a seamstress and was active in the Prague Senior Citizens and a member of the First Baptist Church. She married Lawrence C. Gillispie on Aug. 18, 1940, in Blackwell.

Survivors include a son, Ted Gillispie from Prague; a brother, Junior Cornwell of Bartlesville; a sister, Helen Henderson of Ramona; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband on May 28, 1998, and her parents.

Obituaries

Mary Edna Hill Baldwin

Mary Edna Hill Baldwin, 92, died Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2001. Born February 3, 1908, in Ponca City, she was the daughter of John Miller Hill and Jennie Lee Johnston Hill. She grew up on the Hill family’s wheat farm near Bliss (now Marland).

Mary graduated from Christian College (now Columbia College of Missouri) in 1928, after which she returned to Ponca City and began teaching first grade. While boarding at the home of a local family, she met Harold C. Baldwin — “the handsomest man I ever saw,” according to Mary. The two were married Nov. 7, 1931, and enjoyed 46 years together before Harold’s death in 1977.

After the birth of her first child, Mary taught kindergarten in her home. In the early 50s, she began selling real estate and continued to work in this field after the family moved to Oklahoma City — in total over 25 years. Upon her retirement, Mary became a tutor, teaching young children to become successful readers.

Mary was a person of many interests and talents. She was a gifted artist and a devout lover of animals. In return, they trusted her. Wild birds were her special favorites, and a certain mockingbird could often be seen eating out of hand.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents and two brothers, Robert Raymond and William Johnston Hill.

Surviving are a son, H. Bradford Baldwin and his wife Cheryl of Edmond; a daughter, Mary Teresa Zimmer and her husband Alfred of Calgary, Alberta, Canada; and three grandchildren, Alyssa Baldwin of Edmond; and Jennie and John Zimmer of Calgary.

A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 13, at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Ponca City under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel. Donations may be made to Free to Live Animal Sanctuary, P.O. Box 130072, Edmond, Okla. 73013, or to any charity of choice.

paid obituary

Services Pending

Arthur L. Romary

Arthur L. Romary, longtime Ponca City resident, died late Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2001, in the St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. He was 73. Services are pending with Grace Memorial Chapel.

Aaron Gordon Gayton

Aaron Gordon Gayton, lifelong Ponca City resident, died at his home Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 10, 2001. He was 68. Services are pending with Grace Memorial Chapel.

Funerals

Friday

Chloe Dyan Wilson

Chloe Dyan Wilson — Graveside service at 2 p.m. in the Oaklawn Cemetery in Mabank, Texas, under the direction of Eubank Funeral Home of Mabank.

NEWS BRIEFS

Chorale Fundraiser — A portion of the proceeds from people dining at El Chico restaurant Tuesday, 6-8 p.m., will go to the Ponca City High School Chorale. The fundraiser will help finance a trip to national competition in New York City.

Ponca Bowl Saturday night glow bowl will begin at 10 pm on January 13th and 20th due to men’s city tournament. adv.

Singles Connection — Members of the Singles Connection will meet at 6:30 p.m. Friday for dinner at Dougan’s Barbecue. On Saturday the group will meet at 6 p.m. at Lowe’s parking lot to carpool to Blackwell to go bowling. For more information about the organization call 762-0578.

Bicycle repairs at Parkside Bicycles. 765-3230. adv.

Round-Up Club — The Marland Round-Up Club will meet Friday at 7:30 p.m. in the Kenneth Evans home. An election of officers is planned, and all interested people are invited to attend the meeting.

Cheryl (Red) has moved from Barney’s to South Avenue and 14th. Arney’s. adv.

Fire Run — A grass fire at the intersection of Hubbard Road and L.A. Cann Drive was reported to the Communications Center at 10:47 a.m. Wednesday. Unit one with the Ponca City Fire Department handled the call.

Free Pregnancy test. Birth Choice cares. Confidential. Hours: Monday 1-3 p.m., Tuesday, 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, 1-3 p.m. and Thursday, 6-8 p.m. 700 West Broadway. 765-9689. adv.

Theft — A clerk at a business in the 2000 block of North Fourteenth Street reported to Ponca City police at 11:23 a.m. Wednesday a shoplifter was being held. After the call, the subject reportedly fled the scene. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Friday, January 12th. Blue Light at 7:00 pm. Come have a bowl of chili and lets talk about a new dart tournament. adv.

Subject Held — An officer in the 2000 block of Hall Boulevard reported a 20-year-old woman was taken into custody on a Kay County warrant at 11:45 a.m. Wednesday.

Pauline’s Steak and shrimp dinner. $11.95. Friday 12th. For reservations call 765-5460. adv.

Accident — A two-vehicle, non-injury accident at the intersection of East Central Avenue and South Fourteenth Street was reported to Ponca City police at 1:12 p.m. Wednesday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Sale, Maytag scratch-n-dent refrigerators, electric dryers, ranges. Copeland’s, 315 E. Grand, 762-6896. adv.

Subject Held — An officer in the 600 block of South First Street reported a 26-year-old man was taken into custody on a Kay County warrant at 1:33 p.m. Wednesday.

After Christmas Sale! 40% off entire stock. Mel’s Clothing and Shoes, 2008 North 14th. adv.

Subject Held — An officer in the 600 block of West Otoe Avenue reported a 57-year-old woman was taken into custody on a Kay County warrant for failure to appear at 2:32 p.m. Wednesday.

Head Country all day Friday special­ All you can eat, smoked BBQ ribs, beans, potato salad, and coleslaw, only $7.49, all day. 1217 East Prospect. 767-8304. adv.

Subject Held — An officer in the 1700 block of Queens Avenue reported a 25-year-old man was taken into custody on a Kay County warrant at 4:08 p.m. Wednesday.

Dougan's Bar-B-Q Friday special from 4-8 p.m., all you can eat ribs with beans, potato salad and coleslaw, $8.49. 215 South 14th, 765-7979. adv.

Accident — A two-vehicle accident in the 3000 block of North Fourteenth Street was reported to Ponca City police at 4:15 p.m. Wednesday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Domestic — A domestic argument between a man and a woman in the 300 block of North Lake Street was reported to Ponca City police at 4:36 p.m. Wednesday. Two officers responded to the scene, and a 25-year-old man was taken into custody for domestic assault and battery. The victim was also served a subpoena.

Fire Run — A grass fire in the median one-half mile north of Hubbard Road on U.S. 77 was reported to the Communications Center at 6:06 p.m. Wednesday. Unit one from the Ponca City Fire Department handled the call.

Burglary — A man in the 1600 block of North Pecan Road reported to Ponca City police at 7:25 p.m. Wednesday returning home and finding his home burglarized. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Domestic — A woman in the 800 block of East Broadway Avenue reported a domestic assault to Ponca City police at 9:29 p.m. Wednesday. A description was given of the suspect. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Fire Run — A motorist reported seeing an electrical pole on fire one-quarter mile west of North Fourteenth Street on Hubbard Road to the Communications Center at 10:52 p.m. Wednesday. Engine two with the Ponca City Fire Department and employees with the Water and Light Department responded to the scene. Water and Light advised the pole belonged to Kay Electric.

GARDENING

Diggin’ in the Dirt

Diggin’ in the Dirt

by Kathy Zehr

Northern Oklahoma Favorites

This week has been fun - deciding what seeds and plants to order from all the beautiful seed catalogs. My yard map has been invaluable! Let’s see now — it shows I have space for some more shade-loving plants in the front and I’m going to have to juggle the veggie garden to add several new varieties we want to try this year.

Playing with the yard map is almost as much fun as planting the seed! But, I need to plan carefully so I won’t pull my usual trick and buy more seed or plants than I can use. We have to conserve money nowadays for the big fuel bills ya know!

Readers may call me at 762-5931 for help finding specialty items or names and addresses of catalogs not listed earlier. Gardeners with Internet access can search under “seed catalogs” for hundreds of listings.

Easy-to Grow Flowers

A few weeks ago we promised to publish information about planning easy-to-grow flowerbeds in northern Oklahoma, so — here goes. These lists do not include shrubs or trees.

First, the beginning gardener should learn the difference between perennials and annuals. Perennials are permanent and annuals only last one growing season. A few plants, biennials grow one year and bloom the next, then die. More thought should be given to perennials since they are permanent and should remain in your landscape year after year.

Most seed catalogs have their offerings listed under yard conditions such as dry, moist, shady, and others. But if you buy seed from a rack at a local discount store, sometimes you don’t have a clue. The lists below are separated by soil or yard condition to help you plan.

Perennials

Since we usually have long, hot summers in Ponca City I will list some perennials that are tough and will tolerate both heat and dry soil. Plants that should bloom or ‘do their stuff’ each spring include baptisia, blue flax, lamb’s ears, coreopsis, daylilies, pinks, sedums, spurge, torch lilies, yarrows and spring bulbs. Several of these also continue to bloom through the summer. If you have a troublesome slope covered with groundcover, plant bulbs in it. The dark green cover makes a beautiful background for the colorful bulbs and you don’t have to mow down the bulb foliage before you should.

Perennials that should bloom in summer include artemesia, blanket flower (Gaillardia), common thrift, coneflowers, globe thistle, golden Marguerite, sages (Salvia), sea hollies, statice, tall gayfeather, and yuccas. Goldenrods and hardy mums bloom best in fall.

Perennials for moist soils that are showiest in spring include globeflowers, goat’s beards, Japanese primrose, marsh marigold, rodgersias, Siberian iris, and Virginia bluebells. Summer bloomers include bee balm, loosestrifes, meadow rues, meadowsweets, spiderworts, and yellow flag. For show in late summer and fall plant moisture loving bonesets, bugbanes, common sneezeweed, and great blue lobelia.

Dozens of perennials to “spruce up” shady areas are available today. Few have large showey blooms, but the variegated colors and textures and leaf shape are beautiful and should be considered important when selecting these perennials. Some take a lot of room, so plan ahead. Best for spring bloom and show are almroots, bergenias, bleeding hearts, columbines, epimediums, hellebores, Jacob’s ladders, lungworts, Siberian bugloss, Solomon’s seals and Virginia bluebells. Summer and fall ‘showeys” include astilbes, bugbanes, and many varieties of hosta.

Get Wild With Annuals

We get wild and experiment with colorful annuals since mistakes only last one season. Annuals have dozens of uses, bloom continuously, and come in all sizes, shapes and colors. You can change the look of your yard from year to year if you like variety. We use them to fill in and around all the perennials. Because of a heavy time schedule in the spring, I prefer to buy seedlings at local nursery centers to growing my own indoors from seed, but it limits my choices.

The following list is great for beginner seed starters or if you can find them as seedlings in the spring. Cockscomb, cosmos, flowering tobacco, garden forget-me-nots, globe amaranth, impatiens, love-in-a-mist, nasturtium, morning glory, pot marigold, rose moss, salvia, snapdragon and zinnias are all great. Hint - be sure to find out what the mature height of these beauties will be and plan placement accordingly.

Improving Your Soil

While “twiddling your thumbs” before tilling your gardens this spring, take time to add about two inches of good mulch to everything - free! Our Ponca City Parks and Recreation Department provides a large compost pile for public use. You need something to haul it in, and muscle and a shovel to load it (wait until it dries out some). Enter the gate at Pecan Road and Central from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays - no appointment necessary. The heap is located west of the Animal Control Center. Dig in!

SPORTS

Wildcats Healthy Lady Cats Fighting the Flu Bug
Lady Buffs Hold Off Cowgirls
OU Women Steal Past Lady Horns
JV Girls Searching For Wins
Eighth Grade Girls Red Split With Stillwater

Wildcats Healthy Lady Cats Fighting the Flu Bug

By DAVID DAVIS

News Sports Writer

Last week’s game against Bartlesville was a fun game, but its always fun for coach Ron Arthur when the home team wins. All of the Wildcats are healthy with the exception of a few minor bumps, bruises and some sniffles, but there was no şu in the boys locker room as of Wednesday afternoon.

The Ponca City Wildcats are 4-6 on the year and could realistically be 6-6 after Friday’s homecoming game against Sapulpa and a makeup game in Sand Springs on Saturday.

After this weekend, Ponca City has six more games in January.

The Friday night game against Sapulpa is basketball homecoming. The Chieftains will bring the number two scorer in the state with them, then on Saturday, the Wildcats visit the number 11 scorer in Sand Springs.

“We’ll just have to concentrate on shutting those guys down,” Arthur said.

The Sand Springs game will be played at Clyde Boyd Junior High School at 305 West 35th due to a wrestling match at the high school.

Arthur said it isn’t a big deal to play back-to-back.

“You play three games in tournaments,” he said. “Its not a big deal like the NBA where they have to go home and ice their knees or something.

“These guys are 17 and 18 years old and can play on Sunday if somebody wants to play.”

Sand Springs doesn’t play Friday night. The Sandites could be more rested, but Arthur said the Wildcats could get on a roll against Sapulpa and carry that momentum into the game Saturday night.

“You never know what’s going to happen in these situations,” he said.

On the girls side of the gym, things aren’t quite so rosy.

The Lady Cats are playing through difficult times. Almost all of the girls have all been fighting the şu all week. Jamie Prado, Courtney and Jena Birdsong and a couple of others have all been sick.

“We’re trying to get over the şu,” coach Jamie Burtner said. “Yesterday, we had five girls missing. They were here, but they couldn’t do anything.

“They were dehydrated and just didn’t have any energy.”

But, the ladies also have a myriad of other injuries that cover the orthopedic spectrum from nagging to season ending.

An old African-American spiritual, Dem Dry Bones, sums up the injury situation of the Ponca City Lady Cats.

In the song, Ezekiel connected dem dry bones …

If it’s true that Ezekial connected them all together in the song, then the Lady Cats seem bent on disconnecting them on the basketball court.

Tara Cries For Ribs strained her ankle during the game last week.

“It’s swollen,” Burtner said. “But she’s coming back okay.”

Jenna Wedd had surgery today to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Wedd suffered the season ending injury in the second period against Broken Arrow Dec. 18.

“Ill be back next year for volleyball and basketball,” Wedd said.

“I’m getting there,” she said when asked if she was getting nervous.

Christina Huddleston bruised her tail bone before Christmas.

“Every time she runs it aggravates it and it gets inşamed and shoots a pain down her leg” Burtner said. “She’s been toughing that out.”

In spite of all the bumps and bruises, the Lady Cats are competitive.

Bartlesville is the No. 11 team in Oklahoma and Broken Arrow is ranked seventh.

“We are right up there with them,” she said. “We would have beat Bartlesville hands down if we’d made our free throws.

“That’s what helped us in the Broken Arrow game. We made our free throws.”

She said if the Lady Cats were consistent at the foul line the girls would win every ball game. The Lady Cats average 45.6 points per game while opponents average 47.4 points. The Cats commit 14 turnovers while they have been creating 18 turnovers per game. The girls also lead opponents, including Bartlesville, in rebounding on both ends.

“Bartleville is a much larger team and I thought we did a good job blocking out and Tara did a good job,” Burtner said.

Since the injury to Wedd, Cries For Ribs is the team’s leading rebounder with five boards per game and she is shooting 40 percent from 2-point range. But, 2-point range for Cries For Ribs is just inside the 3-point arc, so she’s still shooting from a long distance.

“Our free throw shooting is going to have to get better, but other than that, were right with all the other teams,” Burtner said.

Sooner or later, the şu will pass and the injuries will heal.

Hopefully, the rest of the season won’t take such a heavy toll on the Lady Cats, and as the song goes …

…. Dem bones, dem bones gonna walk aroun’ ...

Lady Buffs Hold Off Cowgirls

STILLWATER (AP) — Mandy Nightingale scored a game-high 18 points and led Colorado to a 65-49 victory over Oklahoma State in a Big 12 basketball game Wednesday night.

The Buffaloes led 19-12 at the 9:34 mark in the first half before the Cowgirls (8-6, 0-3 Big 12) went on a 16-0 run to take a 28-19 lead with 3:38 left in the period.

Colorado (11-3, 2-1) then went on a 7-0 run and trailed 30-26 at intermission.

The Buffaloes came out and scored 14 of the first 16 points in the second half, going ahead 40-34. Oklahoma State cut the lead to one at 42-41 with 12:03 left in the game, but could get no closer.

Colorado hit 6-of-8 free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.

Jessica Spinner led Oklahoma State with 12 points and five rebounds.

COLORADO 65, OKLAHOMA STATE 49

Colorado (11-3)

Bohman 4-9 0-0 8, Wirt 3-5 2-2 8, Hartshorn 1-4 1-2 3, Roulier 4-16 2-2 11, Nightingale 4-8 8-10 18, Fgan 1-5 4-4 7, Koechlin 1-3 0-0 3, Lappe 1-2 0-0 3, Bjorklund 1-4 0-0 2, Carmann 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 21-59 17-20 65.

Oklahoma St (8-6)

Faulk 2-8 0-0 5, Skibbe 3-5 0-0 6, Spinner 5-12 0-2 12, Hutchens 4-7 1-1 9, Roberts 2-10 0-0 4, Osborn 1-1 0-0 2, Bates 3-6 0-0 6, Hawkins 2-11 1-2 5, Haliburton 0-0 0-0 0, Lawrence 0-2 0-2 0. Totals 22-62 2-7 49.

Halftime—Oklahoma St. 30, Colorado 26. 3-point goals—Colorado 6-15 (Roulier 1-5, Nightingale 2-5, Fagan 1-2 , Koechlin 1-2, Lappe 1-1). Oklahoma St 3-21 (Faulk 1-3, Spinner 2-8, Hutchens 0-1, Roberts 0-3, Hawkins 0-6). Fouled out—None. Rebounds—Colorado 45 (Wirt 11), Oklahoma St 37 (Faulk, Bates, Hawkins 6). Assists—Colorado 8 (Lappe 3), Oklahoma St 12 (Roberts 4). Technical fouls— Oklahoma St., bench. Total fouls—Colorado 13, Oklahoma St 16. A—1,803.

OU Women Steal Past Lady Horns

NORMAN. (AP) — Jen Cunningham scored a career-high 18 points and had 12 rebounds to lead No. 17 Oklahoma to an 85-74 victory over No. 14 Texas on Wednesday night.

Caton Hill added 17 points and 12 rebounds for the Sooners (10-4, 2-1). Kenya Larkin scored a career-high 18 points and had six assists for the Longhorns (13-4, 1-2).

Oklahoma opened the second half with 14-0 run. Stacey Dales’ layup with 15:07 left capped the run and gave the Sooners a 47-37 lead. Dales finished with 13 points and eight assists.

Oklahoma’s LaNeishea Caufield, second in the nation in steals, had a career-high eight steals, including five in the first half.

Texas’ Tracy Cook had 16 points, including 10 in the second half.

Texas committed a season-high 27 turnovers.

No. 17 OKLAHOMA 85, No. 14 TEXAS 74

TEXAS (13-4)

Cook 6-11 4-4 16, Stephens 3-7 0-2 6, Dillard 3-12 0-0 6, Larkin 4-10 8-10 18, Woods 2-9 4-7 8, White 2-4 0-1 6, Sare 1-1 0-0 3, Brown 0-1 0-0 0, Littleton 2-4 0-0 4, Godfrey 0-0 0-0 0, Ryan 2-4 3-3 7. Totals 25-63 19-27 74.

OKLAHOMA (10-4)

Hill 4-9 8-8 17, Cunningham 8-12 2-4 18, Hardeman 2-5 0-0 5, Caufield 4-10 6-8 14, Dales 5-11 3-4 13, Taylor 0-0 0-0 0, Seeley 0-3 2-2 2, Britt 0-1 0-0 0, Ross 3-6 3-4 10, Talbert 3-3 0-0 6. Totals 29-60 24-30 85.

Halftime—Texas 35, Oklahoma 33. 3-Point goals—Texas 5-7 (White 2-2, Larkin 2-4, Sare 1-1). Oklahoma 3-11 (Hill 1-2, Ross 1-3, Hardeman 1-4, Caufield 0-1, Seeley 0-1). Fouled out—Dillard. Rebounds—Texas 35 (Cook 9), Oklahoma 42 (Hill, Cunningham 12). Assists—Texas 16 (Larkin 6), Oklahoma 22 (Dales 8). Total fouls—Texas 25, Oklahoma 23. A—2,464

JV Girls Searching For Wins

The Lady Wildcat JV will be looking to improve on their 6-1 record in a pair of games this weekend.

The JVs will play Sapulpa here Friday at 4 p.m. prior to the Queen of Courts ceremony. They join the varsity on the road Saturday, traveling to Sand Springs. That game is also set for a 4 p.m. start.

The Lady Cats shook off the Christmas Break inactivity against Bartlesville, riding a second half surge to a 33-25 win.

Ponca City managed just a 13-11 first-half lead, but found the range in the third quarter, outscoring the Lady Bruins, 11-6. They never looked back.

“We started out a little sluggish,” said coach Dana Bright, “which is to be expected after a long break, The girls did come out in the second half a little more aggressive.”

However, coach Bright pointed out the JVs are still struggling at the free throw line, where they were 6-of-15 against the Bartans.

“We really need to improve on them,” she said. “Free throws can be so critical.”

Ann Ziegenhain paced the Ponca City scoring with 11 points while Gerri Eddinger, Kristina Huddleston and Lauren Cartlidge each had 4. Melissa Fore and Amanda Summers added 3 points each.

Ponca City 33, Bartlesville 25

Ponca City 7 6 11 9 — 33

Bartlesville 6 5 6 8 — 25

Ponca City — Ziegenhain 11. Huddleston 4, Eddinger 4, Cartlidge 4, Fore 3, Summers 3

Bartlesville — Taylor 5, Evans 4, Burness 4, Fox 4, Stefanopolous 3, Jones 3, Smith 2.

Eighth Grade Girls Red Split With Stillwater

STILLWATER — The eighth grade girls’ varsity and junior varsity Red came away with a split on Tuesday.

The varsity lost 34-27. The jv team won its game 36-20.

In the varsity game, the teams were tied after the first quarter, 7-7. The Red girls fell behind by two in the second quarter and it was a down hill slide from there as early foul trouble and missed scoring opportunities in the paint took its toll.

The girls were behind by six points, 25-19, at the end of three periods.

Laci Starnes led the team in scoring with nine points. Savanah Morin followed close behind with eight and Dara Moyer pitched in four points.

Crystal Beattie, Nicole Overman and Erin Pickering each scored two points.

The junior varsity played an entirely different game with most of the points resulting from points in the paint and layups off turnovers caused by a trapping and pressing defense.

Very little scoring occured in the first half. The score was 9-7 at the end of the first quarter and it was still 9-7 after the second quarter was over.

The jv girls went on a 14-3 run in the third quarter and went into the fourth with a 23-10 lead.

Beattie was the leading scorer in the jv game with 10 points. Kandi Townley scored six, Kristen Ward put in seven and Shea Schutte pitched in 4

Patton Theobald threw in three points while Cari Lehman, Michelle Brewer, Morgan Hudsonspillar and Natalie Yozzo each scored two points.