LOCAL

Ponca City In a Battle For Amtrak
Cookie Creation Contest Attracts Several Entrants
Spring Comedy Set in Arkansas City

Ponca City In a Battle For Amtrak

From the Associated Press

Amtrak is considering an expansion of its line into Kansas that connects Fort Worth to Oklahoma City ... and Ponca City has the inside track over Tulsa for the line’s newest state destination.

State Sen. Dave Herbert, D-Midwest City, said a plan is being studied to have the service extended through Ponca City and on to Newton, Kan., where it would connect with the national rail system.

‘‘It’s going to happen unless we can get Tulsa hooked up soon,’’ said Herbert, the Legislature’s leading rail service advocate who wants the state’s two largest cities on the system.

Sen. Paul Muegge is urging people in the Ponca City area who are interested in restoring Amtrak passenger service to northern Oklahoma to “come to an informational meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Performing Arts center on the campus of Northern Oklahoma College in Tonkawa.”

Muegge said a large crowd will emphasize the importance of the service to the area.

The senator added he is planning to form coalitions between Northern Oklahoma and Southern Kansas supporting a north-south route from Oklahoma City through Perry, Ponca City and on to Newton, Kan., where connections are available across the nation.

The national connection is important to train passengers going to Chicago and points east and west.

The Oklahoma legislator said, “The north-south route is also supported by Arkansas City, Winfield and Wichita in Kansas.”

The matter involves a struggle in Oklahoma with the two politically powerful locales of Oklahoma City and Tulsa on one side and the north central part of the state on the other.

However, the final decision will apparently be made by Amtrak officials.

At the Thursday meeting, a consultant is scheduled to discuss a recent feasibility study that shows the tracks and beds on the northern route are in good shape, as opposed to the Tulsa-Oklahoma City tracks.

Muegge said the same is true in Kansas, where influential legislators want the route to go through the eastern part of the state. He explained if the Kansas City-Tulsa-Oklahoma City route is adopted, then the middle part of Kansas, like the north central section of Oklahoma, will not have passenger rail service.

Herbert was vital in restoring rail passenger service to Oklahoma last year through the Heartland Flyer. The Oklahoma Amtrak route carried more than 38,000 people from June to November of last year, according to the state Transportation Department.

So far estimates are showing the Tulsa route costing between $100 million and $124 million.

(Editor’s Note: News business editor Louise Abercrombie also contributed to this story.)

Cookie Creation Contest Attracts Several Entrants

Fellowship Hall at First United Methodist Church was the site for the first Cookie Creation Contest sponsored by the First United Methodist Church Women on Sunday. The contest had two aspects: a baking/cooking contest for adults and a visual art contest for youth. In both contests, the participants must use Girl Scout cookies.

Rep. Jim Newport and Larry Murphy accepted the challenge of tasting all the creations and picking the winners from 19 entrants. First place in best-tasting was Pam Todd and she won a $50 gift certificate to Buy For Less. Winning the top prize was also a personal victory for Todd — her husband also entered the contest and expected to beat her.

Best appearance award went to Doris Stanley along with a $50 gift certificate to United Supermarkets.

Capturing second in best-tasting was Pam Oster and team, with a $25 gift certificate to Miller Market. Third place went to Neal Lawrence with a $10 gift certificate to Albertson’s.

In the youth/children contest, First United Methodist youngsters captured both prizes. The younger group won a party at Kids Kastle and the older youth a pizza party from Dominoes.

Organizers of the event would like to thank Buy For Less, United Supermarkets, Miller Market, Albertson’s, Kids Kastle and Dominoes for their generous donations to this debut Cookie Creation Contest.

Spring Comedy Set in Arkansas City

ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. — Communicating Doors is the spring comedy to be presented at Cowley County Community College in Arkansas City at the Robert A. Brown Theatre. It will be performed March 2, 3, and 4 at 7:30 p.m., and a dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. prior to the play. Tickets are $6 for the play and $8 for the dinner and may be purchased from Cowley’s Humanities Office in the Brown Center for Arts, Sciences and Technology. All seats are reserved.

Communicating Doors is an intricate, time-traveling comic thriller by Alan Ayckbourne, the British master of farcical comedy.

The story line is as follows: A New York call girl from the future stumbles into a murder plot that sends her, compliments of a unique set of hotel doors, traveling back in time. She and two women who were murdered in 1979 and 1959 race back and forth in time trying to rewrite history and prevent their own violent ends.

The play begins in 1999, goes back to 1959, and then picks up in 1979 — all in the same hotel suite. The cast consists of three males and three females, many of whom make appearances in all three time sequences.

NEWS BRIEFS

Burglary — A woman from the 500 block of Lucas reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 7:52 a.m. Saturday that a window had been broken out. An officer was assigned and a report was taken on an attempted burglary.

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Burglary — A woman from the 800 block of South Sixth Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 8:42 a.m. Saturday that a vehicle had been broken into. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Items in an Attic — A man from the 1500 block of Donahoe Drive reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 9:08 a.m. Saturday that some street signs had been found in the attic of a vacant rental house. An officer was assigned and the signs were brought to the police department.

Burglary — A woman from the 600 block of South Fifth Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 9:57 a.m. Saturday that a vehicle had been burglarized. An officer was assigned and a report was taken that a cellular phone was missing.

Burglary — A man from the 700 block of North Oak Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 11:26 a.m. Saturday that his vehicle had been burglarized.

Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the 1300 block of Summers Place at 11:28 a.m. Saturday that a 16-year-old boy was being held on a charge of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

Accident — An accident in the 1100 block of East Prospect Avenue was reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 12:29 p.m. Saturday.

Bicycle Stolen — A man from the 400 block of South Ash Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 12:44 p.m. Saturday that a bicycle had been stolen.

Vehicle Burglarized — A woman from the 800 block of North Palm Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 1:03 p.m. Saturday that a vehicle had been burglarized during the night. An officer was assigned and a grand larceny report was taken.

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Overheated Dryer — The Communications Center received a call at 1:45 p.m. Saturday requesting the Ponca City Fire Department investigate a reason for smoke in the 3200 block of Turner Street. A unit responded and found that there was no fire, but that a dryer had overheated.

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Accident — A man from the 700 block of North Fourteenth Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 3:31 p.m. Saturday that a vehicle had hit a building causing damage to the building. A report was taken.

Accident — A two-vehicle accident at the intersection of North Ash Street and West Hartford Avenue was reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 3:39 p.m. Saturday. An officer was assigned, a report was taken, and a vehicle was towed from the scene.

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Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from one-quarter of a mile west of Waverly Street on U.S. 60 at 10:19 p.m. Saturday that a 20-year-old man was being held for DUI, transporting an open container, transporting an open bottle, driving under suspension, having no insurance and having an expired inspection sticker.

Grass Fire — The Communications Center received a call at 5:33 p.m. Saturday that a grass fire was burning on the front lawn of the police station. A unit from the Ponca City Fire Department responded to extinguish the blaze.

Bicycles Missing — A man from the 500 block of South Fifth Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 5:55 p.m. Saturday that two bicycles were missing from the residence. An officer was assigned and a report was taken. Information was logged that one was recovered prior to the arrival of the officer.

Vehicle Vandalized — A woman from the 300 block of South Oak Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 8:18 p.m. Saturday that a vehicle had been egged. An officer was assigned and information was logged.

Fight — The Communications Center received a call at 9:08 p.m. from the 500 block of North Peachtree Street that a fight was in progress. Two officers from the Ponca City Police Department were assigned and a 34-year-old woman and a 63-year-old man were held for domestic assault.

Narcotics Violation — Two officers of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the 200 block of South Ninth Street at 11:22 p.m. Saturday that two 22-year-old men were being held for possession of a controlled and dangerous substance with intent to sell.

Hit and Run — A woman from the 2500 block of North Fourteenth Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 12:37 p.m. Sunday that a vehicle had been hit while at that location. An officer was assigned and information was logged.

Vandalism — A woman from the 3700 block of Larkspur reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 12:41 p.m. Sunday that all four tires of a vehicle had been vandalized.

Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the 2100 block of North Union Street at 11:41 p.m. Saturday that a 24-year-old man was being held on a city warrant for failure to pay.

Gas Drive-Off — A clerk at Triple T, 720 South Waverly Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 3:36 p.m. Sunday that someone had driven off without paying for $16.30 worth of gas.

Burglary — A woman from the 300 block of South Palm Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 11:46 p.m. Saturday that a burglary had occurred. An officer was assigned and a report was taken that a television and VCR were missing.

Assault — A man from the 3000 block of East Prospect Avenue reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 1:53 a.m. Sunday that he had been assaulted while at the VFW he had been assaulted.

Assault — The Communications Center received a call at 7:18 a.m. Sunday from the 400 block of South Fourteenth Street that a woman was at a business with cuts on her face. Two officers of the Ponca City Police Department responded and took into custody a 27-year-old man for domestic assault and battery, and a 25-year-old woman on a Kay County warrant for failure to appear and unlawful possession of methamphetamine. A report was taken.

Abandoned Bicycle — The Ponca City Police Department received a report at 9:41 a.m. Sunday that a bicycle had been abandoned in the front yard of a residence in the 600 block of North Oak Street. The Animal Control was notified to pick up the bicycle.

Bicycle Abandoned — The Ponca City Police Department received a report at 9:46 a.m. Sunday that a bicycle had been abandoned in the 300 block of South Oak Street. Animal Control was notified to pick up the bicycle.

Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the 200 block of East Oklahoma Avenue at 11:27 a.m. Sunday that a 13-year-old boy was being held on four counts of grand larceny, one charge of burglary of a residence, and one charge of petit larceny from a business.

Burglary — A woman from the 500 block of North Eighth Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 1:34 p.m. Sunday that her residence had been burglarized. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Requests Assistance — A woman from the 500 block of McFadden Drive requested assistance from the Ponca City Police Department at 4:08 p.m. Sunday as a result of a disturbance. Two officers were assigned and a 26-year-old man was held for the disturbance.

Burglary — A woman from the 200 block of South Eighth Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 5:58 p.m. Sunday that the residence had been disturbed. An officer was assigned and a burglary report was taken and information logged that the door had been damaged and a screen taken off a window.

Grass Fire — The Communications Center received a report of a grass fire at 6:17 p.m. Sunday at the intersection of the Marland Y and U.S. 60. Ranch Drive Volunteer Fire Department along with Tonkawa Fire Department responded to the scene.

Threat — A woman from the 300 block of South Palm Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 10:27 p.m. Sunday that a threat and harassment had been received. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Vehicle Abandoned — The Communications Center received a report at 11:34 p.m. Sunday that a vehicle had been abandoned on Waverly Street north of Sykes. The vehicle was towed from the scene.

Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the intersection of North Ash Street and West Highland Avenue at 11:54 p.m. Sunday that an 18-year-old man was being held for public intoxication and possession of beer under 21.

Burglary — A clerk from the 3500 block of East Highway 60 reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 5:06 a.m. Monday that someone had stolen some beer from Jiffy Trip. Information was logged.

Special Programs — The Ponca City Library Preschool Programs for Feb. 22 and Feb. 23 will be on Snip, Snip Snow. Tuesday the program will be for ages 4-7 at 10 and 11:30 a.m. and last approximately 30 minutes. Wednesday’s programs will be for toddlers 2-3 and last 15 minutes at 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

DEATHS

James Engstrom
William E. Davis
King Ralph Brigham
Ray Luther Cantwell
Jim N. Padgett

James Engstrom

James “Jim” Engstrom, resident of Ponca City, died Friday afternoon, Feb. 18, 2000, at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Oklahoma City. He was 53.

A graveside service will be held 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2000, at Resthaven Memorial Park with the Rev. Terry Long, minister of missions, First Baptist Church of Ponca City, officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel.

James Engstrom was born Nov. 2, 1946, in Elyria, Ohio, the son of Alfred Engstrom and Thelma (Goodrich) Groves. He attended school in Ohio before moving to Ponca City in 1963, where he attended Ponca City High School. He joined the Navy in 1963, where he traveled the world spending time in many countries. While in the military, he received the Good Conduct Medal and the Nation Defense Service Medal. On Jan. 23, 1966, he was married to Dora Epperson in Ponca City were they made their home. After his retirement from the Navy, he enjoyed fishing, hunting, bowling, golfing and, in his earlier years, playing baseball.

He is survived by his mother of Ponca City; two children, James Engstrom Jr. of Arkansas City, Kan., and Jamie Engstrom of Winfield, Kan.; one sister, Pam Warren of Lorain, Ohio; two brothers, Art Stingley of Ponca City and Ed Kovach of Virginia; two grandchildren; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father.

William E. Davis

ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. — William E. Davis, resident of Arkansas City, Kan., died Saturday, Feb. 19, 2000, at the South Central Kansas Regional Medical Center in Arkansas City. He was 78.

A graveside service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2000, at Riverview Cemetery in Arkansas City with the Rev. Don Kimsey officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Rindt-Erdman Funeral home of Arkansas City.

William E. Davis was born Dec. 24, 1921, in Arkansas City, Kan., the son of Samuel and Lulie (Brown) Davis. He attended Arkansas City schools. On June 1, 1940, he married Lola Mae Barnickle in Winfield, Kan., and they made their home in Arkansas City. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946, where he was stationed in the Admiralty Islands. He was employed as a construction worker for various companies. He was a member of the Boilermakers Union, VFW and American Legion.

Survivors include his wife of the home; one daughter, Judy Cox of Orlando, Fla.; and two grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Ronald Davis; one grandson; two sisters; and a brother.

King Ralph Brigham

LAMONT — King Ralph Brigham, resident of Lamont, died Saturday, Feb. 19, 2000, at St. Mary’s Mercy Hospital in Enid. He was 95.

A funeral will be held 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2000, at the Lamont United Methodist Church with the Rev. Joe Howard officiating. Burial will follow in the Lamont Cemetery under the direction of Wilson Funeral Home of Pond Creek.

King Ralph Brigham was born June 23, 1904, in Jefferson, the son of James Beecher and Bertha Ernestine Wentler Brigham. He grew up in Billings, attending rural school there. He married Elsie June Pahl on Jan. 9, 1942, in Perry and they lived and farmed near Billings and, later, at Lamont. He was a member of the United Methodist Church in Lamont.

Survivors include a son, Robert L. Brigham of Muskogee; a daughter, Brandi Davidson of Breckenridge; and one great-grandson. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, and nine siblings.

Memorial contributions may be made in his name to the United Methodist Church of Lamont or to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, c/o Wilson Funeral Home, 227 East Aspen, P.O. Box 478, Pond Creek, Okla. 73766.

Obituaries

Ray Luther Cantwell

Ray L. Cantwell, well-known Ponca City artist and musician, died Saturday morning, Feb. 19, 2000, at Saint Francis Hospital, Broken Arrow affiliate. He was 61 years of age.

The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2000 at the First Presbyterian Church of Blackwell with Rev. Geoffrey Pfaff presiding. The church is located at 204 South A Street, Blackwell. Interment will be at the Ponca City IOOF Cemetery under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel.

Ray L. Cantwell was born Sept. 1, 1938, in Ponca City, the son of Luther Albert Cantwell and Ethel Euelah (Autrey) Cantwell. He received his early education in the Indianapolis, Ind., public schools, graduating from Howe High School in 1954. He received a master’s degree in education from Southern Nazarene University and had completed studies at Butler University in Indianapolis, the University of Indiana and the University of Cincinnati. During seven years chaplaincy with the United States Navy in Orlando, Fla., he conducted research into the development of contemporary worship while involved in band, choir and drama. He also directed the Navy Blue Jacket Chorus. He returned to Ponca City in 1975. He was united in marriage to Dorothy Hack Gill on April 15, 1990, at Blackwell, with the couple making their home in Ponca City.

Ray was an accomplished musician and composer. In his earlier years, he sang with gospel quartets traveling in the Lawton and Duncan area. He could play 14 different instruments and had been organist and minister of music at the First Presbyterian Church of Blackwell for the past 18 years. He had completed composing the Christmas cantata, “The Magic of Christmas,” in addition to the cantatas “Rex Mundi” and “God Lit A Star.” He had taught organ, piano, guitar, voice and keyboard for several years. Ray also was an ordained minister and had served as chaplain coordinator for the Ponca City Police Department for 10 years.

Ray was also one of the founders of the Northern Oklahoma Iris Society and had served as president for five years.

Ray was a certified art teacher with Gary and Kathwren Jenkins and a Bob Ross certified instructor and has studied with many other nationally known artists. Ray traveled five states teaching oil painting, speaking at art associations and making personal appearances. He started china painting in 1977 and began oil painting a few years later. He had been teaching oil painting since 1988. He had won three Best of Shows in china painting and one in oil painting as well holding 32 First Place ribbons. He conducted a one man show at the Ponca City Art Center in October 1999. His work has hung in the Oklahoma Governor’s Mansion and is in private collections throughout the United States. He was currently serving as president of the national “Artist United” organization based in Nashville, Tenn.

He is survived by his wife, Dorothy, of the home; one son, David Gill of Springfield, Mo.; four sisters, Mrs. Robert (Bobbie) Steele of Ponca City, Mrs. Ivan (Eudora) Bridgman of Shawnee, Mrs. Warren (Sybil) Small of Indianapolis, Ind., and Mrs. Darrell (June) Jackson of Duncan; one aunt, Cynthia Bradley of Ponca City and one uncle, Fred Autrey of Garland, Texas; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Luther Cantwell in October 1986 and Ethel Cantwell in March 1990.

Casket bearers will be Steve Webb, Steve Whaylen, Bill McKenzie, Don Ganer, Paul Skidmore, Jim Gooden, Dale Wheeler, Mac McMains and Greg Sandy. Honorary casket bearers will be members of the First Presbyterian Church of Blackwell.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, 204 South A Street, Blackwell, Okla. 74631.

The family will be at 320 North Ninth Street, Ponca City.

paid obituary

Funerals

Tuesday

Jim N. Padgett

Funeral at 2 p.m. at the Community Christian Church under the direction of Trout Funeral Home.

LIFESTYLES

AAUW Sets Schedule Of Events

AAUW Sets Schedule Of Events

The American Association of University Women met Saturday morning, Feb. 19, at the Ponca City Country Club. The program entitled “Is the Internet for You?” was given by Pat Keast.

The annual AAUW Women’s Day Banquet will be the regular meeting for March, and will be held on Thursday, March 2. Registration is at 6 p.m. at the Ponca City Country Club. Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. Reservations are required.

Area organizations will honor women in their clubs who have especially promoted the purpose of the organization. Donna Scovill, M.D. will be the speaker. She is a local physician who is a mother of young children and donates her time to Hospice and other area projects.

The AAUW Bridge Group will meet Monday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. in the home of Grace Chism, 52 Stoneridge. Sue Fleck is the co-hostess. The “Out to Lunch Bunch” will meet Friday, March 10 at noon at the Rusty Barrel with Joanne Giddens as hostess. Book Discussion/Review Group will meet on Monday, March 13, at 7:30 p.m. in the home of Joanne Giddens.

Everyone is welcome to attend the local branch meetings on the third Saturday morning of the month at 10 a.m. at the Ponca City Country Club. Any woman with a degree from a four-year university is welcome to join AAUW. Call Bette Lee (762-2000) or Grace Chism (765-3519) for more information.

SPORTS

Monday Evening Quarterback
Keni Ray Honored by UCO
Cat Soccer Teams Host Preseason Tourney
Pokes, Tigers Eye Shootout
Jayhawks Contain Najera, Sooners To Produce Upset
Baseball Start Slow For Mavericks

Monday Evening Quarterback

“Ponca City can’t compete with the bigger schools, not at the state level.”

That’s an often heard comment regarding the Wildcats and their status as also-rans in most high school sports. Is it true?

The final answer is: Yes and no.

Certainly the Wildcats can’t compete with schools that have up to three times the student population that Po-Hi has ... at least not on a continuous basis.

But even big schools go through cycles.

Where is Midwest City in football and wrestling now?

Where is Tulsa Washington in basketball now?

Those once-strong state powers are struggling just to stay in the Top 10.

But the metropolitan schools do have one distinct advantage: They recruit.

Not the recruiting of athletes; that’s illegal. But the recruiting of parents can’t be controlled.

Parents who have an outstanding athlete at a school that is in a lower class or in a same-class, but struggling school, have the right to move “to the suburbs.”

If that suburb school happens to be a state power, so what? If the parents don’t mind an extra half-hour drive to work, then they have every right to move to a better district — whether it be for better living conditions or for a better chance for their son/daughter to get a college scholarship.

It would be nice if the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association could somehow regulate what appears to be a blatant move to get athletes into a more competitive environment.

The operative word here is “apparent.”

Who can prove what’s in the mind of a parent?

But schools like Ponca City don’t need to resign themselves to having second-class athletics.

There’s not a coach in the Ponca City school system who doesn’t believe that, given the right athletes, their teams could be among the Top 10 in the state.

Getting the right athletes is the key.

First of all, programs must get as many athletes out as possible. That means starting at the grade school level.

Young athletes given the correct training and guidance in Ponca City can compete with anyone. There may not be as many competitive athletes (like at much larger high schools). but it just takes five on basketball team, nine on a baseball team, 14 for wrestling and 22 for football.

But the numbers must be as large as possible.

It’s hard for Ponca City wrestling to be competitive with Broken Arrow wrestling when the Tigers have 250 grade schoolers and Ponca City has 50. Broken Arrow has 200 of those athletes still in the junior high program.

Even with the usual attrition between junior high and high school, the Tigers still wound up with 75 in their wrestling room.

“We have to get our numbers up and then we have to keep them, “ Po-Hi coach Todd Steidley says.

Keeping good athletes is another key and the success there is to cut down on burn out.

Steidley notes that in wrestling — and most other sports — there is pressure enough to succeed even at the grade school and junior high level. They don’t need it at home, too.

“They need to let coaches be coaches and parents be parents,” he says.

Parents need to be supportive, not pushing.

Grade school programs that are fun as well as instructive are important to success at the high school level.

In the end, numbers are not as important as what you do with the athletes you have.

Keni Ray Honored by UCO

EDMOND — Former Ponca City High School head football coach Keni Ray has been inducted into the University of Central Oklahoma Athletic Hall of Fame.

Ray, now an officer with Conoco, Inc. and a member of the City Commission, was honored during halftime of the UCO men’s basketball game with Cameron.

Ray was truly a multiple threat football player with the Bronchos 1967-70. He started for UCO as a safety in his freshman and sophomore seasons. In 1969 he quarterbacked the Bronchos before moving back to the secondary for his senior season, winning NAIA All-America honors.

Ray was also one of the most prolific punt returners in the country. He finished his career with school records for punt return yards in a game (120), in a season (491) and for a career (832). Ray averaged a school record 14.1 yards per return during his career.

Ray had three Interceptions and two fumble recoveries as a freshman in 1967 and eight interceptions with two fumble recoveries as a sophomore in 1968 while adding 24 punt returns for 328 yards ( a 13.7 average). He quarterbacked UCO to an 8-1-1 record in 1969, completing 57-of-102 passes for 731 yards and seven touchdowns while adding 105 rushes for 363 yards and three TDs.

Ray returned to safety in 1970 and had three interceptions as the Bronchos went 9-2. He also had 33 punt returns for 491 yards (14.9 average) and 10 kickoff returns for 242 yards (24.2 average).

Ray was one of three inductees Saturday, The others were Patti Komalty and Joe Warren.

Komalty was a woman basketball All-American in 1981-82. In two years at UCO, Komalty averaged 12.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3,6 assists and 2,5 steals a game.

Warren was a starting forward for the Bronchos’ basketball team in 1955-57 and also lettered in track as a multi-even performer.

He averaged 16 points a game in basketball as a senior.

Cat Soccer Teams Host Preseason Tourney

The Po-Hi Wildcat soccer team had a preseason tournament on Saturday at the Ponca City Soccer Complex on Lake Road. The Cats won two and lost one.

The Wildcats faced Cleveland in the first matchup, winning 2-1. Scoring for the Cats was Ryan Goodman and Neal Rosebeary, both freshmen.

“We had good defensive effort from Tim Kana, Austin Drumm, “Casper” Nelson and Brian Warren with Nate McDaniel in the goalie slot,” said head coach Marco Castillo.

In their second game, the Wildcats defeated Capitol Hill, 3-0. “This was our second straight shut-out by the defense for this group,” said Castillo.

Last year Capitol Hill was the state 4A runner-up in soccer. Greg Perez, Brett Skaggs and Kip Quiram put in goals for the Wildcats.

Putnam City West was the challenger in the final game of the day. The Wildcats fell, 6-0. “We experimented with various line-ups in this game,” said Castillo. “I’m still looking for my starters.”

Capitol Hill beat the Putnam City West team, 2-1.

In speaking of the tournament overall, “We have a lot of work to do. There is room for improvement,” said Castillo.

The Wildcats next soccer preseason game is Tuesday, Feb. 22, with Tulsa Metro in Tulsa. On Friday, the Wildcats are at home in Sullins Stadium for a scrimmage with Verdigris. The first game of the regular season is March 3 at Jenks.

Pokes, Tigers Eye Shootout

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Eddie Sutton’s scouting report for tonight’s game with Missouri is simple:

‘‘If you can take away some of their perimeter shooting and not let them have a great game, then you’ve got a chance to beat ’em,’’ he said.

That’s easier said than done. Missouri made 14 3-pointers in an 84-74 victory over Kansas State on Saturday. The Tigers lead the Big 12 in scoring with 80 points per game, and their 41 percent shooting from 3-point range is the best in the league.

‘‘They’re probably one of the outstanding perimeter teams in the country, which was very evident today,’’ Sutton said Saturday night after his team beat Nebraska 94-55.

The Tigers (16-8, 9-3 Big 12) are one game out of first place in the conference race. Oklahoma State (21-3, 10-2) is in a three-way tie for first with Iowa State and Texas.

Missouri has won two straight since losing home games to Iowa State and Texas. The Tigers had won seven in a row before their brief skid, including a 22-point victory at home against Kansas.

‘‘I think Quinn (Snyder) has really done a great job with this ballclub,’’ Sutton said. ‘‘One other thing they’re doing, they really are playing good defense.

‘‘He was at Duke and played there and certainly had one of the best teachers in college basketball in Mike (Krzyzewski), and I think they’ve brought that to Missouri. They’re playing good defense. They’re just a very, very good basketball team.’’

The same can be said of Oklahoma State. The Cowboys handed Nebraska their most lopsided loss of the season, thanks in part to 11 3-pointers including six by Glendon Alexander.

Oklahoma State’s greatest strength is its defense, however. They held Nebraska to 34 percent shooting, and for the season opponents are hitting only 38 percent.

But the Nebraska game was only a brief breather in a tough late-season stretch for the Cowboys. They had played at Oklahoma and Texas in their previous two games, and after playing Missouri they must visit Iowa State on Saturday.

‘‘We’ve got two really tough road games,’’ said Brian Montonati, who scored 22 against Nebraska. ‘‘This is what the conference is made of, if you’re going to win a conference championship.

‘‘If we just go play and play the way we’re capable of playing, like we did tonight ... we’ll be fine.’’

Jayhawks Contain Najera, Sooners To Produce Upset

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Oklahoma’s Eduardo Najera had his lowest output of the season as No. 20 Oklahoma fell to No. 24 Kansas 53-50.

Najera scored only 10 points against Nebraska last Monday night.

‘‘We knew we had to contain Najera,’’ Kansas forward Kenny Gregory said after Sunday’s win. ‘‘We just kept trying to (help out) and keep doubling down on him. We knew we had to contain him on the inside.’’

Kirk Hinrich’s free throw was the only point Kansas (19-7, 8-4 Big 12) scored in the final 4:19 and the Jayhawks missed four straight foul shots in the final minutes.

But after Oklahoma (20-5, 8-4) rebounded Jeff Boschee’s second miss with 29 seconds to go and started down court, Najera lost the ball out of bounds. A few seconds later, Hinrich hit one foul shot, making it 53-50.

Oklahoma’s Kelly Newton missed two 3-pointers in the final seconds as Kansas avoided what would have been its first two-game home losing streak in 12 years.

‘‘I was not very aggressive today, especially down the stretch,’’ said Najera, the Big 12’s second-leading scorer with 19 points per game.

He was only 3-for-12 from the floor. But his turnover after Boschee’s missed field goal was the killer.

‘‘That was a huge possession for us,’’ Najera said. ‘‘That was the game right there, that play, that turnover.’’

Has Oklahoma’s star player, who has totaled only 18 points the past two games, slipped into a shooting slump?

‘‘I didn’t know he was in a shooting slump,’’ Oklahoma coach Kelvin Sampson said.

Could he be tired?

‘‘He’s not tired,’’ Sampson said. ‘‘He just didn’t play very well.’’

Oklahoma’s Nolan Johnson said the constant attention he draws every game could be draining his strength, however.

‘‘He didn’t have one of his better games, but he gets a lot of double and triple teams,’’ Johnson said. ‘‘And that probably wears on him.’’

‘‘He just didn’t play very well,’’ Sampson said.

Drew Gooden’s jumper put the Jayhawks on top 52-48, and 40 seconds later Johnson’s short jumper made it 52-50.

The teams spent the rest of the game trading turnovers and missing shots until Hinrich hit his foul shot with 14 seconds to go. But Oklahoma — shooting only 33 percent for the game — failed to take advantage of the many opportunities Kansas handed out and got outrebonded 50-36.

Johnson had 14 points for Oklahoma. Gregory had 11 for Kansas, and Gooden and Ashante Johnson had 10 apiece.

Lester Earl returned from a seven-game suspension and drew guard duty on Najera, who went to the bench with his fourth foul with 9:30 left and Oklahoma leading by two points. When he returned at the 5:19 mark, Kansas led 50-46.

‘‘Najera is a load,’’ Kansas coach Roy Williams said. ‘‘It helped a lot when he got his fourth foul.’’

Boschee, who was only 2-for-17 against Iowa State on Wednesday night, hit a 3-pointer in the final minute of the first half to send the Jayhawks into intermission with a 27-23 lead and wound up with nine points.

No. 24 KANSAS 53, No. 20 OKLAHOMA 50

OKLAHOMA (20-5) 

Najera 3-12 2-2 8, Stone 2-3 1-1 5, Johnson 6-10 2-5 14, Price 3-8 0-0 8, Raymond 2-15 0-0 5, Heskett 2-4 2-2 8, Newton 1-4 0-0 2, Avila 0-2 0-2 2, Heywood 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 19-58 7-12 50.

KANSAS (19-7) 

Collison 0-5 4-4 4, Johnson 5-10 0-3 10, Hinrich 0-2 1-2 1, Boschee 3-7 0-2 9, Gregory 5-9 1-3 11, Gooden 5-12 0-1 10, Earl 0-0 0-2 0, Bradford 2-7 2-3 6, London 0-2 0-0 0, Chenowith 0-1 2-2 2. Totals 20-55 10-22 53.

Halftime—Kansas 27, Oklahoma 23. 3-Point goals—Kansas 3-9 (Boschee 3-6, Hinrich 0-1, Gooden 0-1, Bradford 0-1), Oklahoma 5-22 (Price 2-4, Heskett 2-4, Raymond 1-10, Najera 0-1, Newton 0-3). Fouled out—None. Rebounds—Oklahoma 36 (Najera 10), Kansas 50 (Gooden, Bradford 7). Assits—Oklahoma 12 (Johnson, Price 4), Kansas 13 (Hinrich 4). Total fouls—Oklahoma 21, Kansas 16. A—16,300

Baseball Start Slow For Mavericks

By TED ATCHLEY

NOC Sports Information

ENID — “We’ve been playing pretty good, but pretty good doesn’t get it done," said Northern Oklahoma College Baseball Coach Terry Ballard after the Mavericks lost both games in a doubleheader against NEO on Saturday. The Mavs hosted

NEO at David Allen Memorial Ballpark in Enid and suffered 14-3 and 5-3 losses.

The Mavericks now stand at 0-4 on the season but Ballard hopes his players will gain confidence and eliminate the defensive mistakes he says have held them back. “We're hitting well, but not getting things on defense done,” he said.

The Mavs started things off Saturday going to the bullpen in the first inning after starter Daniel Denny gave up four walks. Brad Brady stepped up to the mound and managed to hold on until the fifth inning, striking out two before being relieved by Jeff Frieouf. Jake Free took over at the mound in the seventh and bagged two strikeouts.

By the time the Mavericks stepped up to the plate in the final inning the score was 14-3 in NEO's favor.

“I don't think the other team earned those runs, we gave them to them,” Ballard said about the margin. “Our mental mistakes and errors were killing us out there.”

After one inning in the first game the score was tied at 2. Shortstop Scott Hibbets, Enid freshman, reached base after being skinned by a wild pitch. Hibbets quickly stole second and was looking for the opportunity to take third.

A wild pitch lost by the NEO catcher gave Hibbets his chance but he suffered an ankle or knee injury that sent him to the dirt in between bases.

Not giving up, Hibbets attempted to crawl to third but was eventually tagged out. Despite Hibbets' valiant effort, the momentum swung NEO’s way and the Mavericks never recovered.

Todd Roark started on the mound for the second game. He earned four strikeouts and only gave up four walks and five runs in six innings. Josh Harrison pitched a no-hit seventhth with two strikeouts to finish things off defensively for the Mavs.

After being down 3-0 in the third, the Mavericks battled back to within one point in the fourth but couldn't go any further.

“We had a chance to win but our errors got us," Ballard said.

The Mavericks will travel to Rose State on Tuesday and will be home in Tonkawa on Thursday against Southern Nazarene at 1 p.m. and again on Saturday against Brown-Mackie, also at 1 p.m.