LOCAL

State Braces For Redrawing Election Districts
Air Quality Under Tight Scrutiny in Tulsa
Conoco Makes Several Management Changes
Old Emporia Depot Remembered by Ponca City Friend
Adult Obesity Increasing

State Braces For Redrawing Election Districts

TULSA (AP) — The state Legislature will redraw Oklahoma’s legislative and congressional districts in the spring of 2001, but preparations are already under way.

Redistricting could be especially painful since it is all but certain that Oklahoma will lose one of its six congressional districts because population growth hasn’t kept up with other states.

Lawmakers are responsible for redrawing districts every 10 years following the U.S. Census, which will be conducted next spring.

The state House recently placed a want ad for a redistricting project coordinator to oversee a technical staff. And key members of the state House and Senate are beginning to bone up on the issue.

Rep. Larry Roberts, D-Miami, who expects to be named chairman of the House Reapportionment Committee, said official census results won’t be released until April 1, 2001. Roberts said lawmakers will have preliminary census numbers to work with before then.

Sen. Ben Brown, D-Oklahoma City, who expects to be named chairman of the Senate Reapportionment Committee, said he is hopeful the process will go relatively smoothly.

Redistricting in 1991 occurred with little controversy and no lawsuits, although some House members said they felt the Senate overrode them when it came to redrawing congressional lines. The state Legislature draws congressional districts with the strong advice of the incumbent congressional delegation.

Roberts said he expects each of the 101 state House districts to grow from the present 31,134 people per district to somewhere between 34,000 and 35,000. Senate districts are also expected to grow in population.

As usual, politics will play a huge role in redistricting.

‘‘The battle lines have already been drawn,’’ Roberts said. ‘‘Everybody knows the minority party (House Republicans) wants to become the majority party in the House. They will have a plan to pick up additional seats.’’

There are presently 61 House Democrats and 40 House Republicans. Republican Gov. Frank Keating could veto any plan passed by the Legislature.

Brown said that if the Legislature fails to come up with a successful redistricting plan, a constitutional panel consisting of the state treasurer, the attorney general and the state superintendent of public instruction could be handed the job.

Brown said rural-vs.-urban struggles could easily overshadow partisan ones.

With fewer people in the western part of the state, those legislative districts are expected to expand eastward to pick up additional people. Population growth in cities and their surroundings could threaten to pull presently rural districts into suburbia.

‘‘We are not there to protect anybody, but we want to make sure the voice of rural Oklahoma will be heard,’’ Roberts said.

Brown said the Legislature will also have to be sensitive toward minority issues.

‘‘The number of ethnic minorities that exist in Oklahoma are not sufficient to constitute additional districts,’’ Brown said.

Air Quality Under Tight Scrutiny in Tulsa

TULSA (AP) — Tulsa officials are hoping that tighter emission standards for certain kinds of vehicles will eventually help the city reduce ozone levels and comply with federal Clean Air Act pollution guidelines.

Tulsa has been placed in the top tier of nine communities on the Environmental Protection Agency’s list of cities expected to exceed their one-hour ozone standard in 2007 without sulfur controls.

The EPA report was updated after a federal court barred the agency from enforcing the eight-hour standards for ozone last month.

Tulsa and eight other cities were given a 95 to 100 percent chance of exceeding the one-hour levels. The reports said keys to keeping Tulsa in compliance with the Clean Air Act are a reduction in ozone and lowering the sulfur content of gasoline.

Tulsa leaders are looking to the Clinton administration to pass rules to tighten the pollution regulations for minivans, pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles before Dec. 31. That would go into effect for the 2004 model year for vehicles. If the rules are not passed by this year, they would not go into effect for another year.

The National Environment Trust says those vehicles pollute two to five times more than the average car. The trust is lobbying the president for tougher rules to make the heavier vehicles comply with the same pollution standards as automobiles.

‘‘For the past decade, automakers have been selling hundreds of thousand of SUVs and minivans, categorizing them as ’light trucks’ to avoid stricter exhaust standards for cars,’’ said Mark Wenzler, spokesman for the trust.

One of the biggest problems is anticipated to be reducing the amount of sulfur in gasoline.

Environmentalists are asking for the level of sulfur to be lowered from 340 parts per million to 30 ppm by 2004.

However, oil companies are asking for four more years to meet the 30 ppm level.

‘‘The big refiners are setting this up, Tier 2, to be the fall guy,’’ said Wenzler.

Sunoco Inc. has a refinery in west Tulsa. Sunoco spokesman Jerry Davis said the company is asking for the additional four years to meet the sulfur standards.

‘‘The issue is timing,’’ Davis told the Tulsa World. ‘‘We need a sulfur-removal program that is realistic yet still accomplishes a significant reduction of sulfur from the national gas pool.’’

Davis said building refineries to produce the low-sulfur fuel is very expensive.

Phillips 66, which is based in Bartlesville, announced the company has a process to reduce sulfur and is building a pilot refinery in Texas.

‘‘When Phillips 66 can come forward and say they can do it, they can meet the low-sulfur standards, (then) the opposition is really coming from big refiners and they are kind of hiding behind the smaller refiners,’’ said Wenzler.

But Davis said the new technology has yet to be commercially proven.

An Indian National Council of Governments showed Tulsa had 36 violations of the one-hour ozone standard in 1978. The report indicated that there were no violations of the one-hour standard, although there were multiple violations of the eight-hour standard.

Ozone results from sunlight’s interaction with pollutants, including hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides. The EPA reports about one-fourth of all ozone is attributed to automobiles and trucks.

Under the one-hour standard, an ozone level of more than 0.12 ppm during any one-hour period would be in violation of clean air standards. Reports of ozone violations this summer and fall were on the eight-hour standard, which is being challenged. The eight-hour standard records an exceedance if the amount of ozone reached an average of 0.085 ppm in any eight-hour period.

Conoco Makes Several Management Changes

Conoco today announced several changes in management.

The company announced that Mike R. Fretwell, will be appointed General Manager, Mid Continent Business Unit, Refining & Marketing - North America (RMNA).

He replaces Richard Severance who was recently promoted to President, Refining & Marketing - North America.

Fretwell will relocate from London to Ponca City subject to satisfactory completion of immigration and work permit requirements. He will report to Severance and also become a member of RMNA's Downstream Strategy Management Team.

Fretwell began his career with Conoco in 1975 in Downstream’s Conoco Limited organization in the United Kingdom. He has held economics, planning, retail and commercial marketing, refining supply and trading assignments in London, Milan, Italy, Houston, and Hamburg, Germany.

He has degrees in Economics from the University of Wales, Accounting and Finance from the City of London University. Fretwell and his wife, Wendy, have two sons, Phillip and David who are in college.

Edwards and Nokes Promoted

Archie Dunham, Conoco President and CEO, has announced several organizational changes that will position Conoco for future significant growth, according to a company news release.

Effective immediately, Gary Edwards will be appointed Senior Executive Vice President, corporate Strategy and Development. Edwards will become the principal advisor to Dunham, in implementing Conoco’s growth strategy.

Edwards will be directly responsible for negotiating all major merger and acquisition opportunities, and for integrating corporate strategy and communications, information management, government affairs, external affairs, and investor relations.

It was also announced that Jim Nokes, currently President, Refining & Marketing - North America (RMNA), will be promoted to Executive Vice President, Refining, Marketing, Supply and Transportation, replacing Edwards. Nokes will also become a member of the Conoco Management Committee and report to Dunham.

Nokes has held leadership positions during his 29 year career with Conoco including experiences in marketing, pipeline and transportation; in Natural Gas & Gas Products; and in business development as part of Upstream’s Conoco U.K. Limited management in London.

As announced earlier, Richard Severance will be promoted to President, Refining and Marketing North America, and relocate to Houston, replacing Nokes.

Old Emporia Depot Remembered by Ponca City Friend

By KATHY ZEHR

News Staff Writer

Max Brown, Ponca City resident, retired Santa Fe conductor, and lifelong railroad buff still keeps active on the rails today. The 80-plus senior’s love of railroading is kept alive at the local miniature railroad club, where he is building an elaborate track and other enhancements for operating his miniature trains. The detailed enhancements include numerous buildings, oil refineries and other authentic looking replicas.

Recently, however, Max was saddened to learn of the death of an old railroading friend, in Emporia, Kan. The loss was not that of a person, but of the historic old Santa Fe Depot which was destroyed by fire.

Max was born in Emporia in 1917, and spent most of his railroading career in the area. The old depot, which played such an important part of his life was built in 1887.

Max’s father, a Tonkawa native, worked out of the elegant Romanesque limestone building as a conductor from 1907 to 1946. Max remembers playing in the old depot and sitting on the platform to watch the trains even before it was remodeled and enlarged in 1926.

The enlargement added a striking 100-foot corridor of mission-style arches. It was proclaimed “ the best Santa Fe Station of all, and the envy of every Kansas town,” by a former editor of the Emporia Gazette. Max worked as a soda jerk at the local Minot Drug Store, located just behind the imposing old depot. He also remembers that nearby was a Marland Oil Co., filling station, which later became Conoco.

In 1941, Max began his long career with Santa Fe as a road conductor. Working out of the Emporia Station headquarters, he served in Overland Park, Argentine and Kansas City, to name a few.

The beautiful old Emporia landmark was again remodeled, improved, and much of it was covered with red brick in the early 1950s. It continued its reputation for being “the most elegant,” for 38 more years. Due to the demise of railroad activity, however, Santa Fe closed its doors in 1988. The building was placed on the Kansas Historic Places register in 1989 over the objections of the railroad. Tentative plans were being made by the Lyon County Historical Museum to turn the historic building into a museum.

Interviews with longtime Emporia residents, published in the Emporia Gazette after the fire, remembered the old days. One retired railroader in the area remembered when President Dwight Eisenhower came through right after World War II, and even earlier, movie stars like Tom Mix, waved from the back of trains passing through.

“The Gazette always ran ads about who was coming through and there would be a big crowd out to see them,” said a former longtime railcar inspector, Walter Anderson.

The total destruction of the building in early August was a shock to everyone in the Emporia area. It also saddened old railroaders like Max Brown and thousands of travelers across the nation, who had enjoyed its beauty. Firemen were called on the scene just after midnight and fought the blaze through the night. The fire halted rail traffic near the depot for several hours, and the Emporia Fire Department lost a pumper truck in the big fire.

Brown says, “Cause of the destruction of the landmark has not been determined, but is being investigated as suspicious.”

He continued, “Loss of the old depot was like losing a part of my family. It was a sad day for me when I heard the news. That beautiful old building was more than a landmark to me, it would have been nice to save it.”

Perhaps Max can save the memory by building a special addition to his miniature railroad set — a replica of Emporia’s Historic Old Santa Fe Depot.

Adult Obesity Increasing

Nearly 23 percent of adult Oklahomans were reported to be obese in 1998, according to the Oklahoma Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), a telephone interview survey conducted by the Oklahoma State Department of Health to assess the health behaviors of Oklahomans.

Researchers found that 22.7 percent of adults in the state were reported to be obese in 1998, with obesity defined as being 30 percent above ideal body weight. The major contributor to obesity was physical inactivity. The trend for Oklahomans not to exercise has changed little between 1991 and 1998, state health officials said.

Recent articles published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) focused on obesity. A national random telephone survey of more than 100,000 people in the U.S. indicated that obesity has increased in men and women and across all sociodemographic groups in every state. The survey found the number of cases increased nationally from 12 percent in 1991 to 17.9 percent in 1998.

“Reversing the trend of obesity needs to become a higher public health priority because obesity is strongly associated with chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease,” said J.R. Nida, M.D., commissioner of health. Researchers found the most common related health condition to obesity was high blood pressure. Although high cholesterol level was present, it showed no increased prevalence with weight gain.

Researchers looked at the use of the hormone leptin as a treatment for weight loss and found the treatment increases the rate of average weight loss for both lean and obese adults. This hormone is important in regulation of body weight and appears to modulate ingestive behavior.

Yet another article focused on weight gain of 2,909 young black and white adults enrolled in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study. The study found high fiber diets might help prevent obesity and cardiovascular disease.

DEATHS

Asbury Milton Waller
Cletus C. Kitchel

Asbury Milton Waller

Asbury Milton Waller, Ponca City resident, died Saturday, Nov. 6, 1999, in the Shawn Manor Nursing Home. He was 88.

The funeral will be held 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 10, 1999, at the First Church of the Nazarene of Ponca City, with the Rev. Steven A. Bierly, pastor, officiating. Burial will follow in Resthaven Memorial Park Cemetery with arrangements by the Trout Funeral Home.

Asbury Milton Waller was born Sept. 18, 1911, in Louisa, Ky., to Col. M. and Elizabeth Diamond Waller. He served his country during World War II in the United States Army. He married Gladys Irene (Lee) on Aug. 4, 1944, in Chandler. He was retired from Skelly Oil Co. and moved to Ponca City in 1973. He enjoyed fishing. He was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene of Ponca City.

Survivors include his wife of the home; two sons, James L. Carter of Castle Rock, Colo., and Clinton E. Carter of Pittsburg, Kan.; six grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers.

Obituaries

Cletus C. Kitchel

Cletus C. Kitchel, longtime Ponca City area resident, went to be with her Lord and Savior in Heaven at her daughter’s home in Oklahoma City on Sunday morning, Nov. 7, 1999. She was 95.

The funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 9, 1999, at the First Church of God with the Rev. Lynden Howard officiating. Burial will follow in the Ponca City IOOF Cemetery under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel.

Born in Milburn, Okla., on July 8, 1904, the daughter of William Newton and Emma Sue (Rhey) Porter. She was a graduate of the Fillmore High School and Central State Normal School in Edmond. She and her family moved to Ponca City in 1932.

In 1948 she was married to Arthur M. Kitchel in Ponca City, and the couple made their home here. Mrs. Kitchel was an elementary school teacher in the Ponca City and Newkirk public schools for 43 years.

She was a member of the First Church of God for 67 years, where she served as a Sunday school teacher, choir member and organist. She was a member of the Kay County Retired Teachers Association, the American Association of University Women, Iris Garden Club, Garden Council and the AARP. Since her retirement, she has been able to travel and enjoy gardening, ceramics, and singing in the Kay County Association Choir.

Surviving are one daughter, Geraldine Melton of Oklahoma City; two grandchildren, Janice Pound and her husband Gary, and Glen Melton; two great-grandchildren, Valerie and Andy Melton; three nieces and their husbands, Emma and Lloyd Simpkins, Barbara and Dan Woolsey, and Charlotte and Ken Casey; and numerous great-nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; and two sisters and brothers-in-law, Iva and Holie Fite and Quinna and Raymond Anderson.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First Church of God, 1101 West Grand, Ponca City, OK 74601.

paid obituary

NEWS BRIEFS

Kaw Reservoir Meeting — The Kaw Reservoir Authority will meet 11:30 a.m., Wednesday at Perkins Restaurant. The agenda includes approval of the FY 1998-99 audit, proposal for the 1999-2000 audit and election of officers.

State Certified DUI School Bridgeway, Inc. is Kay Co.'s only local non-profit organization that offers both mid week and week-end DUI Schools and Assessments. Next school scheduled Friday, November 12th, and Saturday, November 13th, starting at

5:00 p.m. We now offer the 24 hr. DUI School. Call 762-1462 for reservations and information. adv.

Vehicle Hit — An employee at Holiday Inn, 2215 North Fourteenth Street, reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 9:18 a.m. Saturday that a customer’s vehicle had been hit during the night. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

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

Accident — The Communications Center received a report at 10:56 a.m. Saturday that a two-vehicle accident had occurred behind the Ponca City Library. An officer of the Ponca City Police Department was assigned and a report was taken.

Vehicle Burglarized — The Communications Center received a report at 2:41 p.m. Saturday from a man at Lowe’s that his vehicle had been broken into while in the parking lot. An officer of the Ponca City Police Department was assigned and a report was taken.

Swing Class at Kem’s Gym for adults and older teens. Professional teacher. 765-7726. adv.

Garage Fire — The Communications Center received a report at 4:55 p.m. Saturday that a garage was on fire one-half mile east of Glasgow on Kelley Avenue. The McCord Volunteer Fire Department handled the situation.

Fight — A clerk at Citgo, 320 West Grand Avenue, reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 8:15 p.m. Saturday that two men were fighting outside the business. An officer was assigned and a 36-year-old man was held for public intoxication and possession of an open container.

Bicycle Abandoned — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported at 8:31 p.m. Saturday that an abandoned bicycle at the intersection of West Grand Avenue and Oak Street was brought to the police department.

Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the intersection of North Fourteenth Street and Shirlee Avenue at 8:45 p.m. Saturday that an 18-year-old woman was being held for driving under suspension and a city warrant.

Subject Held — The Communications Center received a 911 call at 3:18 p.m. Sunday from a man in the 2100 block of North Fourteenth Street that a problem was occurring in the parking lot. Two officers of the Ponca City Police Department responded and a 44-year-old man was held for public intoxication and possession of an open container.

Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the intersection of North Osage Street and West Highland Avenue at 9:10 p.m. Saturday that a 30-year-old man was being held for public intoxication and a city warrant.

Stolen Vehicle — The Communications Center received a report from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol at 12:20 a.m. Sunday to be on lookout for a vehicle possibly occupied by escaped jail inmates from Brown County, Kansas. The vehicle was found and a subject was taken in custody at 1:25 a.m.

Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the intersection of South Waverly Street and West South Avenue at 12:46 a.m. Sunday that a 19-year-old man was being held for DUI and operating a vehicle not reasonable and proper. The vehicle was towed from the scene.

Subject Held — An officer of the Ponca City Police Department reported from the 400 block of North Ash Street at 1:26 a.m. Sunday that a 14-year-old girl was being held for grand theft of an auto and a 37-year-old man was held for public intoxication, possession of drug paraphernalia and domestic assault and battery.

Items Missing — A man was at the Ponca City Police Department at 9:12 a.m. Sunday to report that some uniforms had been stolen from a vehicle while at a business at the corner of South Waverly Street and West South Avenue. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Tires Cut — A woman from the 100 block of Whitworth Avenue reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 10:36 a.m. Sunday that her tires had been cut. An officer was assigned and the information was logged.

Money Bag Missing — An employee at the Arcade in Wal-Mart reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 1:04 p.m. Sunday that a money bag was missing. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Bicycle Stolen — A person from the 500 block of North Osage Street reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 2:34 p.m. Sunday that a bicycle had been stolen. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Accident — A minor accident in the 900 block of East Highland Avenue was reported to the Ponca City Police Department at 3:20 p.m. Sunday. An officer was assigned and a report was taken.

Subject Held — Two officers of the Ponca City Police Department reported at 12:04 a.m. Monday that a 42-year-old man was being held for actual physical control and expired tag.

LIFESTYLES

Oklahoma Woman Winner in Glamour Magazine Contest
Tips for Toys

Oklahoma Woman Winner in Glamour Magazine Contest

STILLWATER — Most December-issue magazines feature traditional Christmas and holiday stories. You’ll find recipes, gift ideas and more.

One magazine, however, will feature the contributions women make throughout the United States. Included in that list will be the name of one Oklahoman.

Darcey Smith, Elk City, was named one of 100 regional winners of Glamour Magazine’s “Cover Girl Women At Their Best” contest.

The contest, sponsored by Glamour Magazine, Wal-Mart and Cover Girl Cosmetics, honors women throughout the United States who are “role models, risk takers, doers and darers.”

Her mother, Barbara Jackson, nominated Smith, 23. Through Smith’s role as a nutrition education assistant with the Oklahoma Nutrition Education program in Beckham County, she has many opportunities to exemplify her qualities that earned her this award.Through her job as a NEA, she works with low-income families to teach them the basics of nutrition, meal planning and budgeting.

Tips for Toys

This year, holiday shoppers will have thousands of different toys to choose from when they begin shopping for gifts. The questions on many shoppers minds: What qualities should I look for in a toy? Will I pick a toy that the child will enjoy? Will the toy sit unwrapped and ignored or will the child want to play with it after the holidays?

The answer, says Toy Tips research, is selecting toys that engage the child in educational and age-appropriate ways. Toys that teach children reach children, says Marianne Szymanski, founder of Toy Tips. Toys that build skills perform three functions.

First, they enhance personal development for children. Secondly, they engage them longer than other toys. And finally, they challenge children.

SPORTS

Monday Evening Quarterback
Lady Mavs Win

Monday Evening Quarterback

Now the search begins.

Ponca City Athletic Director Rusty Benson said he will soon post the opening for the heading coaching position for the Wildcat football team with the Oklahoma Coaches Association.

So, who wants to take over a team that finished 1-9 for the second straight season and who has been mired in losing seasons for a decade?

Apparently quite a few.

Even though the job hasn’t been officially posted, there has been extensive interest.

“I’ve had 36 inquiries so far,” Benson said. “Eleven of those coaches have sent stuff in to start applying and I expect quite a few others will send letters in soon.”

Benson notes that some coaches will wait until the playoffs are over before applying.

How come so many coaches want to attempt to get the Wildcats back on track?

“There are only 36 Class 6A jobs in the state,” Benson notes. “Come coaches are content to coach in Class A or Class 2A, but many want the chance to butt heads with teams like Union and Jenks.

“Also, most coaches know that Ponca City has had good teams, playoff teams in the ’60’s and again in the ’80’s. They know the talent is here.

“We can’t compete with the numbers Broken Arrow, Jenks, Union, Moore and those schools have. Broken Arrow has 4,300 students, Jenks 2,900 and Union 2,100. We have 1,200. But we can be competitive.”

Ponca City will never reach those kinds of numbers, but the competitive numbers can be,

“Our senior class was small this year,” Benson said. “But we have a healthy number of juniors. We have a good group of sophomores.

“There is also talent on the way. The ninth graders (which went 7-3) played Broken Arrow, Jenks, Stillwater and the Enid schools. And the eighth graders were unbeaten.”

The key, Benson admits is keeping those players together and coming out for football.

“Eligibility starts to take its toll in the eighth and ninth grades,” Benson said. “Also some kids decide to just play basketball or just wrestle or just play baseball.”

But Benson feels the state wide problem of having players specialize in one sport in high school is just a part of a cycle.

“We have a healthy situation with our coaches here. The other coaches want their athletes to play other sports.

“We’ll check in equipment early this week and start our off season program on Thursday.

“But coaches (Ron) Arthur and (Todd) Steidley, will have their basketball players and wrestlers in the weight room twice a week right along with the football players.”

Benson feels that if a kids feels is goal is to play in college, then maybe he should specialize.

“But for those kids who just want to play, compete and just have a good time, then playing more that one sport is the way to go.

“The good players we had on our football teams in the ’60’s and ’80’s were also wrestlers and basketballers when football was over.”

Benson and his search committee will start looking hard at the list of candidates for then football post soon.

“We went to get someone who will do whatever is best for Ponca City.

“We expect to have our guy by Feb. 1. The sooner the better.

He’ll want to start working with the players. There will be assistants to hire and a lot of other factors that won’t keep much longer than that. We’ll start talking to prospects just as soon as we can.”

Lady Mavs Win

TONKAWA — Northern Oklahoma College’s Lady Mavericks are back even again.

The Lady Mavs ran their record to 2-2 with a 76-53 win over McClennon, Texas, in the third round of the Lady Texan Tournament in Leveland Saturday.,

A 30-point performance by La Queisha Dickerson paced the NOC women, who grabbed as 41-31 first half lead and sailed in for the win.

“Dickerson had a great game,” coach Greg Krause said. “But the other girls played well, too, (Ranada) Collins had 14 boards and 6 points, while (Suzi) Eisenhauer had 10 boards, and six assist to go with 9 points.”

Chenise Robinson chipped in 11 points while B. J. Homer had 7, Deidra Dick 6, Reva Howell 4 and Niki Gray 4.

After losing a “buzzer-beater,”73-72, to Odessa, in the tournament opener Thursday, the NOC women fell to Yazapai, N.M. 61-53 on Friday.

“I think there was some carry-over from that heart breaking loss on Thursday,” Krause said.

The Lady Mavs fell behind 32-17 in the first half.

“We came back and actually took the lead at one point,” Krause said. “But we just ran out of gas. That was too far to come back.”

Dickerson had 17 points for NOC in that game, but she was the only Lady Maverick in double figures.

The Lady Mavericks will play one more game on then road, Wednesday at NEO, before returning home to play Westark Saturday at 2 p.m. in Piper-Foster Fieldhouse.