Lone Star tournaments are slam dunk of success

(Published Sunday, March 9, 2008 in Examiner-Enterprise)

When the Bartlesville High School Fieldhouse made its official debut on Dec. 3, 2006, we knew we had a special facility.

A spectacular 2,200-seat venue tailored for basketball and volleyball, it is versatile enough to be used for a wide variety of other events including graduation and prom. A product of the $30.5 million school bond issue which passed in 2001, it has fast become a source of pride for those within our community.

Of course, those from outside of the greater Bartlesville area have taken notice of the BHS Fieldhouse as well. That's why whenever officials from the Lone Star Conference toured the facility several months ago, they quickly realized they had happened upon a stellar place in a special town.

Set to conclude today on the floor of the BHS Fieldhouse, the 2008 Lone Star Conference Men's and Women's Basketball Championships have been a rousing success. Sixteen teams – eight men's squads and a like number of women's clubs – from within this conference have competed for automatic bids within the NCAA Division II tournaments. Fans from throughout Green Country have been given a fantastic opportunity to witness a very unique event right in their own backyard.

Founded in 1931, the Lone Star Conference currently consists of 15 different schools which can be found in three different states – Oklahoma , Texas and New Mexico . The institutions from within the Sooner State include the University of Central Oklahoma (based in Edmond ), Northeastern State University (Tahlequah) and Southwestern Oklahoma State University (Weatherford).
During the Lone Star tournaments, fans have likely seen a few players they know. A former star of the Bartlesville High School varsity squad, Ben Rovenstine is now a junior guard with Northeastern State . The RiverHawks lost a hard fought game to Tarleton State University on Wednesday evening in opening-round play. Other area players who have competed in the men's bracket include Sam Belt ( Broken Arrow ), Keith Marks ( Tulsa ) Brian Walker ( Tulsa ) and Mike Bontrager ( Tulsa ). Women's players with area ties include Blanca Casale ( Tulsa ), Antonia Smith ( Tulsa ), Jasmine Webb (Owasso), Jessica White (Jenks) and Erin Jent (Vinita).

Those who have enjoyed the tournament thus far can look forward to more hoops happenings courtesy of the Lone Star Conference in the near future. This is the first of three straight men's and women's championship tournaments which will be held in the BHS Fieldhouse.

Events such as the Lone Star Conference Men's and Women's Basketball Championships are always good for a community. Fans who have followed their respective teams during their postseason runs here to Bartlesville have the opportunity to visit our fine community. And, the teams themselves, when not competing on the hardwood, have the chance to interact with some young fans here in town. On Thursday morning, men's players from the University of Central Oklahoma and Tarleton State University visited four sites from within the Bartlesville Public School District – Hoover Elementary School , Jane Phillips Elementary School , Wayside Elementary School and Central Middle School . Dropping in on physical education classes – as well as a VisionQuest class at Central – they explained who they were and answered questions from students. And since they were in a P.E. environment, they were able to shoot baskets with the youngsters and give them some general basketball pointers as well.

I've heard nothing but good things said about the 2008 Lone Star Conference Men's and Women's Basketball Championships. And the players and coaches from all of the competing teams have been extremely complimentary of the BHS Fieldhouse, the city of Bartlesville and the many wonderful ambassadors from the City of Legends . On Thursday night, after his team was eliminated from the tournament in a tough 65-64 loss to Tarleton State , Northeastern State head coach Larry Gipson had plenty of reason to be down. Still, he found time during his postgame press conference to give a thumbs up to Bartlesville and the job it has done as a first-time host of the Lone Star hoops competition.

“Bartlesville has done a great job with this tournament,” said Gipson. “I tip my hat to them.”

The final game of the 2008 Lone Star Conference Men's and Women's Basketball Championships is scheduled for today at the BHS Fieldhouse. The tip off for the women's final is set to tip off at 1 p.m. For those who haven't been able to attend a game yet, this contest represents a superb opportunity to find out what the event is all about. For those who have already attended several games and enjoyed the action, today's finale should be a fitting end to tremendous tournament.