NORMAN — After a nasty scare last weekend, there’s good news for Norman North girls leading scorer Bri Kuestersteffen.
The junior landed awkwardly on another player’s foot against Elk City on Friday, and coaches feared she may have fractured a bone in her foot. Kuestersteffen was able to play through the pain and swelling on Saturday, and subsequent X-rays showed there was no fracture.
Since, the pain and swelling have lessened and Kuestersteffen is ready to go for tonight’s game against Edmond Memorial.
“Bri was probably at 70 percent on Saturday, and we were worried there was going to be bad news,” coach Jeff Blough said. “But we caught a break.”
Hogan out for game: North freshman Quan Hogan is out of state and will not be available tonight against Edmond Memorial.
Coach Butch Roberts said he’s unsure of who will start in Hogan’s place. Hogan entered the starting lineup against Norman High after coming over to basketball late because of the football team’s run to the state championship game.
“It’s not necessarily a guard-for-guard move,” Roberts said. “Against Memorial, we may need to go bigger, so that’s where the minutes could go.”
Three Norman players named all-state: State runner-up Norman North had two players named to the all-state team in receiver Jake Higginbotham and linebacker Jaxon Uhles, while Norman High’s Zac Uhles also made the squad. The trio will join Westmoore’s Derek Harris at the All-State game next summer.
For Zac Uhles, it’s a chance to heal part of the sting that stemmed from the Tigers’ second-round playoff loss to Owasso.
“I’m pretty excited about the game. It’s a great honor to be named to the team and picked by the coaches across the state,” the Tulsa-bound offensive lineman said. “It makes that loss at the end of the season not as hard. I get one more game to play at least before going to Tulsa and working with the team up there.”
Blough looks to Mougell: Norman North center Julian Mougell returned to the court this year much improved from a year ago. The 6-3 junior has at times been dominant inside but has been relatively quiet for the past few weeks for North.
That’s something Blough hopes will change tonight when the T-Wolves meet seventh-ranked Edmond Memorial.
“Memorial isn’t as big inside as they have been in the last few years,” he said. “I really hope we can exploit that and get Julian going again.
Anderson keys struggling Tiger offense: With just two consistent scorers on the roster, points haven’t come easily for the NHS girls. Guard Taylor Ely and forward Bethany Cox are dangerous scorers, but both were being focused on by opposing defenses.
After a big game from Albany Anderson to close out last weekend, that could change when the Tigers take on Del City at 6:15 p.m. today.
Anderson broke out for 17 points and 15 rebounds in NHS’ 64-40 victory over Ardmore on Saturday. Her physical style and relentless rebounding will serve the Tigers well against the Eagles and their physical, up-tempo defense and, coach Nichole Copeland hopes, will take some of the pressure off of Cox and Ely.
Corbin HoslerFollow me @Chosler88chosler@normantranscript.com
For local news and more, subscribe to The Norman Transcript Smart Edition, or our print edition.
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash
NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country
Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest
Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting
CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids
Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree
Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics
Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday
Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge
Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel?
Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot
Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction
Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind
Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
