I now know why the Siloam Springs basketball teams participate each year in the Jerry Oquin Invitational in Inola, Okla.
It seems like the Panthers and Lady Panthers have been playing in this annual tournament forever, or at least as long as I've been covering sports in Siloam Springs.
The drive over isn't too bad -- just about 60 miles west on U.S. Highway 412 -- and the tournament appears to be well run.
By well-run, I mean games start on time or as close to on time as humanly possible. Sometimes that means there aren't a lot of fouls called, and such was the case Saturday when I made my first trip over to Inola for the tournament.
Bodies hit the floor, whistles didn't blow. Arms were hacked, people were shoved, and for the most part whistles didn't blow.
Basketball games can get bogged down severely by fouls. Of course, in the fourth quarter, when teams are trying to foul to get their opponent to the free-throw line, those fouls are called. But at least by this point we're in the fourth quarter.
So just from a couple of games experience, I give my approval to the Jerry Oquin Invitational. If you didn't make the trip over this year, plan on making it at least once next year. I would imagine both the Panthers and Lady Panthers will be playing in it once again.
Speaking of the varsity basketball teams, they'll be back in action on Friday against former 7A/6A-West Conference foe Rogers Heritage.
I'm glad these two schools are playing as they appear to be a good matchup for one another.
There's also some good storylines.
It's no secret that Heritage girls coach Kevin Ramey is the son of Siloam Springs superintendent Ken Ramey, and we've had fun writing about that angle before. As Ken Ramey likes to say when it comes to which team he pulls for in this matchup, he "knows who pays his salary."
The girls game on Friday should be a good test for the Lady Panthers, who recently finished third in the Inola tournament.
In the boys game, the Panthers and War Eagles have had several great games over the last two seasons, and one of Heritage's best players in program history, Crist Olsen, son of War Eagles head coach Tom Olsen, is now playing college basketball at John Brown. I know the Panthers are glad they won't have to face him Friday night. Still, Heritage has other weapons the Panthers will have to deal with.
It should be a fun night. The Panthers and Lady Panthers haven't played at home since Nov. 25, when they hosted Stilwell, Okla. If I'm honest though, that game against Stilwell didn't have the feel of a regular season game because the score had to be reset at the end of each quarter because Stilwell was counting it as an exhibition.
This doubleheader will also be the last bit of athletics played around here for the next 10 days. So come and enjoy it while it's here.
-- Graham Thomas is the managing editor for the Herald-Leader. He can be reached at [email protected]. The opinions expressed are those of the author.
Sports on 12/17/2014