By Larry Larkin, Sports Correspondent
January 12, 2010 — After what seems like forever the lights at the Frank Mobra Field House will be turned back on in full force this week.
It hasn’t been quite that long but the Claremore Zebras have not played a basketball home game since December 15. Two games on the road sandwiched the Christmas holiday break and last week’s near zero temperatures forced a postponement.
Lost time will be made up this week. The basketball teams will host Tahlequah tonight and then come back on Friday evening to face Catoosa.
In the meantime Claremore’s defending Class 5A state champion wrestling team will take center stage Thursday with a duel meet with Tulsa Kelley and Tulsa Edison.
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While the Lady Zebras have been to the last 11 straight state tournaments, a state-wide record, and 14 of the last 16, it is believed the Zebra boys have reached state only seven times since 1945.
Things are looking up this year. In Coach Tim Stewart’s second year at the helm the Zebras are off to an impressive 7-1 start. So far the team’s strength has been the ability to use eight to 10 different players without any apparent fall off. Several have taken turns being the leading scorer to date.
This aspect keeps opponents from focusing defenses to shut down single players
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According to written records for the Zebra basketball program, only two coaches have won over 200 games. See if you can name them.
The answers are below.
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Last week at the Rogers State University basketball games the ones working at the score table were asked their picks on the Texas-Alabama national championship game.
Apparently the group as a whole knows its football. Nine named “Bama while four went with the dehorned Steers.
Answer to the coaches’ question:
One is easy. Current girls coach Mark Campbell has 314 victories since coming on the local scene 15 years ago. Of course his mark is still climbing. He is the fifth Lady Zebra coach since the program was started 35 years ago.
Coaching the most victories for the boys was Charles Standridge (1974-89) with 236. His wins came during a 15 year period also. He is one of 15 coaches since 1950.
Runners-up to both are Steve Johnson (1990-2001) with 170 for the boys and Dean Pierce (1986-95) with 154 with the girls.
