USAO’s women’s and men’s basketball teams welcomed professors, faculty, students, friends, families, and the Chickasha community to Drover Madness, which helps introduce the rosters for both teams as well as the Drover Dancers.
The event began with the eight-person Drover Dancers team. George Plumber, voice of Kool 105.5, introduced each of them before their performances, which showed the audience what they could expect this season. Next, Plumber introduced 14 women on the women’s basketball team. The 13-member men’s team came out next and saw both teams tossing shirts into the crowd.
The first game brought out eight children to play musical chairs with a twist, when the music stopped, the children had to make a layup before returning to their chair. One of the youngest players made it quite far into the game with help from the basketball teams. However, it was a fourth-grade girl who took home the title of champion.
Next was the faculty and staff knockout game, which sadly did not see reigning champion assistant baseball coach Joey Pavlovic return. Instead, 11 other competitors came out including Jadyn Wallis, Robert Blakely, Tanner Shoemaker, Annie Roberts, JP Audas, Dr. David Evans, Jose Gonzalez, Andrea Freymiller, Trixie Nyagesiba, Joe Ellison, and Shaylee Chester. Freymiller was the first one out. Audas got competitive at one point as he tried to block out Blakely, and Shoemaker was booed by the baseball team as he got one of their assistant coaches out. Shoemaker was quickly knocked out by Roberts, leaving the final three: Roberts, Blakely, and Chester. The game ended as Chester sunk her shot to cut Blakely off.
The night saw three drawings – two for a $250 book voucher and one tv. Isabela Portillo and Evangelia Davalkoua won the vouchers and Matija Malenovic walked away with the tv.
The second game of the night brought two more children out for the baggy uniform race. The competitors had to run down the court, put on oversized uniforms and shoes, race back down the court, and make a basket to win. A young man from the musical chair game came back to win this round of fun.
The third game of the night showcased USAO’s three-point shooting abilities. Junior Devyn Harris started off the game with two of 15 shots made. Senior Cade Allen wowed the crowd with eight of 15 shots made. Junior Ashley Gonzalez was close behind Allen with seven shots made. Tre Edwards, a senior, wrapped up the first round with six made shots. Allen ended up winning with a last-second shot in round two as he made seven compared to Gonzalez’s six.
The final competition of the night was the dunk contest where four of the men’s players competed in. Junior Chok Garang was up first with a simple slam to earn him a 45 out of 50 from the judges. Allen passed it to himself and missed, but quickly rebounded with a slam to earn a 24. Sophomore Ryein Kennedy threw the ball high off the wall three times which caused Athletic Director Mike Ross to throw his hands up. Eventually, Kennedy went for the slam but missed it leading to poor scores from the judges. Edwards had a quick, decisive slam as the last competitor. He meant business and the crowd loved it and earned a perfect score to win the dunk contest.
The event ended with Jake’s Ribs serving food for the audience as they watched the USAO’s men’s team split in half and scrimmage. The men’s team begins their season at home Tuesday, Oct. 29 at 6 p.m. against Texas College. The women begin their season at home Thursday, Oct. 31 at 5 p.m. against Providence (MT).
Emily Loughridge is a fourth-year communication major at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma.
