February 2014 8
The Comanche Nation News
LET THE GAMES BEGIN! Tribal Youth take the court at the 2014 Comanche County Tournaments
Story and photos by Paula Karty/ News Staff
Once again, the Comanche County Basketball Tournament has came and gone. Every year, the Great Plains Coliseum is filled with Comanche tribal members rooting for their children and schools. This year was no different. Each school participating in the tournament had a least one tribal member on their team. The week-long tournament lets the youth show the determination of reaching the final game and winning the gold championship ball. Cache High School swept the tournament this year, winning both the Girls and Boys Divisions. In the Girls Division, the Cache Lady Bulldogs defeated the Elgin Lady Owls 48-39. In the Boys Division, the Cache Bulldogs defeated the Fletcher Wildcats 56-45. As long as the tournament has been in existence, there has always been Comanche tribal members competing. According to Comanche County Basketball history and the Lawton Constitution, there are tribal members that hold some of the Comanche County Basketball Tournament records that are still in existence today and yet to be broken. When the girls played Six on Six, the late Carol Martinez set the record, and still holds the overall scoring record for scoring 50 points in one game. This record was set in 1973, when Martinez played for Fort Sill Indian School. In 1968, Ruth Tahah scored 46 points in one game. Tahah also played for Fort Sill Indian School. In the 1999 Girls Five on Five, Indiahoma’s Elise Tissychy scored 34 points in one game. In the Boys division, Fletch-
Tribal member Shelby Mata of Walters also got some playing action during the first round of the girls division.
Tribal member Mia Niedo pose with other teammates from Cache High School while holding the winning Gold Ball. Niedo is one of the starting players for Cache High School. er’s Larry Pahcoddy scored 44 points in one game. Players in this year’s tournament that are enrolled Comanche Nation members are: Cache #13 Blake Brady #32 Blaine Carroll #3 Brooke Grimes #22 Mia Niedo #24 Tori Paz Kelsey Tartsah Chattanooga #33 Dalton Wauqua #33 Alyssa Wauqua
Fletcher #2 Kayla Burgess #20 Erica Whitefeather Geronimo #21 Cobey Mallow #35 Dallan Leveille #44 Aaron Riley #10 Lindsey McCarthy #15 Autumn Knight Indiahoma #00 Cody Rinaldi #10 Zach Chibitty #23 Jimmie Lee #34 Shayne Lewis #1 Brooke Roberts
#10 Alex Ulloa #12 K’moni Farrow #14 Brandi Rinaldi #15 Ciera Ulloa #20 Desi Kimble #22 Danielle Tahah #24 Ciarra Chibitty #25 Shayla Pueblo Walters #12 Dwayne Ototivo #23 Sterling Ticeahkie #15 Quin Ototivo #25 Shelby Mata
Lindsey McCarthy of Geronimo plays with a protective mask, but does not let it effect her game.
Dalton Wauqua concentrates on the game and listens to what play is being called by his coach. Wauqua plays for Chattanooga.
Autumn Knight of Geronimo prepares for the offense game during the first round action of the girls division. Knight is the starting player for Geronimo.
Shade Large was selected to shoot free throws in the Comanche Home Center’s Monster Free Throw Contest.
Tommy Johnson plays his defensive game in the Comanche County Tournament Boys division. Johnson is a starting player for Indiahoma.
Brandi Rinaldi checks the score board during the Girls action of the Comanche County Tournaments. Rinaldi is one of the starting players for Indiahoma.
Brooke Roberts has the look of determination as she faces her opponent in the girls action. Roberts is one of the starting players for Indiahoma. Tribal member Mica Minthorn was selected to shoot free throws in the Comanche Home Center’s Monster Free Throw Contest.
Alyssa Wauqua turns towards the sound of the referee’s whistle during the girls games. Eva Battese runs down the court after scoring for her team. Battese is one of the starting players for Elgin. The Elgin Lady Owls went on to face the Cache Lady Bulldogs in the championship game.
Jordan Gooday hustles down the court after scoring for his team, during the first round action of the boys games during the Comanche County Tournaments. Gooday is one of the starting players for Geronimo.
Cody Mallow waits for action to return after free throws are being shot.
Ciera Ulloa waits for call of the officials during the second round action of the girls games. Ulloa is one of the starting players for Indiahoma.