Oklahoma

How Sam Godwin ‘just dialed in’ to power OU basketball past OSU in Bedlam beatdown

Published

11 months ago

December 15, 2024

Press Room

How Sam Godwin ‘just dialed in’ to power OU basketball past OSU in Bedlam beatdown

Sam Godwin walked into the Paycom Center postgame interview room with the Bedlam trophy in hand.

Following last season’s overtime thriller win in Stillwater, the Ada native stole the hardware, thinking it’d be the final meeting between the two in-state rivals. Godwin was forced to return the trophy, which he’d been displaying by his fireplace throughout the year, this past week.

“Obviously, we play them once this year, so we had one shot to secure the trophy,” Godwin said. “I’m glad we got it done.”

Not only did Godwin get his centerpiece back, he dropped a career-high 20 points on 10 of 14 shooting in a renewed neutral-site Bedlam matchup. Godwin’s career-best performance came inside the arena he frequented as a child watching Oklahoma City Thunder games and in front of 10,300 fans.

Led by Godwin, No. 13 Oklahoma defeated Oklahoma State 80-65 Saturday night at Paycom Center in the 250th all-time meeting between the two programs. With their win, the Sooners moved to 3-0 in their last three Bedlam contests and improved to 10-0 for the second time in as many seasons.

“We practiced here two days ago, it was kind of surreal,” Godwin said. “I’ve been watching Thunder games my whole life, sitting up in the bleachers so just to be on the court playing, it was really special to me so I gave it all I had.”

In addition to his career-high in scoring, Godwin added 14 rebounds for a double-double. He also finished with two blocks and three steals.

Two of Godwin’s points came off an assist from fellow Oklahoman Dayton Forsythe, who found a crashing Godwin for an easy dunk.

When he exited the floor for the final time with over a minute remaining, he was met with a standing ovation and a hug from head coach Porter Moser.

“I’m just happy for him,” Moser said postgame. “In this venue, this rivalry, being an in-state kid. He was just dialed in and it was great to see from him. It was huge for him to see it go in early.”

Now, Godwin can keep his decor. At least until the next Bedlam matchup.

Sooners’ guards shine

Moser wasn’t even aware Kobe Elvis drilled five 3s until his postgame interview.

Elvis couldn’t miss as he finished with 15 points on 5 for 8 shooting from the field.

“Those are huge shots,” Moser said. “And I thought between Duke, Kobe and Fears, those three offensively, you’ve got weapons, because they all can put it on the deck, and they all can knock down a shot.”

Elvis added: “I was able to relax after the first 3. My confidence was up. I was prepared. I felt very confident.”

Fears continued his consistency with 17 points and five assists.

The Sooners’ consistent guard play from Elvis and Fears, as well as Duke Miles and Brycen Goodine on any given night has been a significant reason for their 10-0 start to the season.

“We’ve got some of the most unselfish guards in the country,” Godwin said. “They’re willing to give themselves up and hit the open player. All three of our point guards are capable of scoring in many different ways, so they open up the game and make it so much easier for everybody.”

Suffocating defense limits Cowboys

OU continues to play high-level defense.

The Sooners held the Cowboys to 39% shooting from the field and 28% from 3. They also forced 16 turnovers, finished with four blocks and held OSU to an over eight-minute stretch without a basket.

“They did a great job in transition,” Oklahoma State coach Steve Lutz said postgame. “You’ve got to give them credit, they scored and then they got back and got their defense set. They turned us over 11 times in the first half.”

Oklahoma scored 21 points off turnovers and ranks 49th nationally in KenPom’s defensive rating.

“We had a ton of respect watching them on tape,” Moser said. “And for us, the biggest thing, we were just really trying to not let them get going in transition.”

Source link

Click to comment

Oklahoma

Oklahoma High school football semifinal dates, times and locations are set

Published

3 hours ago

November 24, 2025

Press Room

Oklahoma High school football semifinal dates, times and locations are set

OKLAHOMA CITY –

We have reached the semifinals of the Oklahoma high school football playoffs. The OSSAA has set the dates, times and locations for all semifinal games for all classes.

CLASS 6A-I

Bixby vs Broken Arrow – Friday, 11/28, 1 pm at Catoosa High School
Owasso vs Jenks – Friday, 11/28. 7 pm at Catoosa High School

Catoosa High School will host both 6A-I semifinals this Friday, November 28th. Bixby/Broken Arrow will kickoff at 1 pm, followed by Owasso/Jenks at 7 pm.

November 21, 2025 10:37 PM

CLASS 6A-II

Stillwater vs Choctaw – Friday, 11/28, 1 pm at Edmond North High School
Sand Springs vs Putnam City – Friday, 11/28, 7 pm at Edmond North High School

Edmond North High School will host both 6A-II semifinals this Friday, November 28th. Stillwater/Choctaw will kickoff at 1 pm, followed by Sand Springs/Putnam City at 7 pm.

CLASS 5A

Lawton MacArthur vs Bishop McGuinness – Friday, 11/28, 7 pm at Noble High School
Carl Albert vs Newcastle – Friday, 11/28, 7 pm at Norman North High School

The 5A semifinals will be at two different sites this Friday, November 28th. Lawton MacArthur/Bishop McGuinness will be played at Noble High School, while Carl Albert/Newcastle will be played at Norman North High School. Both games will kickoff at 7 pm.

CLASS 4A

Elgin vs Cushing – Friday, 12/5, 7 pm at Putnam City North High School
Tuttle vs Broken Bow – Friday, 12/5, 7 pm at East Central University

The 4A semifinals will be played at two different sites next Friday, December 5th. Elgin/Cushing will be played at Putnam City North High School, and Tuttle/Broken Bow will be played at East Central University. Both games will kickoff at 7 pm.

CLASS 3A

Heritage Hall vs Lincoln Christian – Friday, 12/5, 7 pm at Bristow High School
Sulphur vs Perkins-Tryon – Friday, 12/5, 7 pm at Norman North High School

The 3A semifinals will be played at two different sites next Friday, December 5th. Heritage Hall/Lincoln Christian will be played at Bristow High School, and Sulphur/Perkins-Tryon will be played at Norman North High School. Both games will kickoff at 7 pm.

CLASS 2A-I

Jones vs Marlow – Friday, 12/5, 7 pm at Noble High School
Washington vs Oklahoma Christian – Friday, 12/5, 7 pm at Yukon High School

The 2A-I semifinals will be played at two different sites next Friday, December 5th. Jones/Marlow will be played at Noble High School, and Washington/Oklahoma Christian will be played at Yukon High School. Both games will kick off at 7 pm.

CLASS 2A-II

Stroud vs Adair – Friday, 12/5, 7 pm at Ponca City High School
Davis vs Vian – Friday, 12/5, 7 pm at Harrah High School

The 2A-II semifinals will be played at two different sites next Friday, December 5th. Stroud/Adair will be played at Ponca City High School, and Davis/Vian will be played at Harrah High School. Both games will kickoff at 7 pm.

CLASS A-I

Pocola vs Tonkawa – Friday, 12/5, 7 pm at Catoosa High School
Pawhuska vs Rejoice Christian – Friday, 12/5, 7 pm at Oologah High School

The A-I semifinals will be played at two different sites next Friday, December 5th. Pocola/Tonkawa will be played at Catoosa High School, and Pawhuska/Rejoice Christian will be played at Oologah High School. Both games will kickoff at 7 pm

CLASS A-II

Fairland vs Talihina – Friday, 12/5, 7 pm at Beggs High School
Allen vs Hominy – Friday, 12/5, 7 pm at Edmond North High School.

The A-II semifinals will be played at two different sites next Friday, December 5th. Fairland/Talihina will be played at Beggs High School, and Allen/Hominy will be played at Edmond North High School. Both games will kickoff at 7 pm.

CLASS B-I

Laverne vs Pond Creek-Hunter – Friday, 11/28, 7 pm at Northwestern (Alva)
Hollis vs Dewar – Friday, 11/28, 7 pm at Alex High School

The B-I semifinals will be played at two different sites this Friday, November 28th. Laverne/Pond Creek-Hunter will be played at Northwestern in Alva, and Hollis/Dewar will be played at Alex High School. Both games will kickoff at 7 pm

CLASS B-II

Seiling vs Cherokee – Friday, 11/28, 1 pm at Northwestern (Alva)
Weleetka vs Okeene – Friday, 11/28, 7 pm at Jones High School

The B-II semifinals will be played at two different sites this Friday, November 28th. Seiling/Cherokee will be played at Northwestern in Alva at 1 pm, and Weleetka/Okeene will be played at Jones High School at 7 pm.

CLASS C

Timberlake vs Medford – Friday, 11/28, 7 pm at Watonga High School
Ryan vs Tipton – Friday, 11/28, 1 pm at Alex High School

The C semifinals will be played at two different sites this Friday, November 28th. Timberlake/Medford will be played at Watonga High School at 7 pm, and Ryan/Tipton will be played at Alex High School at 1 pm.

Source link

Oklahoma

Oklahoma 7-Eleven clerk, mom of 3, fired after shooting customer who attacked her: ‘I need to be here for my kids’

Published

22 hours ago

November 24, 2025

Press Room

Oklahoma 7-Eleven clerk, mom of 3, fired after shooting customer who attacked her: ‘I need to be here for my kids’

A brave Oklahoma 7-Eleven clerk was fired for shooting a customer, who tried to strangle her and threatened to “slice her head off” — because she used her own gun, violating the convenience store’s policy.

Stephanie Dilyard, 25, said she was working alone at the Oklahoma City 7-Eleven just after midnight on Nov. 14 when a man came in and tried to pay for a trove of junk food with a counterfeit $100 bill, KOKH reported.

The mother of three said that when she called the man out on the bill being bogus, he began threatening her and became erratic.

Stephanie Dilyard was fired for shooting a deranged customer who attacked her while working alone overnight at 7-Eleven. KOKH Fox 25

“He threatened me, and said he was gonna slice my head off, and that’s when I tried to call the police,” she recalled.

Dilyard said the brute started hurling objects at her before he rushed behind the counter and put his hands on her.

“I tried to run off, but he grabbed his hands around my neck, and pushed me out of the counter space, and that’s when I pulled out my gun and I shot him,” she said.

The suspect, Kenneth Thompson, fled the store after he was shot in the stomach. The 59-year-old made it a few blocks away from the 7-Eleven before calling 911.

The alleged violent fraudster was taken into custody at the hospital and charged with assault and battery, threatening acts of violence, attempting to pass counterfeit currency, and violating parole on an outstanding felony warrant.

Investigators ruled that Dilyard’s actions were justified under Oklahoma’s stand-your-ground law, which allows people to use deadly force when confronting an imminent threat of death or serious harm.

While authorities have cleared the 25-year-old mom, her employer fired her just days after the frightening ordeal on Nov. 17.

“They said that they were going to separate from employment because of a violation of policy,” Dilyard, who had been working the overnight shift alone from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. for more than two years, said.

Dilyard, who still had a scratch on her neck and burn marks on her finger from firing the gun, told the outlet that all she cared about when she was getting attacked was getting home to her kids.

“This was a situation where I felt like I was put into a corner between choosing between my job, and my life, and I’m always going to choose my life because there’s people that depend on me. Just, I’m going, I’m going home, you know. I need to be here for my kids,” she said.

A street view showing a 7-Eleven store with a red roof next to a — Investigators ruled that Dilyard’s actions were justified under Oklahoma’s stand-your-ground law, which allows people to use deadly force when confronting an imminent threat of death or serious harm. KOKH Fox 25

She hopes what she endured will drive changes that better protect clerks — especially women — and ensure they aren’t afraid to defend themselves when facing a life-or-death threat.

“If I’ve known that there’s a potential that somebody is for real on taking my life away that I will do whatever it takes, and I hope that women see that, and they’ll do the same thing,” she said.

“You have a right to defend yourself.”

Since losing her job, Dilyard has launched a GoFundMe to help her family with expenses while she’s out of work and said she had zero regrets for defending herself.

“We have no security, and we are not allowed to carry self defense weapons, including mace,” she wrote. “That’s is why I decided to carry in the first place.”

“I never expected for me to be in this situation, but I did what I had to do to go home to my kids. I was a good employee, committed and determined, but in-between a rock and a hard place I had to make a quick decision—lose my life, or lose my job,” she added.

The Post has reached out to 7-Eleven for comment.

Source link

Oklahoma

Why Oklahoma HC Brent Venables Said John Mateer Was ‘Really Good’ vs. Missouri

Published

2 days ago

November 23, 2025

Press Room

Why Oklahoma HC Brent Venables Said John Mateer Was ‘Really Good’ vs. Missouri

NORMAN — There were plenty of lowlights from John Mateer’s outing against Missouri on Saturday.

Of the 30 passes the Oklahoma quarterback threw, 16 of them went incomplete. He also nearly threw an interception early in the second half, when the Sooners led by just one score.

His final passing line — 14-of-30 for 173 yards and two touchdowns — wasn’t flashy. But it was good enough for No. 8 OU to beat the No. 22 Tigers 17-6.

“(He was) really good,” OU coach Brent Venables said. “Had to earn everything he was given. Made some really good plays. Every single one of his yards were earned, hard-earned yards.”

While Mateer was inconsistent, he made key plays when the Sooners needed them most.

Oklahoma punted on its first three drives and had minus-7 total yards of offense after the first quarter.

The Sooners were in danger of going three-and-out again on their fourth drive. But on third-and-7 from OU’s 13-yard line, Mateer hit wide receiver Isaiah Sategna in stride on a slant route, and Sategna took it 87 yards to the end zone for a touchdown.

“Really good job by John standing in there delivering the throw, and then Isaiah just turned on the burners going up the sideline,” OU offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle said. “Really good execution on that play.”

Mateer said, “Really good design that Arbuckle came up with and we got man (coverage) like we wanted. And I knew there was a ‘backer underneath I had to navigate, and I did. Luckily, put it on his nose and he was able to run.”

Just a few minutes later, Mateer took advantage of favorable field position.

After a short Mizzou punt, the Sooners started their drive at the Tigers’ 35-yard line. Mateer led a seven-play scoring drive that ended with a touchdown pass to Javonnie Gibson.

Mateer’s two touchdown passes were enough on a day where the Sooners’ defense allowed Missouri to score just twice on two field goals.

“I’m incredibly proud of him,” Arbuckle said. “I’m proud of the way he leads, I’m proud of the way that he plays. Are there always things we can be better at? Absolutely. But John Mateer, he’s a great ball player.”

Neither offense played pretty football in the second half.

Oklahoma compiled only 138 total yards, and Missouri had even fewer at 122. Mateer completed only six of his 13 pass attempts, throwing for just 49 yards in the final 30 minutes.

Still, Mateer was crucial in helping OU salt away its win.

The Sooners scored just three second-half points, but they were able to register nine first downs, thanks largely to short passes and runs for decent gains. Mateer ended the game as OU’s leading rusher, finishing with 60 yards on 18 carries, and the quarterback’s legs allowed the clock to keep moving in the low-scoring contest.

“You just gotta put your head down and take a hit, you know?” Mateer said. “So I did it, and it was fun.”

Mateer still hasn’t been at his best since returning from injury against Texas on Oct. 11. The quarterback hasn’t thrown for more than 250 yards in a game since the Sooners’ win over Auburn on Sept. 20. He has thrown four touchdowns and four interceptions in the six games since the surgery on his right hand.

Still, there has been progress lately.

Mateer threw multiple touchdown passes on Saturday for the first time since OU’s season opener against Illinois State. He has also gone two games without turning the ball over. And, most importantly, Mateer has led the Sooners to three wins in a row, keeping them in the picture for the College Football Playoff.

Mateer has slowly but steadily improved in the back half of the season, and that gives Arbuckle confidence as OU prepares for LSU, its final opponent of the regular season.

“I mean, playing insanely tough, not turning the ball over, doing the little things that it takes to win and being a great teammate and a great leader,” Arbuckle said. “That’s how I’ve seen him progress and I expect nothing different from him as soon as we go back to work tomorrow. And I’m excited to watch him attack it.”

Source link