OKWU basketball: eagles record back-t0-back wins; women down ottawa and york
Oklahoma Wesleyan University’s Jaden Lietzke (5) dunks the ball during an earlier season game. The Eagles are now 11-6 and are at home on Wednesday (Jan. 22).
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
By Mike Tupa
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
Donnie Bostwick must have earned a gold star in the North Pole’s “nice or naughty” tally book for this past year.
How else can one explain how Santa rewarded him with a double-dip — not only stuffing Bostwick’s stockings on Christmas Day but also filling some pretty big shoes for Bostwick’s Oklahoma Wesleyan University men’s basketball team.
The belated holiday mood mushroomed after Bostwick took the wraps off previously little-used neophytes redshirt sophomore Issac Stanek (6-5) and true freshman Jensen Knowles (6-5)
As a result the Eagles (11-6) have recorded their first back-to-back wins since mid-December — and dropped an ultra-competitive decision on the road prior to that.
During that three-game 2-1 stretch, Stanek has scored 54 points (18 ppg), including 28 in an 88-82 loss at Friends University.
Knowles got the call on Wednesday (Jan. 15) and punished the nets with 20 points, — including 4-of-7 from behind the three-point line.
This duo, along with sophomore Yashi McKenzie (6-1), has given the Eagles a huge lift while some of their regulars have been recuperating.
McKenzie poured in 63 points (15.8 ppg) during a recent four-game stretch and averaged 11.9 points in the most recent seven games.
Bostwick points not to Santa but to the Boss of All for the recent festive spell.
“It’s just an answer to a prayer,” he said about the handful of rookies who have elevated the team’s fortunes in January. “To be really truthful, it was unexpected. It’s not that they’re not talented kids. These guys have shown flashes and have gotten some work on the defensive end.”
But the prong of necessity — namely the absences or rust-knocking-off return of a few veterans, including Jaden Lietzke, Jaden Wilson and Blake Hamblin — prodded Bostwick into asking his younger players to assume bigger roles.
While Lietzke and Wilson are getting back into their considerable — and valuable — grooves, the boost by the younger players has been a tremendous gift for Bostwick.
When it comes to Stanek — the son of former OKWU basketball great Keith Stanek — he had scored big in junior varsity and red-shirt games, persuading Bostwick to give him a chance against Friends.
Knowles also played impressively for the jayvee, earning a chance to get on the court Wednesday against Ottawa.
McKenzie is an energetic talent that has worked hard to play a little more under control, Bostwick said.
Meanwhile after missing several games Lietzke is regaining the form that has landed him among the NAIA’s most impactful players.
Since his return four games ago, he’s scored in double-digits each outing (13.5 ppg) and has grabbed 35 boards (8.4 rpg).
Lietzke also has blocked at least one shot in all 13 of his appearances.
Wilson has appeared in seven games and pulled down eight rebounds in Wednesday’s 89-74 road win at Ottawa.
The glue that’s kept it all together this season is senior point guard Derrick Talton Jr., another player with national-level skills.
During the win at Ottawa, Talton drained 12 points, recorded three steals, fingered four boards and spooned five assists.
Four other Eagles scored in double figures — Knowles, 20 points (including four three-pointers); Nick Bene, 15 points; Dylan Phillip, 11 points; and Lietzke, 10 points (to go with seven rebounds).
Following are summaries of other recent OKWU basketball action:
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Oklahoma Wesleyan University’s Dylan Phillip (23) drives to the basket during an earlier season game. The Eagles defeated York, 84-69 on Jan. 18, 2025. They play at home on Wednesday.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
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MEN: OKWU 84, York 69 (Jan. 18)
Make that three wins in a row for OKWU (12-6, 9-3) — their longest victory streak since the first week of December.
With new stars stepping up and veteran standouts delivering like Elvis Presley, the Eagles seem to be in a very good place now.
Stanek checked in with another blockbuster day — 27 points (on 12-of-19 shooting), four rebounds and two steals.
Talton also brought his gold star game — 19 points (8-of-10 shooting including three treys), five rebounds, seven assists and four steals.
Lietzke only took four shots but came up big in a prolific support role — a team-best seven assists and four rebounds to go with seven points.
Nick Bene added nine points and five boards.
Twelve different Eagles contributed points.
As a team, the Eagles shot nearly 60 percent from the floor (37-of-63).
Chris Dixon topped York with 28 points while nailing six three-pointers. Carl Thorpe Jr. added 14 points.
NEXT UP: The Eagles will be back home on Wednesday (Jan, 22) to take on Evangel (Mo.) at 7:30 p.m.
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Oklahoma Wesleyan University’s Jaelin Glass (12) hits a shot during earlier season action. The Lady Eagles downed Ottawa (Kan.) and York (Neb.) last week. They play at home on Wednesday.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
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WOMEN: OKWU 86, Ottawa (Kan.) 80 (Jan. 15)
The OKWU Lady Eagles — who are coached by Heidi Messer — continued their impressive revival in a gritty road triumph.
Four Lady Eagles piled up double-digit points — Rashaan Smith, 25 (and 11 rebounds); Tatiana Gilford, 17; Khassidy Warr (off the bench), 14; and Gracie Alexander, 13.
Shade Richardson came up just a free throw short of a double-double (nine points, 12 rebounds) and dished out five assists.
Amazing OKWU stat? More than 20 (22) offensive rebounds.
Nora Ford and Dominique Schutte amassed 29 and 20 points, respectively, for Ottawa.
OKWU improved to 4-1 since mid-December.
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WOMEN: OKWU 81, York (Neb.) 72 (ot) (Jan. 18)
Richardson turned in one of the great offensive performances (32 points, 13-of-18 field goals) in Lady Eagle history.
Make that one of the top all-around efforts in OKWU history — Richardson also pulled down nine rebounds, dished out six assists and made seven steals.
Richardson was by no means the lone shining star for the Lady Eagles (9-9, 6-6).
Smith smoked the nets for 15 points and fingered eight rebounds. Jaelin Glass sprang off the pine to contribute 11 points.
Alexander netted 10 points and recorded three rebounds.
Gilford also stood up to be counted — seven points, eight assists, four rebounds and a blocked shot.
NEXT UP: The Lady Eagles will be back home on Wednesday to take on Evangel (Mo.) at 5:30 p.m.