The Allen American (Allen, Tex.), Vol. 23, No. 223, Ed. 1 Wednesday, February 23, 1994 Page: 10 of 34
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The Allen American
Page 10A
Wednesday
February 23,1994
Home-court advantage
Parents giving son every opportunity to succeed in basketball
By GEORGE WATSON
Sports writer
When a child is involved in athletics, parents want to
make sure he or she has every advantage available, such
as places to practice, the latest equipment or leagues in
which to compete in. Then there is Randy O’Hearn.
O’Hearn, a 6th-grader at Vaughn Elementary in Allen,
has parents who are going that extra step to make sure
he reaches his full potential. O’Hearn currently com-
petes in two basketball leagues and in Dallas’ Boys
Baseball International league and has done so since the
first grade. He also attended Bobby Knight's week-long
basketball camp at Indiana University last summer and is
planning on attending another camp this summer at one
of four colleges — Indiana, Duke, North Carolina or
Kentucky, college basketball powerhouses, all.
But there is more. The O'Hearns moved to Allen in
• September from Wylie in order to get him into a better
athletic program when he hits junior high next year. A
straight-A student at Vaughn, O’Hearn competed in
January in the “Hot Dogs and Hoops” competition at
Reunion Arena, sponsored by the Dallas Mavericks and
Minyards Food Stores.
He competed in the 11-12 age group with approx-
imately 250 other kids. The contestants began with
free-throw shooting, with only those making two of
three remaining in the competition. Only 32 participants
remained after that contest, with O’Hearn being one of
them. The contestants then competed in drills of drib-
bling, passing and shooting with only the top three mak-
ing the finals. O’Hearn made the cut.
The finals were held at halftime of the Mavericks’
game against San Antonio with the winner of each age
AHS girls
fall, 5-1
Eagles hope
to answer
questions
By GEORGE WATSON
Sports writer
Highland Park’s defense was so
tough Friday night it took the Allen
girls’ soccer team three consecutive
corner kicks to score its only goal of
the game, while the Lady Scots used
three second-half goals to cruise to a
5-1 win at Highlander Stadium.
With about 12 minutes left in the
first half and Highland Park leading,
2-0, Colleen Davis took two corner
kicks in a row, but each missed the
goal. On the second, Allen was
awarded another corner kick, and
Coach Mandy Jenkins inserted
Lynette Bass into the lineup for the
third try.
The move worked as Bass put the
ball perfectly into the front of the
goal, where Davis knocked it in at
die 10:21 mark, cutting the Highland
Park lead to 2-1. But the Lady Scots
came out strong in the early part of
the second half, scoring in the first
four minutes, then adding their final
two goals midway through the half
, ... for the winning margin.
into Tuesday s season-opener with “The kids played really well and I
Richardson, several questions still still felt late in the game we would be
remained unanswered, such as able to pull it off,” Jenkins said. “We
where the offense is. had a great practice Thursday and,
In their past two scrimmages, the though we didn’t play as well as we
Eagles have struggled with the bats, practiced, we still played OK. We
producing few hits and even fewer still need to be more aggressive and
runs. Coach Kyle Hope knew the we talked about going to the ball
sticks might be a problem going into more and winning it in the air. We
the year. only had two shots on goal in the first
“We have to make better contact, half and hit one, which made us 50
but we can’t seem to string any hits percent, but we needed more
together at this point,” Hope said, shots.”
“One thing which might be contri- The ioss dropped the Lady Eagles
buting to that is we are seeing multi- to 4-11 on the year and 2-4 in Dis-
ple pitchers in each game because trict 20, further hurting Allen’s
they are scrimmages. We were also already dwindling playoff chances,
changing our lineup a lot in the Newman Smith leads the district at
games to get people playing time.” 5-0, with Duncanville close back at
Hope said both the opponent’s 5-1 and Highland Park at 3-2. De-
pitching and his team’s lineups Soto and R.L. Turner remain in the
should settle down now that the sea- cellar, just behind the Lady Eagles,
son has begun and will help the But Allen has an advantage in that
Eagles develop more consistency.
Now, he says, it’s just a matter of
going out and getting the job done.
"Richardson is good and is big and
plays solid defense,” Hope said.
“Pitching is a little lean, but offen-
sively they make good contact on the
ball. I think it will be a good game for
us if we can put everything together.
Good pitching, solid defense and hit
the ball like we did against Trinity
Christian. We played really well in
that game.”
Since then, however, the Eagles
have struggled and hope to turn it
around before Tuesday. Hope said a
Turn to HOPE, Page 9A
By GEORGE WATSON
Sports writer
As the Allen baseball team headed
Turn to GIRLS, Page 9A
This Week
Upcoming events for Feb. 23 —
March 1
Girls Soccer
Feb. 25 — Allen (JV only) at Newman
Smith, 5:30 p.m.
March 1 — DeSoto (V/JV) at Allen, 5:30
p.m.
Boys Soccer
Feb. 25 — Rockwall (V/JV) at Allen,
5:30 p.m.
March 1 — Alien (V/JV) at DeSoto, 5:30
p.m.
Tennis
Feb. 25-25 — Allen at Terrell Tourna-
ment, TBA.
Besoball
Feb. 25 — Allen at South Garland, 4
p.m.
March 1 — Allen at J.J. Pearce, 4 p.m.
Softball
Feb. 25-25 — Allen at Denton Tourna-
ment, TBA.
March 1 — Richardson at Allen, 4:30
p.m.
Track
Feb. 25-26 — Giris track (V/JV) at
Forth Worth Relays, TBA
Feb. 26 — Boys track (V/JV) at Plano
Relays, TBA.
group receiving two 1994-95 Mavericks season tickets
and year-supplies of hot dogs and Dr Pepper. When the
competition ended that night, O'Hearn finished in second
by only one point.
“It was kind of fun and exciting,” O’Hearn said. “I was
really interested in seeing how I would do against kids
my age and see if I needed more practice or if I could go
as I am. I still need some work because I would have
liked to come in first instead of second.”
So to help Randy practice his game, his parents, Tim
and Cathi O’Hearn, are negotiating with home-builder
D.R. Horton to sell their current house and build a new
home in the same neighborhood with one unique feature
— a 25-foot by 40-foot, two-story basketball gym.
Most kids have a hoop in the driveway, but not many
have their own hardwood court.
“We’ve always been involved in sports so we will
make any sacrifice we can for him,” Tim O’Hearn said.
“Kids are the greatest things in the world and we want to
give him every opportunity and advantage we can. We
haven’t forced anything on him, he plays for the love of
the game.”
But at only 12 years old, kids heavily into sports tend
to get burned out and disinterested in just a few years
later. Both Randy and his parents feel their love of
sports will keep Randy from having too much pressure
put on him to compete and do well.
“We’ve discussed it before, my parents and I, and I’ve
wanted in the past to just stick to one sport and work
hard in it,” Randy said. “I wanted to quit baseball and
concentrate on basketball, but they told me that wasn’t
Turn to O’HEARN, Page 9A
Steven Line/Staff photo
Basketball fan and player Randy O’Hearn stands outside
his Alien home with his basketball hoop and autographed
ball Monday afternoon. O’Hearn is a 6th-grader at Vaughn
elementary and competes in two different basketball
leagues.
Brawl cuts.
Allen, HP
game short
Contest ends in 0-0 tie •
The A
«Vedr
eFiv
jun
che
Mark H. Price/Staf photo
Alien midfielder Casey Cheatham la obstructed by a Highland Park defender
during play Friday at AHS. The game ended in a 0-0 tie.
By GEORGE WATSON
Sports writer
Allen boys’ soccer coach Scott Evans might be
wondering at this point in the season if there is a blade
cloud hanging over his and his team’s heads.
The Eagles, right in the middle of a district race at 4-2,
had their Friday game with Highland Park at Eagle Sta-
dium end in a bendi-clearing brawl midway through the
second half with the score tied, 0-0. a
Evans said with about 20 minutes left in the game, on a
penalty kick, Allen’s CJ. Sharpe was involved in a colli-
sion where a Scots player went down hard near his own
bench. The Highland Park player then got up and shoved
Sharpe in the back, and as Sharpe went to retaliate,
Highland Park’s bench emptied into a scuffle with Allen
players already on the field.
Evans and junior varsity coach Scott Smith held those
on the Allen bench back and prevented them from get-
ting involved before running across the field to get play-
ers out of the melee. At that point, game officials called
the game, but issued no red cards or ejections. Evans®
said a decision on the result of the game will be handed
Turn to BOYS, Page 9A
AHS girls struggle
in Irving Tournament
By GEORGE WATSON •
Sports writer
The Allen giris’ softball team competed in the Irving
Invitational Tournament over the weekend. In four
games, the Lady Eagles were outscored 46-1, had just
nine hits the entire tournament and were shut-out three
times.
But Coach Sarah Davidson didn’t complain.
“I think we were better off going out there and losing
than sitting home on Saturday and watching cartoons like
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By GEORGE WATSON "In the past we’ve
Sports writer . , usually played with a
The Allen tennis teams had to * h A
wait more than an hour for The wait and see attitude.
Colony to show up for Friday’s But in this match we
scheduled match, and for the were very aggressive and
Cougars’ sake, maybe they should the kids came out with a
have stayed home. lot more focus ”
An aggressive Eagles squad lot mo e
took a 5-3 win over The Colony — Pam DeLao,
once matches actually took place, Allen tennis coach
winning three of four matches on .. a 3
the girls’ side, while splitting, 2-2, much better since the fall and are
in the boys’ division.playing well right now, DeLao
“In the past we’ve usually play- said.
ed with a wait and see attitude,” Match Results
Coach Pam DeLao said. “But in Allen vs. The Colony, Feb. 18.
this match we were very aggres-
sive and the kids came out with a Boys Singles
sive ana me was came out a Chris McDonald, The Colony, d. Bill John-
lot more focus. We usually play to son, Allen, 6-2, 6-2.
the level of our opponent and play- Wylie Smithwick, Allen, d. Volak In, The
ed on a higher level Friday. Their Colony, 6-2,6-0.
No. Is beat us pretty good, but Boya Doubles
overall we played well and I was Julio Vasquez Johnny Nguyen, The Col-
pleased with everyone’s perform- ony, d. Mike Pierce/Matt Henrichs, Allen,
ances.” 6-4,6-0.
Wylie Smithwick won Allen’s Jeremy Tigelaar Joe Terrell, Allen, d.
only boys singles match, while Dikp/Ma, The Colony, M’ 6-2.
Jeremy Tigelaar and Joe Terrell Girls Singles
teamed up to win their doubles Janice Vasquez, The Colony, d. Sandra
match. In the girls’ division, Salinas, Allen, 6-0, 6-0. . w
Melissa Winti substituted for Melissa Witi, Allen, d. Amy White, The
Anne Fecht and won her match,
while she and Natalie Joyce, and Girls Doubles
Tammy Bui and Michelle Slingsby Melissa Winti/Natalie Joyce, Allen, d. De-
Smith helped the I adv Fagles ganno/Sermeno, The Colony, 6-1, 6-1.
smith helped the Lady Eagles Tammy Bui/Michelle Slingsby-Smith,
sweep the doubles competition. Allen, d. Benivides/DeGarmo, The Col-
“Our doubles have gotten so ony, 6-0, 6-2.
Mark H. Price/Staf photo
Sandra Salinas, the top singles player for the Lady Eagles,
returns a serve during a practice session recently.
Turn to SOFTBALL, Page 9AO
Though 8-22,
Williams
enjoyed year
By GEORGE WATSON
Sports writer
When most basketball coaches
through a season with less than 10
wins, they often spend the offseason
scratching their heads on what to do
for next year. But Allen boys’ bas-
ketball coach Steve Williams, while
looking forward to next season, is
actually enjoying the 8-22,1-13, sea-
son the Eagles had this year.
“It was a year where we didn’t win
may games, obviously, and could
have had a lot of attitude problems or
bickering,” Williams said. “We didn’t
have that at all. One of the positive
things we can take from this season
is the kids maintained a good attitude
all the way through and came ready
to work each day. I really enjoyed
this season, they were fun to coach
and easy to get along with.”
Williams said if the team had won
20 games but had internal problems,
he wouldn’t have enjoyed the year ase
much as he did. Although wins were
few and far between, he said the kids
never lost their intensity or desire to
win.
And the good news is the Eagles
will return next winter basically in
tact. Senior Andy Tokarz will be the
only one leaving, which means
several players who stepped up to fill
key roles late in the season will be
right back in them come nere
Turn to EAGLES, Page 9A
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Epperson, Wayne. The Allen American (Allen, Tex.), Vol. 23, No. 223, Ed. 1 Wednesday, February 23, 1994, newspaper, February 23, 1994; Allen, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1670784/m1/10/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Allen Public Library.