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Hustlin' Owls touch down in Branson
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| H&N photo by Andrew Mariman Coach Danny Miles keeps a close eye on his players as they take the court for the first practice since arriving in Branson. |
March 6, 2007
BRANSON, Mo. - After just over 27 hours of travel, Oregon Tech's men's basketball team spent Monday night at a spirited practice as the Hustlin' Owls prepare for the NAIA Division II national basketball tournament.
OIT left Klamath Falls at 2 p.m. Sunday, bussed to Portland and had 4 a.m. wake-up calls to begin the final leg of the journey to Missouri.
The Owls landed at the Kansas City International Airport at 10:15 a.m. (PST), picked up seven rental vehicles and then drove for almost six hours to reach their hotel in Branson.
Then came practice.
Veteran OIT coach Danny Miles liked what he saw when the team had one hour at nearby Hollister High School.
He told his players he liked their hustle. The focus of the 14 players who will suit up for OIT's tournament opener at 10 a.m. Thursday (PST) against Northwood of Florida was obvious.
OIT enters the game as the tournament's No. 7 seed.
While sprinting during drills, Steffan Neff, who spent the fall with the team, arrived after having flown from his home in France to be with the Owls for the tournament.
“I flew from (his home near the Swiss border) to Paris, then to Atlanta and then to Kansas City,” the tired Neff said as he was greeted by players, coaches and others who make up the 30-strong members of the official OIT delegation. Assistant coach Tim Bruner had stayed at the airport to drive Neff to Branson.
The drive through Kansas City was anything but smooth. Major construction, which has been ongoing for more than a year, forced traffic to something slower than a snail's pace. At times, each vehicle would move maybe three car lengths in five minutes.
Once through the construction zone, however, it was an easy drive and the Owls were met by Rick Todd and John Fitzgibbons, who were able to sponsor OIT for the fifth straight year.
“We're really glad to have OIT again,” Todd said.
Fitzgibbons said it took a five-team trade for the Showboat Branson Belle to again be OIT's sponsor. He and Todd originally drew Evangel University of nearby Springfield.
Albertson College of Idaho, the fourth Cascade Collegiate Conference team to qualify for the national tournament, was able to get the Branson Hospital as its sponsor, even though the Coyotes were not at last year's tournament.
“I believe it was an eight-team trade that was worked out among various sponsors for that to happen, and the trade took place right at the end (of the sponsor's meeting held last week),” Fitzgibbons said.
Today's schedule
Today, the Owls will have their easiest day while in Branson.
Practice will be held at 10 a.m. (PST) at Branson High School. The remainder of the day will be free until the players and coaches are required to attend the tournament's tip-off banquet at the Dolly Parton Dixie Stampede.
That will be followed by a session to watch game films on a big-screen television at the sponsor's corporate headquarters at Celebration City.
Tournament Tidbits
KLAD (92.5 FM) will carry all of OIT's games with Bobby Thompson and Mike Garrad handling the action. The station's morning show with Rob and Holly Jo will air live from OIT's hotel.
Six OIT players are making their first ever national tournament appearance - senior Joshua Garrett, redshirt freshmen Mike Nieraeth, Joel Matchett and Drew Tillman, and true freshmen Brent Johnson and Myles Daley.
Seniors Levell Hesia and Alan Johnson will become the first Oregon Tech players to play in the national tournament four times. Hesia makes his fourth straight tournament appearance, while Johnson will have been in Branson in 2003, 2005, 2006 and this year.
-By Steve Mathies
BRANSON, Mo. - After just over 27 hours of travel, Oregon Tech's men's basketball team spent Monday night at a spirited practice as the Hustlin' Owls prepare for the NAIA Division II national basketball tournament.
OIT left Klamath Falls at 2 p.m. Sunday, bussed to Portland and had 4 a.m. wake-up calls to begin the final leg of the journey to Missouri.
The Owls landed at the Kansas City International Airport at 10:15 a.m. (PST), picked up seven rental vehicles and then drove for almost six hours to reach their hotel in Branson.
Then came practice.
Veteran OIT coach Danny Miles liked what he saw when the team had one hour at nearby Hollister High School.
He told his players he liked their hustle. The focus of the 14 players who will suit up for OIT's tournament opener at 10 a.m. Thursday (PST) against Northwood of Florida was obvious.
OIT enters the game as the tournament's No. 7 seed.
While sprinting during drills, Steffan Neff, who spent the fall with the team, arrived after having flown from his home in France to be with the Owls for the tournament.
“I flew from (his home near the Swiss border) to Paris, then to Atlanta and then to Kansas City,” the tired Neff said as he was greeted by players, coaches and others who make up the 30-strong members of the official OIT delegation. Assistant coach Tim Bruner had stayed at the airport to drive Neff to Branson.
The drive through Kansas City was anything but smooth. Major construction, which has been ongoing for more than a year, forced traffic to something slower than a snail's pace. At times, each vehicle would move maybe three car lengths in five minutes.
Once through the construction zone, however, it was an easy drive and the Owls were met by Rick Todd and John Fitzgibbons, who were able to sponsor OIT for the fifth straight year.
“We're really glad to have OIT again,” Todd said.
Fitzgibbons said it took a five-team trade for the Showboat Branson Belle to again be OIT's sponsor. He and Todd originally drew Evangel University of nearby Springfield.
Albertson College of Idaho, the fourth Cascade Collegiate Conference team to qualify for the national tournament, was able to get the Branson Hospital as its sponsor, even though the Coyotes were not at last year's tournament.
“I believe it was an eight-team trade that was worked out among various sponsors for that to happen, and the trade took place right at the end (of the sponsor's meeting held last week),” Fitzgibbons said.
Today's schedule
Today, the Owls will have their easiest day while in Branson.
Practice will be held at 10 a.m. (PST) at Branson High School. The remainder of the day will be free until the players and coaches are required to attend the tournament's tip-off banquet at the Dolly Parton Dixie Stampede.
That will be followed by a session to watch game films on a big-screen television at the sponsor's corporate headquarters at Celebration City.
Tournament Tidbits
-By Steve Mathies
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| Team faces rebuilding effort next season |
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Bill Hoffman wrote on Apr 10, 2008 10:07 AM:
" Long live Matt Miles! He was the "Billy Kilmer" of Semi Pro Football: tough, gritty, fiery leader, winning mentality. I will never forget this "young gunslinger", he made this league better for being in it.
Respectfully submitted,
Bill Hoffman
CO Stampede, #45 "
Respectfully submitted,
Bill Hoffman
CO Stampede, #45 "
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Ken Karnes wrote on Oct 3, 2008 4:23 PM: