Success plagues Newcastle

By Ray Martin
rmartin@oklahoman.com

Winning tournaments hasn’t exactly boosted Newcastle’s confidence this season. In fact, finishing second in a both of the tournaments the Racers have won (Bethel and Newcastle) may have given Newcastle two more conference wins.

Instead, the Racers have lost overtime games after winning the Bethel and Newcastle tourney’s. They lost at Tuttle following the Bethel win, and lost 46-45 to Purcell last night.

Newcastle coach Wes Pulliam said his team is still learning to play with success.

“You have to come off of an exciting three games and it is hard to keep your focus,” he said.

I hope, for Newcastle’s sake, that problem is fixed when the playoffs roll around. If the Racers can’t handle winning meaningless regular season tournaments, how will it play after winning a district or regional championship?