Moosejaw Musings

Argh! We lost a game that I felt we should have won – it just wasn’t our night to win. The defensive games of both teams were working well last night. Offensively – it was kind of ugly. Our girls [with the exception of Lauren] were very timid in taking shots – and we had a lot of turnovers as a result. I figure that if C-S winds up with the ball – at least make it a result of a scoring attempt. “Shoot the ball!”

Lyndsey played well last night. She was the 2nd highest scorer with 5 points. She needs to hit her free throws consistently, though.

The C-S coach subbed in injured Tara Burgett with only 2 seconds left in the game. She looked uncomfortable being out there. He is a prideful man. I heard one person comment that he was the cause of Tara’s potentially career-ending injury. He allowed her to stay in the game and run up her stats – and she was injured playing when she didn’t need to be on the floor. Okay, whatever, my point is that this was an absurd and arrogant act – resulting in a technical foul – because she wasn’t in the record books. He ranks #2 as my least favorite coach. Number 1 goes to the JV coach of Pittsford. Alright, enough grousing – here is the Jackson Cit-Pat write-up:

--  Climax-Scotts 39, Jackson Christian 32: Jackson Christian hung with Climax-Scotts, the No. 1 team in the state in Class D, for most of the night. Climax-Scotts led 12-10 at halftime and inched away to remain unbeaten in 17 games. Jackson Christian fell to 10-6 overall and 8-5 in the SCAA.
Lauren Lee scored 19 points for the Royals.
"Lauren created every shot she got," Jackson Christian coach Pattie Schryer said. "They didn't have an answer for her. She had a phenomenal game for us."
Danielle Rhoden scored 13 points while Shawna Burgett added 12 for host Climax-Scotts.
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BTW – Tara is an excellent player. She is going to have surgery next week – followed by lots of difficult rehab. Pray that God will guide the Drs to help her mend – and use this as a means to show Himself glorious to her.

Kind of silly - but fun.

A venerated sage with vast power and knowledge, you gently guide forces around you while serving as a champion of the light.

Judge me by my size, do you? And well you should not - for my ally is the Force. And a powerful ally it is. Life greets it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us, and binds us. Luminescent beings are we, not this crude matter! You must feel the Force around you, everywhere.

Yoda is a is a character in the Star Wars universe. More Yoda information is available at the Star Wars Databank.
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Sounds to me that the little guy needs to take a good Theology course.

Jackson Christian fails to score but wins by three
Friday, October 21, 2005
It was so bizarre that all Stockbridge High School soccer coach Van McWilliams could do was laugh. Stockbridge held Jackson Christian without a goal but still lost 3-0.

All three goals credited to Jackson Christian were own goals scored by Stockbridge. "Each of the balls we put in. There wasn't one of their players within 5 yards of the ball," McWilliams said. "(Jackson Christian coach) Terry (Howdyshell) came over to me and said, 'Thank God you made them for us because we couldn't make them for ourselves.' "

The first goal came when an attempted clear put the ball inside the post.
The second came when a Stockbridge defender turned the wrong way and had a ball hit off his chest and go into the net.
The final score happened when Stockbridge's sweeper went to head a ball out of the goalie box. But the ball was so high that the header attempt made just enough contact to keep the ball sailing backward. It was lofted just enough to go over Panthers goalkeeper Robert Prigge's head.

Scott Bugbee got credited with the first two goals while Adam Barsuhn got credited with the third. The Royals outshot the Panthers 21-3.

Robert Prigge made 18 saves in net for Stockbridge (7-12-1), while Ross Withrow turned away all three shots he faced for Jackson Christian (17-4).

Jackson Christian 45, Tekonsha 29: In Jackson Christian coach Pattie Schryer's words, Mary Robey had a "bust-out game." The senior forward scored 10 points and grabbed nine rebounds -- both season highs -- to give the Royals a spark. "I just challenged the post players to own the boards, and she stepped up big time," Schryer said. "Tekonsha is a great rebounding team. We held them to four offensive boards in the first half."

Lauren Lee scored a game-high 20 points and added four assists for Jackson Christian (10-5, 8-4 SCAA). Amanda Miller scored 10 points to lead Tekonsha (7-6, 4-5).

The Facts -- Per the Jackson Cit-Pat:
· Pittsford 55, Jackson Christian 53: Jackson Christian ran out to an 18-9 first-quarter lead, but Pittsford was able to slowly erase it during the second and third quarters, outscoring Jackson Christian 32-20 to take a two-point lead into the fourth quarter.
Lauren Lee had 15 points and four assists to lead the Royals (9-5, 7-4 SCAA), who beat Pittsford by 17 points in their first meeting.
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My 2 cents
I had a feeling we might have some difficulty from one of the refs of the game. During the playing of the national anthem he was looking around – not looking at the flag. That is very disrespectful. I know I am painting with a broad brush – and I don’t want to equate Christianity and Patriotism - but I believe that if a person can be disrespectful to their nation – they are more likely to be disrespectful to Christ and his church. For what it’s worth.

Anyhow…that ref did seem to have some personal animus against our team – and called the game harshly against us for the first half – we had 14 fouls – the other team only 7. Yes, I am biased – so factor that in as you read. This guy gave our coach a technical because she said on the way out that she just wanted the game called fair. Nothing worthy of a “T” – but it met his agenda.

I was sitting with Tonja by the scorer’s table – but this was an away game – so I wasn’t “officially” representing the school. But as the refs were walking away for the halftime break I said, “Where is she supposed to mark down your assists?” He came back wanting to know who had a question – kind of gruffly – impending doom. I didn’t say a thing. The weasely JV coach from the other team points at me – “It was him” – the V coach coughs me up – “It was him” [I thanked him later for this] – I am envisioning Donald Sutherland in Invasion of the Body Snatchers. I kept my mouth shut and he explained some aspect of the game. I maybe dumb – but not stupid!

The second half of the game the refs were more fair. I guess the one ref had made himself happy. The Lady Royals were up by 12 at one point. But they figured out how to lose the game – even if only by 2 pts. Hopefully a few things were learned by the players and the coaches and we will be ready for our next duel.

Today with great love and memories we celebrate the long life of Nora (Hicks) Ousley, born August 2, 1915. She was a devoted wife, sister, loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She was called home to be with the Lord on October 11, 2005. She was surrounded by her family as she left her earthly home and started her eternal life in the arms of the Lord. She will be dearly missed by her husband of 67 years, Joseph Ousley of Grass Lake, Michigan, her children, Scott J. Ousley (wife Joyce) of Jackson, Michigan, Danya Williamson (husband Glenn) of Onsted, Michigan, Bill Ousley (wife Beverly) of Grass Lake, Michigan, Audrey Schittenhelm of Grass Lake, Michigan, Jack Ousley (wife Linda) of Grass Lake, Michigan, twelve grandchildren and twenty-two great grandchildren.

Mawmaw, as she was lovingly called by many, was loved by all. She loved to take care of everyone when they came to visit. She always insisted on feeding you the minute you walked in the door. She loved to cook and feed people and the house always smelled of home canned beans and corn bread and all kinds of other food. She always loved to have her home as neat as a pin, and it was. She also loved to show off her ceramic figurine collection, which had grown to be quite large. She also loved to see her grandchildren and great grandchildren come to visit. She would just watch them play and laugh at the funny little things they would say and do. She so loved the little ones.

Mawmaw had a very fulfilled 90 years here with us. So many treasured memories of her will be with us forever. She may be gone from us now, but we can look forward to the day that we see her again. She had assured those that spoke to her about the Lord that she knew Jesus and was on her way to Heaven.

We lay her to rest this 14th day of October, 2005 on her 67th wedding anniversary.


Written by her family

Below is the obituary that was published in the Jackson Citizen Patriot on 10/12/2005. [Tonja and her cousin Sandy wrote a lengthier version that Tonja's dad read during the memorial service. I will get a copy and post that here, too.]

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OUSLEY, NORA—
Of Grass Lake, aged 90, passed away peacefully October 11, 2005, surrounded by her family. She was born August 2, 1915 in Pyramid, KY, the daughter of David and Ruby (Allen) Hicks. She is survived by her husband of 67 years, Joe; children, Scotty (Joyce) Ousley of Jackson, Danya (Glenn) Williamson of Onsted, Bill (Bev) Ousley of Grass Lake, Audrey Schittenhelm of Grass Lake and Jack (Linda) Ousley of Grass Lake; 12 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren. Visitation will be Thursday, 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be conducted 11:00 a.m. Friday, October 14, 2005, at Sherwood Funeral Home. Interment in Maple Grove Cemetery, Grass Lake. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association.

Sherwood Funeral Home 1109 Norvell Rd., Grass Lake 517-522-3000


Online Guest book entry:

October 12, 2005
Jack , our prayers go out to you and your family in this time of sorrow.May your mother rest in peace at the hands of the Lord.God Bless you and your family.

Bobby and Paula Morphis (Michigan Center, MI )

Jackson Cit-Pat
Jackson Christian 50, Litchfield 3: Lauren Lee scored 25 points and had three assists, and Jessica Tong had five assists to lead the Royals (9-4, 7-3 SCAA).
Litchfield's three points were the lowest total for a local team since Leslie lost 61-0 to Olivet on Oct. 21, 2003.
Litchfield scored all of its points in the second quarter and fell to 0-12 overall and 0-9 in the conference. Katie Imhof scored the lone field goal for the Terriers.
"It's hard to coach a game like that," Royals coach Pattie Schryer said. "I mean, what are you supposed to do? They just had a bunch of unforced turnovers. We had a zillion steals, but we didn't have to work hard to get them."

Dear Friends,

I would like you to pray for Tonja and her parents (Glenn and Danya Williamson). Tonja's grandmother passed away early this morning from complications with a heart attack. She had recently celebrated her 90th birthday. She went over without great distress. Glenn had spoken to her (Nora) a week or so previously and she confirmed a profession of faith in Christ as Savior. That is good news and reassurance to her believing family members.

Pray also for Joe Ousley - her husband - as he goes on without his wife. They would have been married 67 years this coming friday - the day of the funeral. His health is so-so at times. There are also a lot of other relatives that are impacted by Nora's death.

Pray that God would be glorified and Jesus Christ exalted in the days surrounding her funeral.

Thank you,

Gary

"God is too wise to be mistaken.
God is too good to be unkind.
So when you don't understand,
When you can't see His plan,
When you can't trace His hand,
Trust His heart."

I don't mean to make this all about basketball - but, that is how it is working out lately.

The Lady Royals had two games in a row. The first Tuesday night against the school that beat us in Districts last year. The second was last night at Waldron. The reports are as follows:


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Jackson Christian 49, Camden-Frontier 39: Jackson Christian led 10-2 after the first quarter and 30-14 at halftime.

"It was one of those games we pretty much controlled the whole game," Jackson Christian coach Pattie Schryer said.

Lauren Lee scored 16 points and had four assists, and Kelsey Warring added 11 points and six rebounds to lead Jackson Christian (7-4, 5-3 in the SCAA).

Jackson Christian made all 10 of its free throw attempts in the first half.

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