College basketball: Roundup--The Detroit News
State women
Oakland 72, Oral Roberts 70: Nicole Piggott scores 19 for Oakland (11-12, 7-5 Mid-Continent).
Former OU player Howard is busy officiating Globetrotters--The Oakland Press
By MARVIN GOODWIN Of The Oakland Press
The basketball resume for Tony Howard keeps growing and growing. But the former Pontiac Northern High School basketball standout probably doesnÂ’t have time to notice. HeÂ’s probably on the road again, getting ready for his next stop in one of many U.S. cities as a referee with the famed Harlem Globetrotters basketball team.
The Globetrotters travel around the United States and the world entertaining fans with their trademark brand of comedy intertwined with skilled basketball play.
“There are various routines that all involve the fans,” said a Globetrotters spokesman, “... and there’s always interaction with kids.”
The Globetrotters, based in Phoenix, are in their 80th year of existence, according to the spokesman.
“I grew up watching these guys and never in my wildest dreams did I realize I’d be with them,” said Howard, who was in transit on a shuttle bus with the team to the San Francisco area. “Interacting with the players and the crowds has been unbelievable. Just seeing the smiles we’re putting on peoples faces is amazing. This is great, great family entertainment, from the little kids to grandma and grandpa.” He’s having a ball.
“It’s a great group of guys,” he said. “The most important thing about this organization is its entertaintment. The basketball and the smiles they bring to people and the things they do for the community, visiting hospitals and schools, (they’re) ambassadors of goodwill. That’s a beautiful thing there.”
The tour is virtually non-stop.
“It’s strenuous but what gets me over the hump is I’m going to places I’ve never been before,” he said. “I’ve been to places where I never thought I would go.”
Howard was recently named one of the referees for the Globetrotters in their preparation for the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-Star game, where the Globetrotters will play the top senior college players during the Final Four Weekend in Indianapolis.
“I got selected to go with the team to officiate scrimmages and make sure the players are prepared,” said Howard, whose experience with basketball continues to grow.
“It’s definitely opened up a lot of doors for me,” he said. “It’s been beautiful. That’s one of the reasons I started personal training and camps, to try to create career opportutinties for some of these kids.
“(And) ultimately, I want to be an NBA official.” routines. Then he helps pack up as they head to the next stop.
“For the duration of the tour, we’re going to hit over 197 cities,” Howard said. “Then there’s an international tour two to three weeks after that (and) there’s a great, great chance I could go to Asia and Europe.”
Howard played basketball at Oakland University under coach Greg Kampe in the late 1980s after graduating from Northern. He played professionally in Germany for a season before returning to the states. “I went back to grad school (and) got a masters degree in sports administration in hopes of working with a pro team,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to work with a professional team in some capacity.”
Howard was a physical education teacher in the Detroit school district for several years and coached middle school basketball. He became a personal trainer for basketball and operated some basketball camps which helped lead him to the Globetrotters. Howard said the father of one of his personal training students knew the assistant general manager of the Globetrotters, who were apparently seeking another official.
Howard, a registered basketball official in Michigan, interviewed with the Globetrotters and took part in the organization’s two-week training camp. He was offered the position as referee and “ecstatically” accepted.
Besides helping officiate the games between the Globetrotters and their designated opponent, the New York Nationals, Howard also helps set up the games with technical equipment and assorted props for Globetrotter
Special to The Oakland Press/GARY MILLER
ROUNDUP--The Oakland Press
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Women
• Oakland 72, Oral Roberts 70 — At Tulsa, Okla., senior Anne Hafeli scored 18 points, including a runner in the lane at the buzzer, to give Oakland women’s basketball team a win at Oral Roberts. Hafeli’s jumper capped off a second half that saw six lead changes and eight ties. Senior Nicole Piggott scored 19 points and played all 40 minutes, and senior Jayme Wilson added 14 points for the Golden Grizzlies (11-12, 7-5 Mid-Continent), who shot 55.6 percent from the field in the second half. Oral Roberts dropped to 12-11, 6-6.
The Associated Press
UMKC women lose fourth in rowThe Kansas City Star
Devout Christian--The NWI Times
Westerwinds close to title--The Peoria Journal Star
T-Birds remain in Mid-Con chase with 73-61 victory--The Spectrum
T-Birds edge Gents--The Spectrum
Thunderbirds beat Centenary--The Salt Lake Tribune
Lack of Rebounding Dooms Ladies at Southern Utah 73-61--GoCentenary.Com
Gents Nearly Pull Off Short-handed Win in Losing to SUU--GoCentenary.Com
NEASLEY'S CAREER HIGH 16 POINTS LEADS COUGARS PASS IUPUI, 66-63--Chicago State Athletics
LATE COMEBACK FOR IUPUI FALLS SHORT IN 66-63 LOSS TO CHICAGO STATE--IUPUI JAGUAR ATHLETICS
Brown's Record Tenth Double-Double Not Enough, Kangaroos Drop One To Western Illinois--UMKC Kangaroos
Oakland Defeats Oral Roberts 72-70 at the Buzzer--OUGrizzlies.com
Golden Eagles Fall at Buzzer, 72-70--Oral Roberts University Golden Eagles
SUU CLAIMS CRUCIAL 73-61 VICTORY OVER CENTENARY--SOUTHERN UTAH THUNDERBIRDS
Thunderbirds Avenge Loss To Centenary--SOUTHERN UTAH THUNDERBIRDS
Women's Basketball Defeats UMKC, 55-46--Western Illinois Athletics
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