For Laney Venables, Class 3A basketball state tournament is chance to make her own name
Brent Venables wiped his forehead and readjusted his cap.
The Sooner football coach had been in big games, but never one inside The Big House — Oklahoma’s State Fair Arena, that is. Not until Tuesday morning, when his daughter Laney helped lead Norman’s Community Christian to a 45-37 win against Roland in the Class 3A girls state basketball quarterfinals.
Laney Venables, a freshman starter for the Royals, had six points and a team-high eight rebounds in the win. She dished two assists, the second of which led to a late basket that gave Community Christian a decisive four-point lead.
“It’s definitely something I’ve never experienced,” Laney said of the state tournament stage, “but I’m glad I got to experience it with this team. We all work so well together.”
Brent Venables, standing next to his wife, Julie, had a grin plastered on his face as he filmed the last seconds of the Royals’ win.
He could finally relax.
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This wasn’t the uber intense version of Venables you see on the Sooner sideline, but the nervous energy was there. He was into the game, willing in shots with bent knees, clapping along to “DE-FENSE” chants and slapping the seat in front of him a time or two at unfavorable whistles.
As OU’s football coach, Venables is one of the most famous figures in the state. Tuesday, he got to be a normal dad, blending in with the rest of the CCS fan section.
“It’s a nice changeup,” Venables told The Oklahoman before the game. “It’s been a lot of fun watching this group of girls grow and get better.”
Added Julie: “It’s still stressful, but it’s a little more relaxing than his games,” she said with a nod toward her husband. “It’s fun. It’s a different speed, for sure.”
Julie, who was diagnosed with breast cancer last summer, provided a positive health update. She said she feels great, and thanked all the Sooner fans who have been thinking about her.
“I’m doing routine blood screenings, but right now there’s zero cancer,” she said.
Julie was scheduled to have her blood drawn later Tuesday, but first she got to celebrate her daughter’s win.
Laney is the third of the Venables’ four children. She has two older brothers and a younger sister.
Laney, in what should come as no surprise, is scrappy. Her No. 4 jersey didn’t stay tucked in for long.
She picked up a couple of early fouls, but what else would you expect? She’s the daughter of a defensive-minded coach, after all.
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“I never give up,” Laney said. “You always gotta show grit, and that’s what I’ve grown up with.”
Laney and Community Christian will play top-seeded Washington at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Yukon High School.
A win there would send CCS, in its first-ever state tournament appearance, back to The Big House with a state championship on the line.
The Venables family is used to these spots.
Now it’s Laney’s turn.
“I’ve gotta really show myself” Laney said, “and prove who I am and not who my last name says I am.”
Joe Mussatto is a sports columnist for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Joe? Email him at jmussatto@oklahoman.com. Support Joe's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Community Christian's Laney Venables makes name in state tournament
