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Reigning state champs start process over again with some new pieces

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Expectations are high for the Bowie High School boys’ basketball program for the upcoming season after a state title win and a number one ranking in the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches preseason poll for the second year in a row.
It’s not just outsiders who have high expectations of the team as Head Coach Jonathon Horton and the players have set their own and that doesn’t necessarily mean another title.
“Expectations are high, of course, with the talent we have and the results we have had, not just last season, but as a program,” said Horton. “There aren’t many boys’ basketball programs that have won more big games than Bowie overall, so expectations are high here and the boys have seen it. That makes their own expectations high, mine high and the community’s high.”
As the team began practice last week, they are working to define what success will mean for the Bowie Jackrabbits in 2018-19.
Horton believes players getting the most out of each for each other will be more key than any title success.
“I wouldn’t define it as winning state or going to the regional tournament or even winning a district title because there are so many unknowns out there,” said Horton. “We are trying every day to get the most we possibly can out of each other and I believe 10 years from now if we are successful it will be because of that.”
The Bowie Jackrabbits return Class 3A State Most Valuable Player Daniel Mosley and second leading scorer and starter Justin Franklin. Also returning is Taylor Pigg, while not a starter last season, saw plenty of playing time and was a key piece in the Jackrabbits’ success.
“Those are the three we are going to build on,” explained Horton. “It’s not going to look the same. Our team last year was great, but this team will never look the same. Even though we have some of the same players.,” explained Horton.
As an example, last year’s team even though they returned most of the same team, looked and played completely different than the previous year.
The coach said he also has many junior varsity kids stepping right in and fulfilling expectations and learning from the varsity players, as well as new Assistant Coach Josh Castle’s son, Jeb. Coach Matthew Miller also returns from last year as assistant.
Also new to the team this year is Horton in the position of head coach after serving as assistant for Doug Boxell.
“Things have changed, I have changed, the coaches change, even the players that are the same, their roles are different and kids that were not leaders last year are leaders now,” said Horton. “You are infusing new talent and new pieces.
As Horton said, its not like college or pro teams who can go out and find skill sets they want or need in other players. I high school, coaches and team have to adapt.
The team will work hard to develop their skill sets and develop depth in a schedule that is guaranteed to challenge the Jackrabbits in the pre-district slate.
“I think if we can work hard enough to develop depth I think that will be the biggest key to this season,” said Horton. “If we can use our scrimmages in our early games and our difficult non-district schedule and have eight to nine people deep in a rotation. I think that’s the big key.”
The team opens with scrimmages against Aubrey and Graham this Saturday and another scrimmage is slated against Wichita Falls High School on Nov. 6.

To read the full story and for a copy of the season schedule, pick up a copy of the mid-week edition of the Bowie News.

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Baseball Roundup

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Saint Jo vs Bellevue
The Saint Jo Panthers got out of their early season funk as they beat fellow 1A Bellevue twice last week on two different days.
The Panthers won the first high-scoring game 15-9 before shut out the Eagles 10-0 in the second game.
Saint Jo had a rough beginning to its season, with mostly ugly losses and only one win.
Bellevue came in with no wins, but it was not unexpected due to it being the Eagles first year as a program since the late 1990s.
Bellevue led the first game for most of it scoring five runs in the first inning and just holding off the Panthers 5-4 heading into the sixth inning.
Saint Jo then caught fire, scoring six runs in the sixth inning to take its first lead since the first inning. The Eagles kept it close and scored four runs to make it a one run game 10-9 heading into the final inning.
The game had to be postponed due to Bellevue’s new field not having any lights to play past a certain time.
When the game was picked up three days later, the Panthers added five more run to their lead. The Eagles could not answer and Saint Jo won the game 15-9.
Devein Stewart and Logan Hoover led the Panthers four RBIs each while Charlie Evans and R Forrester drove in two runs each.
Trent Gaston pitched 4.1 innings and allowed two runs and struck out seven batters to lead the team.
Saint Jo’s defense committed four errors.
For Bellevue, Brayden Moore led the team with three RBIs while Bryce Ramsey and Ryan Jones each drove in two runs.
Ramsey pitched five innings and allowed four runs while striking out nine batters to lead the team.
The second game picked up right after the end of the first game. Unfortunately for the Eagles, the second game went similarly to the end of first game.
Saint Jo scored three runs in the first inning, four in the second inning and three in the third inning.
The Panther defense shut out Bellevue and the game ended with Saint Jo winning 10-0 after four and half innings due to run rule.
Sam Martin led the Panthers with four RBIs while Evans drove in two runs. Stewart pitched three innings and allowed one hit and one walk while striking out six batters. Hoover pitched two innings and struck out four batters while allowing no hits and walking two batters. The team committed no fielding errors.
For Bellevue, River Trail got the only hit in the game for the team. The team drew three walks, but could not get on base.
Blake Reese led the team with two innings pitched and three earned runs on two hits and five walks while striking out two batters. The defense committed no fielding errors.

Nocona
The Nocona Indians lost their second game against Muenster on Friday on the road.
The Indians lost 10-0 after five innings due to run-rule as the Hornets picked up all of their runs in one horrible inning for Nocona.
The score was tied at 0-0 heading into the bottom of the third inning. The Indian defense had navigated one out singles the first two innings without letting it morph into anything threatening.
Unfortunately, the third inning saw Muenster get going from the first batter.
Five singles, two doubles, two walks and a hit batter later saw the Hornets score 10 runs.
Nocona’s bats had been able to get someone on base in most innings despite Walker Murphey getting the team’s only base hit, but could not get a run to score.
The Indian defense did bounce back to not allow any runs in the fourth or fifth inning, but with no runs coming through for Nocona, the game ended after five innings.
Muenster won 10-0.

To read the full story, pick up a copy of the mid-week edition of the Bowie News.

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Softball Roundup

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Nocona
The Nocona Lady Indians lost at home on Friday night against Muenster.
The Lady Hornets won 9-0, with most of the damage coming in the fourth inning against the Lady Indians.
Nocona gave up two runs in the first inning, but kept the game within reach after shutting out Muenster in the second and third innings.
Then came the fourth inning. Five fielding errors and two singles contributed to the Lady Hornets scoring six runs to go up 8-0.
The Lady Indians struggled to get their bats going all game though they did get some base runners that could have been worked home with some timely plays in other games.
Muenster added one more run in the sixth inning to make the final score 9-0.

Saint Jo
The Saint Jo Lady Panthers lost a shootout at Era on Friday night.
The Lady Hornets won 25-15 in a game that ended early after six innings due to run-rule.
Saint Jo was trailing the early part of the game down 9-1 after three innings.
The Lady Panthers then had a huge offensive inning, scoring nine runs in the fourth inning to go up 10-9.
Era bounced back in the same inning and scored three runs to retake the lead 12-10, but Saint Jo then scored four runs in the fifth inning and one in the sixth inning as it lead 15-12.
The Lady Hornets then embarked on an inning from hell for the Lady Panthers, more than doubling their score and not ending until Era was up by 10 runs to end the game early.
The Lady Hornets had scored 13 runs to win 25-15.

To read the full story, pick up a copy of the mid-week edition of the Bowie News.

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Nocona’s Stone signs to play football

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Nocona senior Johnny Stone, son of Chelsi and Haydan, signed his letter of intent to play football at Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachie on Monday. Stone played running back and linebacker for Nocona on varsity for three years, helping the Indians go from two wins his first season to winning 16 games the last two seasons that resulted in playoff berths and a district title this past season. Stone has also spent time playing baseball, golf, basketball and track during his four years at Nocona. “They have a great program there,” Stone said. “Their business and financing program, it is five years for a masters so I thought that was a really good choice. They have a nice indoor gym. They really focus on the relgious part of school.” Stone plans to focus on business and financing major with maybe a minior in religious beliefs.

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