SPORTS
Nocona boys make playoffs
The Nocona Indians did not leave their playoff hopes to chance, taking care of business Friday night against Jacksboro.
The Indians won 56-46 to lock up the final playoff spot in the district in their final home game of the season.
It was senior night for Nocona as well heading into the crucial game. Coming off a tough loss to Breckenridge, a loss that night to the Tigers along with another win from Buckaroos would have put Breckenridge into the playoffs.
With Nocona having experience in play-in games the following two seasons and been on both sides of the results, it was important for the Indians to control what they could control.
The first quarter saw Nocona do that. Despite it being senior night, it was freshman Brady McCasland who set the tone on offense, scoring 10 of his team’s 13 points in the first quarter including two 3-pointers.
On defense, the Indians were contesting shots against Jacksboro inside and the Tigers were not making them pay with outside shots. Nocona led 13-6 heading into the second quarter.
Jacksboro’s offense picked things up in the second quarter. The Tigers got some second chance opportunities crashing the offensive glass while also knocking in a 3-pointer.
The Indians were driving into the lane and kicking the ball outside, but passes were not perfect allowing Jacksboro time to deny anything but a contested 3-pointer. Still Nocona’s diverse offense, four players made one basket, kept the Indians in front.
The Tigers kept the game close trailing 24-19 at halftime.
The third quarter was more of the same from both teams as neither team could get much of an advantage. The Indians started the quarter on a 7-3 run to expand their lead to 31-22 midway through.
Jacksboro closed the distance ending on a 10-5 run till the end of the quarter. Nocona still led heading into the fourth quarter, but the lead was cut to 36-32.
The Indians offense pulled away midway through the quarter, leading by double-digits. The Tigers did not have the firepower to come back as Nocona kept scoring at a good pace to keep the game from any dramatic ending. The Indians won 56-46.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the mid-week edition of the Bowie News.
The Nocona Lady Indians beat Saint Jo at home on Saturday morning.
The Lady Indians won 16-1 after four innings due to run-rule against the smaller school.
Nocona was coming off a competitive loss at Collinsville earlier in the week while the Lady Panthers were hoping to compete after a busy week of their athletes doing everything else besides just softball.
The Lady Indians easily won the first matchup between the teams in March, 19-2 and it was more of the same on Saturday.
Saint Jo struck first to start the game off well. Jordyn O’Neal hit a one out single. Krista Reeves followed with a walk after O’Neal had stolen second base and had advanced to third thanks to an error trying to throw her out. A wild pitch then allowed her to score to put the Lady Panthers up 1-0.
The lead did not last long. Nocona’s first two batters drew walks which set up Abby Hill to drive them both in with a single to right field.
Despite giving up a single and a walk later in the inning, Saint Jo’s defense did not allow another run. A line out and groundout to the shortstop while picking off a runner attempting to steal got the Lady Panthers out of the inning unscarred.
The Lady Indians led 2-1.
That was about as competitive as it got. In the second inning, Nocona’s bats got going. Two singles and a hit batter loaded the bases up with no outs.
Reagan Phipps drew a walk that drove in a run. Hill hit another two RBI single. Skye Kirby followed with a two RBI double.
After the first out, Allie Sutton drove in one run with a single. There was a fly out for out two, before a runner came in to score after a passed ball. Finally, an error allowed two more runs to score on the base paths.
Nocona had scored nine runs and led 11-1 to break the game open heading into the third inning.
Taylor Patrick hit a double, with O’Neal and Reeves following with singles. Unfortunately for Saint Jo, Patrick was thrown out before the hits attempting to steal a base so the Lady Panthers scored no runs from this.
The Lady Indians kept pouring on the runs. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases up with no outs. Tinley Cable then hit an RBI single. Shelby Swell was hit by a pitch that drove in another run.
After two strikeouts, Evelyn Marquez drove in two more runs on a double to put Nocona up 15-1, coming up one run short of ending the game early.
The Lady Indians scored that one run in the fourth inning. After Phipps drew a leadoff walk, Hill hit a triple that drove her in to end the game.
Nocona won 16-1.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the mid-week edition of the Bowie News.
-
NEWS1 year ago2 hurt, 1 jailed after shooting incident north of Nocona
-
NEWS5 months agoSuspect indicted, jailed in Tia Hutson murder
-
NEWS12 months agoSO investigating possible murder/suicide
-
NEWS1 year agoWreck takes the life of BHS teen, 16
-
NEWS9 months agoMurder unsolved – 1 year later Tia Hutson’s family angry, frustrated with no arrest
-
NEWS12 months ago
Sheriff’s office called out to infant’s death
-
NEWS1 year agoBowie Police face three-hour standoff after possible domestic fight
-
NEWS1 year ago
Driver stopped by a man running into the street, robbed at knifepoint