SPORTS
Local teams battle traditional Texas heat
By ERIC VICCARO
[email protected]
On the University Interscholastic League website, there is an entire page dedicated to heat stress and athletic participation.
Face it. Practicing in the early August Texas heat can be unbearable, and that’s forced local high schools to establish protocols and move practices to the early morning.
“We have an emergency response plan in place,” Bowie head football coach/athletic director Dylan Stark said.
One coach performs cardiopulmonary resuscitation, with another assistant. Another coach calls 9-1-1, and yet another directs emergency response personnel. There’s also one coach responsible for using the defibrillator, a device used to treat abnormal heart rhythm.
The Bowie Independent School District has a working agreement with Bowie Memorial Hospital to provide support personnel.
Director of Rehabilitation John Gwilliam serves as an athletic trainer on the sideline at football games, along with fellow staff members Amanda Thompson and Krystal Montgomery.
“I think the coaches do a good job of getting the kids used to the heat and humidity,” Gwilliam said.
There are plenty of hydration options – water, Pedialyte with sodium and Gatorade. Gwilliam recommends if Gatorade is consumed to dilute it with water.
One thing is for sure, it’s not a good idea for an athlete to have energy drinks before a training session.
“Coaches are adamant about it,” Gwilliam said. “It can have a detrimental effect (on your body).”
Gwilliam reported using energy drinks can quickly dehydrate the body and make kidneys work harder than they need to.
In fact, Gwilliam remembers an incident last decade in which an unspecified Bowie football player consumed an energy drink before a game, and he severely cramped up during the third quarter.
“We had to use an IV on the sideline,” he said. “We were close to taking him to the emergency room.”
Even if you don’t feel thirsty, Gwilliam recommends athletes hydrate every 30 minutes. Get essential vitamins and minerals by eating fruits and vegetables as well as lean protein. Read more in the mid-week edition of The Bowie News.
Bowie players stretch during one of the many water breaks during practice on Monday at Jackrabbit Stadium. At left is trainer Logan McMurray. (News photo by Eric Viccaro)
At the end of the November school board meeting for Bowie, athletic director Tyler Price had some updates about the new high school soccer club.
So far the club has fielded 40 players total, with 23 being boys and 17 girls meaning it can field both teams.
Both teams have full game schedules, with the girls being invited to play in the Wichita Falls Invitational Tournament in January.
One goal has been donated, both sets of team jerseys are fully donated as well with a commitment to donate the jerseys next year with the hope for home and away games.
The club is coached by Chad Word, Scott Siebert and Javier Fuerte. The club is not officially a part of the competition this year in the University Interscholastic League, but with a good turnout there is hope the presence of the club will lead to the Bowie School District adding the sport to its athletic department in the future.
If and when that is the case, the club leaders hope to help develop players for the high school team. Bowie would have to compete in the 4A classification if and when a high school soccer team is approved.
The Lady Rabbit team has their first game scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 17 at Burkburnett. For more information about the soccer club, go to the Bowie High School Soccer Club Facebook page.
Nocona girls
The Nocona Lady Indians were able to whoop up on Iowa Park on Tuesday night.
The Lady Indians dominated 86-38 against the Lady Hawks in a game that was not competitive at all.
Nocona was coming off a tough loss against state-ranked Bridgeport where the team did not shoot well.
From the jump, the Lady Indians’ offense was working over Iowa Park. Nocona felt safe to bring pressure on defense and created easy scoring chances in transition.
The Lady Indians scored 20 or more points in the first three quarters and got a lot of players in on the scoring action. Every player ended up making at least one basket.
Nocona took the gas off the defensive pressure in the second half so as not to be disrespectful. This allowed the Lady Hawks, who had scored only 12 points in the first half, to get some things going in the second half.
Nocona was actually outscored 11-9 in the fourth quarter, but it did not mean much with their lead already so high.
The Lady Indians won 86-38.
Nocona boys
The Nocona Indians lost a tough game on the road on Tuesday night at Henrietta.
The Bearcats won 60-50 in a game where the Indians fell behind early and were unable to come back.
Nocona was playing its first game in a week and was looking to see if it could hang with a program that is usually able to give a good challenge most years.
Henrietta got out to a big lead in the first quarter, getting to the free throw line for 10 attempts and scoring 20 points. The Indian offense was slow to get going as they trailed 20-9.
Nocona was able to slow down the Bearcat offense in the second quarter, but could not make up much ground as it trailed 29-21 at halftime.
The Indians could replicate the defense in the third and fourth quarter as Henrietta scored 16 and 15 points. Nocona’s offense kept pace and even outscored the Bearcats in the fourth quarter, but it was not enough to make up the deficit it was chasing.
Henrietta won 60-50.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the weekend edition of the Bowie News.
Saint Jo boys
The Saint Jo Panthers easily won at Tioga on Tuesday night.
The Panthers won 55-31 against the Bulldogs in a game they dominated from the start.
Saint Jo raced out to a 20-5 lead in the first quarter, with 14 coming from leading scorer Barrett Johnson.
The Panthers cooled down offensively in the second and third quarters, scoring 20 points combined during the time. Still, the defense was able to keep Tioga stifled in the second quarter before the Bulldogs played a bit more evenly in the second half.
Saint Jo still outscored Tioga in each of the quarters, not allowing the Bulldogs to make up the double-digit deficit. The Panthers closed the game out with a 15 point quarter with four different players scoring at least one basket.
Saint Jo won 55-31.
Saint Jo girls
The Saint Jo Lady Panthers were able to beat Chico at home on Tuesday night.
The Lady Panthers won 58-41 against the Lady Dragons in a rough and tumble game that suits Saint Jo just fine.
Both teams tried to pressure the ball while playing fast and physical throughout. The Lady Panthers got an 18-9 lead after the first quarter and 31-23 at halftime.
Saint Jo pulled away with a 16 point third quarter before slowing things down a peg in the fourth quarter while keeping the defensive intensity up.
The Lady Panthers won 58-41.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the weekend edition of the Bowie News.
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