SPORTS
STORM CENTER COLUMN: Seasons change and rearrange
Our weather this week in Montague County has ushered in a different feel.
A polar plunge dove into the area, sending temperatures to rock-bottom levels and it even tried spitting sleet on my commute from Saint Jo to Nocona on Wednesday evening.
Meteorology is merely foreshadowing new forms of physical activity.
The University Interscholastic League playoff format is mostly fair, rewarding the teams that have the most success.
Here, only Nocona’s volleyball team and Forestburg’s football team filled spots on the postseason dance card. Bowie’s Kamryn Cantwell and Nocona’s Miriam Diaz were our lone representatives at the state cross country meet in Round Rock on Nov. 8.
However, if your athletic program isn’t good enough, the postseason cut – in most districts four teams will qualify for the playoffs – can be considered unkind.
This sports editor has lived in states where even teams that have gone through an entire season winless still make the postseason. Yes, you read that right.
In Connecticut, the general cutoff for postseason qualification is a .440 winning percentage. That’s not good, but it’s a far better format than systems found in places such as Iowa and Maryland.
Here’s hoping our football and volleyball programs will be better in 2015, and we will have more teams in the playoffs. This guy can only hope at this point. Read more from this column in the weekend Bowie News.
Editor’s Note: The Storm Center column is the expressed written views of sports editor Eric Viccaro and not The Bowie News.
Bowie News sports editor Eric Viccaro. (News photo by Ryan Evans)
The old adage concerning where it’s better to start or finish strong was answered by Nocona’s boys basketball team Feb. 24.
Both.
The Indians opened Class 2A bi-district play against Anson with a strong start and finish to move on in the postseason with a 70-31 win.
Nocona Coach Brody Wilson said the intensity shown early was a must.
“We knew we need to bring the intensity early tonight,” Wilson said. “In the playoffs you take nothing for granted.”
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
Bowie’s baseball team got out to an early lead in their ACS Tournament opener against Muenster Feb. 26 but the Hornets used timely hitting and took advantage of Jackrabbit miscues to post a 10-2, five-inning win.
Bowie Coach Jason McCoy said he was pleased with how his reserve players came through hitting wise but not much else.
“We didn’t locate our pitches well. We didn’t finish an inning well as they rallied with two outs. We didn’t hit the ball,” McCoy said. “Our reserves were the bright spot here.”
The Hornets had three hits in scoring a first inning run off Bowie pitcher Braylon Hardy but the Rabbits took advantage of Muenster miscues in the bottom of the inning.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
Saint Jo took a one-point lead into the fourth quarter of its area round matchup with Avery Feb. 26 in Denison.
Avery put together its biggest offensive quarter of the game late and overtook the Panthers, ending their season with a 61-56 setback.
Saint Jo Coach Jacob Nockltonicksaid Avery just got hot when it counted.
“We came back from a 10-point deficit,” Nocktonick explained. “Fourth quarter rolled around and they just didn’t miss. They hit four 3-pointers in a row. They are a great team that just couldn’t miss.”
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
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