By ERIC VICCARO
bnewssports@sbcglobal.net

The Nocona High School girls’ basketball team has been playing better within the past week.
On Saturday in the Era Tournament championship, Nocona nearly rallied to win before falling to Bridgeport 58-52.
First-year Nocona head coach Brad McGann said the Lady Indians already have found their identity.
“The girls don’t quit,” McGann said. “They do an amazing job of fighting to keep in every game. These girls play with a lot of heart. They don’t give up, and that showed in the championship game.”
Nocona dropped to 5-6 on the season heading into Tuesday’s district opener against City View.
The Lady Indians are learning a new system under McGann, who replaced Steven Grigsby as coach this past summer.
McGann was impressed with Bridgeport.
“They stopped every one of our runs,” he said. “They are a good team inside and outside. They came out hot, and we started slow. They were able to execute and finish.”
Victoria Fatheree was Nocona’s leading scorer versus Bridgeport with 23 points, including 8-of-17 field goals and 7-of-9 free throws. Makenzie Franklin added 12 points, the only other Lady Indian to score in double digits. Read more, and see the complete box score, in the mid-week Bowie News in print and with your electronic subscription.

Magye Fenoglio (13) and Kolbi Klein (32) fight off screens during an inbounds play during Saturday’s Era Tournament championship game against Bridgeport. Click on the image itself for the complete photo. (News photo by Eric Viccaro)