SPORTS
STORM CENTER: No home court in Texas hoops
Well, the 2015 high school basketball playoffs are underway, and the sports editor is certainly logging plenty of miles.
The University Interscholastic League doesn’t believe in giving home-court advantages for playoff games.
The sports editor can buy that thinking, but not totally.
I think to cut down on travel, any team that wins its district should be given a home game during the bi-district round.
That’s what all these teams around here fight for during the regular season.
Look, the Bowie girls and Bellevue boys went through their district slates without a loss. The Bowie boys fought back from down in a 1-2 hole to garner 11 straight games – capped by Tuesday’s 40-22 conquest of Henrietta.
Shouldn’t these teams be rewarded with a home playoff game? Just one? I think so.
In other states, teams with better records and higher standing in their district get at least one postseason game at home.
That’s one difference Bellevue girls’ basketball coach Bryan Goehring noted as a difference between North Carolina and Texas.
In North Carolina, teams with better records can get up to three home games through the postseason. That’s a little bit much, but now you see how another state does it.
Texans sure love to travel.
Monday, the sports editor drove 126 miles round trip from The Bowie News office to Sanger as the Lady Rabbits took on Whitesboro in a Bi-District game.
Thursday, the Lady Rabbits road continued with a game at Texas Woman’s University in Denton. This was a 114-mile round trip. Read more 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 High School student Josh Monkres covers his mouth while cheering on the Lady Rabbits during Thursday’s Conference 3A Area game. In the state of Texas, all playoff basketball games take place on what’s considered a neutral court. (News photo by Eric Viccaro)
New Saint Jo Boy’s Basketball Coach Terry McLennan said the school’s family atmosphere is what prompted him to join the Panther family.
“This is an opportunity to be an important program but also part of a great community,” McLennan said. “I’ve been looking to get back to a small town environment like the one I grew up in and played ball and this should do that.”
McLennan played basketball in Hubbard outside of Waco. McLennan comes to town after being the assistant girl’s basketball coach in Grand Prairie.
McLennan contends he’s a defensive style of coach but says his team will focus on intensity.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
New Saint Jo Boy’s Basketball Coach Terry McLennan said the school’s family atmosphere is what prompted him to join the Panther family.
“This is an opportunity to be an important program but also part of a great community,” McLennan said. “I’ve been looking to get back to a small town environment like the one I grew up in and played ball and this should do that.”
McLennan played basketball in Hubbard outside of Waco. McLennan comes to town after being the assistant girl’s basketball coach in Grand Prairie.
McLennan contends he’s a defensive style of coach but says his team will focus on intensity.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
After some coaching time in East Texas, Bret Botard will be the new girl’s basketball coach at Bowie.
Botard said it’s a chance to work with Bowie Athletic Director Tyler Price once again. Price was Botard’s assistant when he coached at Nocona.
“I wanted to get back into the area,” Botard said. “It’s a good community.”
Botard graduated high school in 1995 from Del Valle High School, outside Austin, and went to Texas Tech. He started his coaching career in Lubbock followed by returning to his alma mater where he was an assistant for his high school coach.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
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