SPORTS
HIGH SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY: Nocona’s moving and grooving
By ERIC VICCARO
bnewssports@gmail.com
The Nocona High School boys’ cross country team had three of the first 13 finishers, and the Lady Indians had two of the top-11.
Those performances helped spur Nocona to compete at the regional meet later this month.
“I thought we ran well and rose to the occasion,” Nocona first-year head cross country coach Bret Botard said. “We ran our best times and placed well. I was pleased with how well they competed.”
Botard wanted Nocona to run in groups for success, and it certainly paid off at the District 3A-9 meet on Thursday morning at Kiwanis Park in Wichita Falls.
“We discuss in practice we want to be tightly grouped,” Botard said. “It’s the best chance to score.”
Nocona finished third on the girls’ side with 83 points, 11 points better than Henrietta. Holliday’s girls won the meet with 33 points, 20 better than Paradise. Bowie placed sixth.
“It’s one of the toughest cross country districts in the state,” said Bowie head girls’ cross country coach Colby Davis-Pastusek. “We ran into a buzzsaw. But, I am very proud. We ran personal-bests, and I can’t be disappointed with how we competed.”
On the boys’ side, Nocona scored 64 points – 27 points fewer than Paradise. Holliday was the winner with 27 points, 22 less than Boyd. Paradise lost a slew of runners to graduation from its 2014 squad. Bowie was fifth.
“Holliday has improved so much,” Bowie head boys’ coach Chuck Hall said. “The top teams in our district are balanced and strong, and we happen to be on the outside part of it.”
The top-3 teams and top-10 individuals advanced to the Region 2-3A meet set for Lynn Creek Park in Grand Prairie set for Monday, Oct. 26.
Brayden Skinner from Nocona was the area’s top finisher, taking seventh in 17 minutes, 52.93 seconds. Teammate Luis Rico was eighth, roughly 8.5 seconds back (18:01.43), over the 5,000-meter course. Read more in the weekend Bowie News.
Nocona’s Luis Rico (left) and Joan Gomez run in the lead pack during Thursday’s District 3A-9 cross country race at Kiwanis Park in Wichita Falls. Rico and Gomez both qualified for the regional meet. (News photo by Eric Viccaro)
In its first match since last year’s state semifinal appearance, Saint Jo hosted Bryson Aug. 11 and took a 25-13, 25-12, 25-21 win over the Cowgirls.
The Lady Panthers lost some talent to graduation but have five seniors ready to have a successful season. Savannah Hil, one of the five, got Saint Jo rolling offensively with a four-point serving string, including a pair of aces. Abby Carter’s kill and Kamron Skidmore’s block helped put the Lady Panthers up 5-2 in game one.
Hadleigh Moore added a four-point string of her own to extend the lead to 10-3. Tatum Morman’s pair, helped by a Hill kill, gave Saint Jo a 14-5 lead. Bryson got within five before a Hill 3-pointer, with help by a Carter kill, put the lead back at 18-10.
After an Olivia Johnson kill broke serve, Jordyn O’Neal served up the final five points, with Johnson providing a kill to move things along.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
Despite being the smallest school in the Brock varsity classic volleyball tournament, the Lady Indians finished 4th out of the eight teams there.
After losing to the host team in its first pool play match Aug. 14 18-25, 14-25 and also to Class 3A Wall 12-25, 8-25, Nocona rebounded to close out pool play with a 20-25, 25-23, 25-20 win over Christoval. Sy Parker had 16 kills and 7 blocks in the three matches. Raylea Bowles had 12 kills, 17 digs and served up three aces. Maddyn Bowles had seven kills and 14 digs while Paige Davis had seven kills and 15 digs. Baylee Thomas added 11 digs.
From the setter spot, Kasi Castro had 20 assists, served up five aces and contributed 14 digs. Leah Meekins added 18 assists and six digs during the three matches.
To open Saturday’s bracket play, the Lady Indians posted a 25-18, 18-25, 26-24, 25-19 win over Fort Worth Christian. Castro staked Nocona to a 2-0 lead in game one. Kills by Parker set up pairs of points from Raylea Bowles and Leah Meekins helped Nocona negate an early deficit and take a 10-9 lead.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
County football teams had their first scrimmage of the season Aug. 14 with mixed results.
Forestburg hosted Azle Christian and Victory Christian. Under a new system with new head coach Cori Hayes, the Longhorns looked pretty good in the coach’s eye.
“The first team looked good,” Hayes explained. “Overall we need to work on our pace and blocking assignments and blocking assignments. Overall we looked good for the new regime.”
Forestburg hits the road to scrimmage Newcastle Aug. 21.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
-
NEWS3 years agoSuspect indicted, jailed in Tia Hutson murder
-
NEWS4 years ago2 hurt, 1 jailed after shooting incident north of Nocona
-
NEWS3 years agoSO investigating possible murder/suicide
-
NEWS4 years agoWreck takes the life of BHS teen, 16
-
NEWS3 years agoMurder unsolved – 1 year later Tia Hutson’s family angry, frustrated with no arrest
-
Show us something good9 years agoCountry music star children perform in Bowie
-
100th Birthday4 years agoLooking back at the 1958 Centennial edition of The Bowie News
-
NEWS3 years ago
Sheriff’s office called out to infant’s death