SPORTS
HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL: Time for area teams to contend
By ERIC VICCARO
bnewssports@gmail.com
Four of the seven schools The Bowie News covers had boys’ basketball programs qualify for the postseason last year.
Bowie advanced all the way to the Conference 3A regional quarterfinals before falling to Ponder, who was eliminated by Van Alstyne in the next round.
Bellevue made it to the regional quarterfinals as well in Conference 1A, falling to Miller Grove – the same school that ousted Forestburg in the area round.
Nocona was eliminated from the playoffs by Whitesboro in the bi-district round, and the Indians had an interesting path to the postseason – which included a coin flip.
The University Interscholastic League state championships, like last year, will take place at the Alamodome in San Antonio from March 10-12.
Here are capsules from every team.
Bowie
District 3A-9 most valuable player Chase Hall returns for his senior season, fresh off a successful football campaign.
Point guard Keck Jones, shooting guard Jeffery Howard and swing forward Zeke Vaughan join Hall to form part of a potent starting lineup for the Jackrabbits, along with Kaden Ogle, Trace Hardee, Tilghman Parr, Gary Mosley, Daniel Mosley, Cade Roth and Taylor Pigg.
Nocona
Nocona, under first-year head coach Bret Botard, is off to a strong 4-1 record after its play at the Blue Ridge Tournament last weekend.
Kameron Hill, who tallied 40 points in a game versus Coram Deo Academy of Flower Mound, is the unquestioned leader for Nocona at a swing forward spot. Guards Brenton Vineyard and Riley McCasland and forward Barkley Hayes also are part of the rotation.
Bellevue
Forward/center Layne Morris is back to lead Bellevue, the defending District 1A-21 champion.
The Eagles lost at Poolville to open the season, but head coach Colby Broussard likes assembling a difficult schedule to challenge the team – which includes this weekend’s Fantasy of Lights Tournament at Wichita Falls.
Forestburg
Steve Sandusky is the dean of area coaches now in his 11th season, and the Longhorns have plenty of talent this season.
“A concern I have is how long it will take to get our basketball legs under us,” said Sandusky, noting Forestburg had its first practice of the season Monday due to the Longhorns reaching the area round of the football playoffs.
The starting lineup features returners Malaci Moore and Skyler Sandusky at forward spots and Taten Vann at guard.
Gold-Burg
Gold-Burg won just two games a season ago, and the Bears have a new leader this year in Principal Aaron Tefertiller.
The team returns three talented starters in forward Anthony Rios and guards Kasen Allen, a senior, and Rayge Gardner.
Expect Gold-Burg to play more up-tempo this season, and mix man and zone on defense.
Prairie Valley
Prairie Valley is off to a rough start at 0-2, but there’s reason for optimism because the Bulldogs have so much depth.
The team returns four starters from a season ago with center Tyler Carter, guard Alec Ducharme, power forward Lane Roof and swing forward Anthony Roof. Forward Chase Edwards and center Brett Smith also are back.
Saint Jo
Second-year Saint Jo head coach Brian Blank is starting from scratch.
The starting lineup is laden with freshman and newcomers including guards Blake Anderson, J.C. Dunn and Preston Lyons and forwards T.J. Lindenborn and Bret Haney.
Forward Gene Hermosilla and guards Juan Sanchez and Brady Hilton also are part of the Panthers’ rotation. See complete team capsules in the Nov. 25 Bowie News.
Prairie Valley’s Lane Roof goes up for a shot during a game versus Christ Academy from Nov. 17. The Bulldogs will have more depth this year, and head coach Jack Williams hopes it translates into wins. (News photo by Kayla Jean Woods)
Bellevue’s girl’s basketball team led at halftime but a quick 9-0 Jacksboro run in the opening moments of the second half would prove the difference in a 28-25 Lady Eagle loss June 15 in a Nocona Summer League game.
Leading 12-9 at the half, Bellevue continued to shut down the inside game of the Tigerettes. Jacksboro switched tactics and began firing from outside. Three 3-pointers in the span of just under two minutes gave Jacksboro an 18-12 lead.
Bellevue kept things close, however, getting on the second half scoreboard with Mattie Broussard’s basket and free throws cutting the deficit to two, 18-16. A Haven Jones 3-pointer put the Lady Eagles up 19-18 midway through the second half.
The Tigerettes had just one 3 -pointer the rest of the way but got inside for a pair of buckets to take a 25-21 lead with 4:50 to go. Both offenses shut down late.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
Most school-age athletes start off playing everything. By the time they graduate, they whittle it down to just one or two.
New Bowie girl’s track and overall cross country coach Shawnda Childers is no exception. While at Iowa Park she competed in volleyball, cross country and track before cutting out volleyball and focusing on track and cross country to close out high school.
Childers did not stay with athletics while moving on to Midwestern State University, where she received her bachelor’s and master’s Degrees. After graduation, shestarted coaching in Electra. She came to Bowie for one year, then went back to her old stomping grounds in Iowa Park where she spent the next four years.
The return home also put her in contact with now-Bowie Coach Griffin Fields, who was a coach there at the time. From Iowa Park, she spent the next three years at City View.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
New Saint Jo Girl’s Basketball Coach Grant Gooch isn’t completely unfamiliar with the area.
“We went to Muenster quite a bit when I was a kid,” Gooch, who will be going into his 20th year as a coach, said. “We’d load up the cooler from the meat markets. It’s good to be back.”
Gooch worked with Saint Jo Athletic Director CJ Hantz when the pair were in Throckmorton. Gooch comes to town from Menard where he spent three years at the West Texas school.
Gooch says coaching and education kind of come naturally to him.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
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