By ERIC VICCARO
sports@bowienewsonline.com

Defense helped the Bowie High School boys’ basketball team shine up another District 3A-9 championship gold ball on Tuesday.
The Jackrabbits held Henrietta to three first-quarter points; and just 10 in the opening half of play, as Bowie knocked off the Bearcats 57-43 for the 3A-9 title.
“I think our strength was controlling the tempo,” Bowie head boys’ basketball coach Doug Boxell said, “and we played good defense for the most part of the game.”
Victory was made all the sweeter since victory occurred on Henrietta’s home court.
“They did what we expected them to do,” Henrietta coach Josh Tiller said. “We just didn’t handle it well. They do a good job with their pressure.”
Boxell said one of the ways to beat Henrietta is to crowd the lane, and prevent Cody Fletcher and Riley Watson from scoring too much.
“We made it tough for them,” Boxell said.
Bowie’s defense forced Henrietta (20-4 record) into several errant passes in the opening half, and in the end, the Jackrabbits copped their third straight district championship – all under Boxell’s watch. Read more, and see the complete box score, in the Feb. 20 Bowie News.

Bowie’s Kaden Ogle watches and follows through on his shot during Tuesday’s District 3A-9 championship game at Henrietta. The Jackrabbits topped the Bearcats, 57-43. (News photo by Eric Viccaro)