SPORTS
HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL: Blackburn returns to coaching
By ERIC VICCARO
sports@bowienewsonline.com
Former Bellevue High School athlete Jeff Blackburn had the itch to get back into coaching.
Blackburn was recently named new head girls’ basketball coach at May, a District 1A-15 school which features the likes of strong Eula, plus Baird, Santa Anna, Rising Star, Valera Panther Creek and Cross Plains.
Coincidentally, Blackburn lives in Cross Plains and served in the same capacity there for four years before taking the past two seasons off.
“My wife, Sheila, talked me into it,” Blackburn said. “I missed the kids, and I missed the coaching and teaching part.”
Blackburn was a three-sport athlete at Bellevue in the late-1960s and early-1970s, a forward on the Eagles’ basketball team.
He graduated with a degree in physical education from Midwestern State University in 1976.
Right out of college, Blackburn made a decision that ultimately impacted the remainder of his career – he chose to coach girls’ basketball at Paradise, now a district rival with Bowie.
“I happened to become a girls’ coach by chance,” Blackburn said. “I joined the Texas Girls Coaches Association. I was No. 46. I think coaching girls was where I was supposed to be.”
Jeff Blackburn is shown here with his wife Sheila Payne Blackburn. Jeff Blackburn, after a two-year hiatus, was named head coach at May during a recent school board meeting. (Submitted photo, used with permission)
Bowie, playing on a short rest, held with host Jacksboro for most of the volleyball match Oct. 1, but the Tigerettes pulled away late and defeated the Lady Rabbits 3-1 (26-24, 12-25, 25-14, 22-25).
The match was scheduled for Oct. 2 but was moved. Both teams are now 2-2 in District 6-3A.
Jacksboro got out to a quick lead in game one before Olivia Stewart’s kill and a three-point Olivia Richey serving run put the visitors up 8-7. Junior Abby Reneau broke things open with a six-point string to give Bowie a 15-8 cushion and force Jacksboro into a timeout.
The Tigerettes came back and took an 18-16 lead. KP Rutherford’s kill broke the serve and allowed Molly Enlow to tie the game at 18.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
Gold-Burg Football Coach Austin Norman called his Bears’ 35-32 loss to host Perrin a “barn burner”.
It most definitely was as Gold-Burg, now 1-5 for the year gave the 5-1 Pirates everything they wanted for four quarters. Gold-Burg scored on the last play of the first half on a Peyton Epperson run with the two point conversion cutting the deficit to 20-16.
The Bears were their own worst enemy to open the third quarter with face mask and offside penalties moving the Pirates downfield setting up a first-and-goal at the Bear three. Defense by Epperson, Keelyn Case and Barrett Allen and a pair of Perrin penalties helped stop the drive and force a turnover on downs.
Gold-Burg was slapped with an intentional grounding penalty on the first play, giving Perrin a safety and extending the Pirate lead to 22-16. Defense by Epperson and JoJuan Grace after a first down run closed out the third quarter.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
Nocona and Prairie Valley cross country teams took part in the Prairie Valley Invitational Sept. 20 while Bowie varsity runners competed in the Lubbock Invitational.
Lubbock
Leading the Rabbits was Kellen Rater who finished 10th among 162 runners with a time of 17:24.50. Finishing behind Rater was Shawn Willett with a time of 19:33.20. Hayden Sutton ran a 20:27.10 followed by Taven Melton in 20:39.20, Coleman Holloway in 20:53.80 and Jaxon Castro with a time of 21:31.60.
Laney Segura led the Lady Rabbits with a time of 14:41.30. She was followed by Kylee Waldrep in 15:56.80, Bella Lozano in 16:04.80, Angeles Alvarez with a time of 16:15.40, AnDee Miller in 16:23.70 and Isabella Caswell in 16:51 flat.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
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