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)
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.
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