SPORTS
‘We Make Mission’ Bowie basketball motto explained
Many people have commented and asked what the state champion Bowie basketball team’s motto “We Make Mission” means.
That it’s not grammatically correct. It does not make sense. Where does it come from?
I briefly mentioned the origins in a previous article, but the short version is that the phrase comes from the book, “Toughness” written by Jay Bilas.
For those who do not know, Jay Bilas is a longtime college basketball analyst for ESPN and former college basketball player under legendary coach Mike Krzyzewksi at Duke. The book is mainly about how to build physical and mental toughness not just in sports, but in life.
The passage the phrase comes up is a chapter where Bilas went to Camp Arifjan as a part of Operation Hardwood, an event organized by the USO in which college coaches visited military camps to coach servicemen.
While being shown around the camp, they coaches remarked a bank of flagpoles with flags of many different solid colors. They were informed that the different colors were code for the soldier’s heat orders, which let soldiers know how exactly how long and under what conditions they were allowed to work outside in the dessert.
The most severe order allowed soldiers to work only 10 minutes every hour outside. When asked how they ever got any work done, a soldier told them matter of fact, “Our job is to ‘make mission,’ sir,” he said. “We have brothers and sisters dying in Iraq, and they don’t get fifty minutes off every hour just because it’s hot. So we don’t take fifty minutes off. We make mission.”
They decided to make it their motto since the Alamodome, where the state championship tournament is hosted every year, is named after and is near the Alamo, which itself was a mission structure. They were making it their mission to get to the mission.
To read more, pick up a copy of the weekend edition of the Bowie News.
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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