SPORTS
Nocona falls just short at Lindsay
It was a hard fought away game that went back and forth Tuesday night, but the Nocona Lady Indians just could not get the win at Lindsay.
The Lady Indians lost a close fifth set in a match where either team could have won in the end.
The first set did not go the way Nocona wanted. Facing a Lindsay team that was tall in the middle, the Lady Indians knew they would have to deal with some blocks in the middle and look to attack elsewhere. Still, Nocona was blindsided in the first set.
Falling behind 12-8, the Lady Indians got into a vicious serve receive cycle where nothing was going right. The lead quickly grew to 20-10 and Lindsay was able to finish things off with little resistance to win the first set 25-10.
The good thing was Nocona could only play better and they responded as such. After a back and forth opening to the set, the Lady Indians held a slight 13-12 lead. They were able to grow that to 19-16 lead before finishing the set on a 6-0 run to win the set 25-16 and tie the match up.
Things did not get off to a good start for Nocona in the third set as they fell behind 9-6 and it only got worse from there. Lindsay built a 17-8 lead and looked poised to take the set and the lead in another one sided set.
Ella Nunneley stepped up for the Lady Indians. Utilizing her jump serve and good placement, Nunneley’s serve was the catalyst behind Nocona’s comeback. Her serve caused Lindsay players trouble, leading to some free points or free ball the Lady Indians was able to jump upon and score.
Nocona scored 10 straight points and took an 18-17 lead. After coming to an end, Lindsay was able to regain the lead down the stretch and held a close 23-22 lead. Fortunately, the Lady Indians were able to clinch next three points to pull off the set comeback to win 25-23 and take a 2-1 match lead.
Needing to win the next set to win the match, Nocona was coming off a wave of momentum. With the completed comeback, people in the stands were confident. The Lady Knights needed to get off to a strong start to make sure the match would continue. Lindsay responded in kind, taking an early 11-9lead and growing it to a 17-13 lead. The Lady Indians were able to catch all the way back up, but still trailed 23-22. On set point, a controversial double hit call did not go Nocona’s way as Lindsay won 25-22 to force a fifth and final set.
With the fifth set changed to the first team to score 15 instead of 25 points, every little lead is magnified. The Lady Indians were up 6-4 early, but the Lady Knights switched things around and held a 13-11 lead. Nunneley was up to serve and the fans were hoping she could pull off some of that magic she had in set three. After Nocona scored a point to cut the lead to one, things really did look good for the Lady Indians.
Unfortunately, Lindsay broke the serve to go back up by two points and more importantly was on match point. At some point during the point, the ball went into the net for Nocona and the setters could not dig the ball out of the net as the ball fell to the floor as the Lady Knights won the set 15-12.
To read the rest of the story, 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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