SPORTS
Lady Indians wins program’s first playoff game in eight years, 74-36
Even though things are supposed to be hard in the playoffs, the Nocona Lady Indians made it look easy as they took down Breckenridge on Monday in Mineral Wells in their opening bi-district game.
There was not much suspense after the opening minutes of the first quarter as the Lady Indians ran all over the Lady Bucks 74-36.
Those opening minutes saw Breckenridge establish what they were going to try and do. They wanted to drive the ball and into the paint and then pass the ball to an open shooter on the perimeter. Like most teams, they looked to double Nocona’s leading scorer Averee Kleinhans and deny her the ball on defense.
An early 5-2 lead from the Lady Bucks was all the good Breckenridge had before the Lady Indians got rolling.
Pushing the ball off of rebounds and turnovers, Nocona was able to create early scoring opportunities that built momentum. With the Lady Indians sinking a few three-pointers and finishing fast breaks, the scoring pace completely got the Lady Bucks out of their comfort zone and the turnovers just increased.
Nocona finished the first quarter on a 15-0 run as they led 17-5 heading into the second quarter. From there things never slowed down.
With Kleinhans scoring 13 points in the first quarter, Breckenridge tried to deny her the ball on out of bounds plays and pressing her with two defenders.
This did not seem to affect her at all as she was able to use her size to catch the ball over her defenders and dribble circles around them, creating a five-on-three scenario that was primed to get a good look.
With the offense in full swing and the score getting out of hand, the Lady Indians did not hold back as the second half saw them put up 24 points. Speared on by Kleinhans, who had 30 points at halftime, Nocona led 41-15.
The second half saw the Lady Indians continue to score at will. With the win in hand Coach Kyle Spitzer started to split Kleinhans and Trystin Fenoglio’s time on the court together so each could lead the offense as the press defense did not work on Fenoglio either.
Even with the margin getting bigger and bigger, the energy never fully went out of Nocona. Untill the very end, they were diving on the floor for loose balls and giving effort on defense.
In a game with little competitive merit it is easy for these things to lose importance to the players on either side, but both teams fought hard until the end. The Lady Indians won 74-36.
To read the full 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.
-
NEWS3 years agoSuspect indicted, jailed in Tia Hutson murder
-
NEWS4 years ago2 hurt, 1 jailed after shooting incident north of Nocona
-
NEWS3 years agoSO investigating possible murder/suicide
-
NEWS4 years agoWreck takes the life of BHS teen, 16
-
NEWS3 years agoMurder unsolved – 1 year later Tia Hutson’s family angry, frustrated with no arrest
-
Show us something good9 years agoCountry music star children perform in Bowie
-
100th Birthday4 years agoLooking back at the 1958 Centennial edition of The Bowie News
-
NEWS3 years ago
Sheriff’s office called out to infant’s death