SPORTS
Lady Indians win first two games
The Nocona Lady Indians kicked off their season with two wins last week.
The Lady Indians picked up one-sided wins against Springtown, 64-45, and against Vernon in their home opener 78-55.
Besides a little bit of a slow start against the Lady Porcupines, neither game saw Nocona trail or sweat too much.
Returning all-state player and last years’ area’s leading scorer Averee Kleinhans is back for her junior campaign and led the Lady Indians in both games with 16 and 25 points. Her cousin and senior point guard Trystin Fenoglio also put up double figures in both games with 14 and 13 points, but this year Coach Kyle Spitzer hopes is more than just a retread of last year’s success.
Gone are tough defenders Brooke O’Neal and Rachel Patrick. Last year starting post player Laramie Hayes is out for the season with an injury she suffered during volleyball. Valuable bench player and potential starter Chloe Daughtry hopes to be ready to play sooner rather than later, but will not be rushed back.
While last year’s team accomplished a lot of things a Nocona team had not done in awhile with a district title and run in the playoffs that ended in the regional quarterfinals, Spitzer wants this year’s team to be judged for this season.
“We had a lot of things go our way last year,” Spitzer said. “We won a lot of close games and had some balls bounce our way at the end of games. Some people may say if we don’t win as many games as we did last year that we are not as good, but I want this year’s team to be measured by what they do and not what last year’s team did.”
Last year’s district race was tight with Childress and the Lady Indians splitting their games. A Kleinhans buzzer-beater at home gave Nocona its win last year and the Lady Tigers return big post presence Grace Foster.
Within Montague County, an experienced Bowie team returns the majority of last year’s players that took everything the Lady Indians could throw at them to win both games.
A coaching change and revenge on the mind could be the difference for that team looking to take the crown from its rivals.
Holliday is always a program to respect and is never an easy out in any sport. They were the odd playoff team out and will be trying to make noise in a tough district.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the mid-week 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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