SPORTS
New team, same expectations
The Bowie boy’s basketball team has a lot to answer this season if it wants to continue to be thought of as one of the areas’ best teams.
With all of the big-time contributors gone from the program’s state title team from two years ago and returning only four players, all seniors, from last year’s team, the Jackrabbit program will be put to the test this season.
“We try to make as minimal changes as possible to what we do because it has worked for so long,” Coach Jonathon Horton said. “The personnel changes, the system really doesn’t, but our personnel is a little different.”
The biggest departure, both literally and figuratively, is center Daniel Mosley, the team’s leading scorer, rebounder and shot blocker for the last several years who will be playing for Midwestern State University this season.
With him and some other departures, the length and bulk the team has had the past couple of years that was a strength, will instead be something the team will have to make up for in different ways.
Returning seniors include versatile wing and returning leading scorer Braden Armstrong, shooter Riley Harris, hustle and energy player Trevor Vann and tall post Boo Oakley.
All four contributed heavily to last year’s team that made it to the area game before losing to Jim Ned.
With no Mosley or dominant scoring presence in the post, the usual inside-out approach the offense and defense had the last several years will instead be geared towards perimeter play.
“Our goal is to make perimeter defense one of our advantages,” Horton said. “One of our weaknesses will be interior defense and rebounding because of our size, so we are making an emphasis on everything we do towards toughness on the interior.”
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.
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