SPORTS
Nocona basketball teams win at Holliday
Both of Nocona’s basketball teams picked up huge district wins at Holliday on Friday night.
The Lady Indians won a close game 55-51 to stay undefeated heading into the final week of the first round. The Indians kicked-off district play by beating last year’s district champs in a low scoring, closely contested game pulling out the win 35-33.
The Nocona boy’s team came in as underdogs. The Eagles were the defending district champions. Even though the team graduated many of its starters, Holliday still returned the district’s most valuable player Tucker Strealy.
The first half saw the Indians’ offense struggle, scoring six and seven points in the first two quarters. Holliday’s lead was in the double-digits 24-13 at halftime.
Nocona made some adjustments and had a great third quarter to close the gap. Carter Horn, who drew the assignment of guarding Strealy, scored 11 of his teams 13 points in the quarter to close the Eagles lead to 29-26 heading into the final quarter.
From there it was anyone’s game as every point took tremendous effort and a little bit of luck. The Indians were up 35-33 in the final seconds.
Holliday had the ball with the chance to either tie or take the lead. Nocona poked the ball loose and after a wild scramble took possession of the ball in the final seconds to close the game.
The Lady Indians knew the Lady Eagles would be tough. Holliday is a perennial playoff team from the district that makes teams pay who underestimate them.
“We knew going in that Holliday was going to shoot well in their gym, and they did just that,” Coach Kyle Spitzer said. “They were 50 percent from the field with six 3-pointers in the first half. So we were very lucky to only be down 32-28 at halftime.”
After some adjustments, Nocona’s defense played much better. The Lady Indians were able to gain the lead 44-41 heading into the fourth quarter.
The final quarter was low scoring and back and forth. Nocona put the ball in the hands of its ball handlers and matched everything the Lady Eagles through at them.
Leading scorer Averee Kleinhans scored nine of the teams 11 points in the fourth as the Lady Indians held on to win 55-51.
Both teams will host tough Childress teams earlier in the week before traveling to county rival Bowie to play on Jan. 24. The Lady Indians are scheduled to play at 6 p.m. on while the boy’s game will start when that game ends.
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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