SPORTS
Bowie made it official this week, hiring the district’s new boy’s basketball coach Andy Atkins.
Atkins has spent time as an assistant coach at huge 5A-6A programs in the metroplex like Keller, Flower Mound, Lewisville and most recently Marcus since 2004. Besides the boy’s basketball coach, Atkins also will be the boy’s cross country coach.
Athletic director Cory Mandrell said Atkins had everything he was looking for in a coach.
“He has 15 years of experience and is a great program guy,” Mandrell said. “He really gets what it takes to be a part of a great program so that all sports can be successful.”
Atkins was looking for a place to call home for him and his four sons, three of them who he raises with his wife Ashley. He thinks he found it at Bowie.
“When I walked in and was greeted by Cory and Mr. Enlow I just felt like it was a great family atmosphere,” Atkins said. “I think it will be good for my boys being at a smaller school so they will have a chance to do a lot of different things.”
His first experience seeing the Bowie community also impressed him. In the wake of the F1 tornado that damaged several parts of the town, Atkins was pleased to see how the community rallied together to help cleanup.
Beyond that, Bowie’s great basketball tradition is one that attracts many coaches to the program. With six state titles, with the most recent one coming in 2018, Atkins is excited to try and build the program up to that point again after a disappointing season where the team missed the playoffs.
He will have his work cut out for him. The Jackrabbits return only one starter and will have only one returning varsity player who will be a senior.
“Whenever you have an inexperienced team, you have to keep things simple,” Atkins said. “We will have to slowly build them up so they can gain that confidence. Success may not happen right away, but if we stay the course good things will happen.”
Despite several years of experience, this will be Atkins first varsity basketball head coaching job. After working under so many head coaches, Atkins has seen many different styles and approaches to the job. The best thing he has learned is being true to ones self.
“I bring a lot of energy and enthusiasm,” Atkins said. “I tend to try and look at the positives in situations so I can try and build athletes up to succeed.”
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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