SPORTS
Looking back: 1944 Nocona boy’s basketball state title
During the next few weeks The Bowie News will be looking back at sports teams that accomplished big things for their communities.
The next team we are looking at is Nocona High School’s 1943-44 boy’s basketball team that would win the program’s and county’s first state title.
The text is from a March 1944 edition of The Nocona News.
If you have any memories of this team or time in Nocona’s history, we would love to hear from you.
The Nocona Indians completed their basketball season in a blaze of glory, by winning the Class A State Championship for the first time in the history of the school.
In three hard games, the Indians won the title and surprised everyone except the Indians themselves. Neither of the three champions–Sunset, Class AA, Nocona, Class A or Prairie Lea, Class B–were picked as championship teams before the tournament. The first game was a thriller between Nocona and Huntsville. Huntsville took an early but slight lead, and the Indians came back with the able assistance of Teague and Eastup, to catch the Hunsville five and beat them, 28-23.
The following morning, the Indians met the Dimmitt five who had previously beaten Beavides, 38-23. After a slow first half, which left the Indians with a two-point lead, the Redskins, or rather Milas Downey, pulled away from Dimmitt and beat them, 43-23. This set a temporary record for the tournament that was later beaten by Goose Creek. Milas, however, set a tournament record and a probable all-time record by making 25 points in the Dimmitt game.
The championship game with Mount Vernon was a thriller that few Nocona people will forget.
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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