SPORTS
Lady Indians beat Bowie in five-set thriller
The Nocona Lady Indians had to battle Bowie on the Lady Rabbits senior night to stay near the top of the district standings.
It went five sets and the Lady Indians came out on top, but Bowie went another level than the first matchup almost a month ago.
A nice thing before the action started was senior night. While the Lady Rabbits honored their seniors, Jayci Logan, Lexi Kirkham and Katy Higgins, there also was time made to honor Nocona senior Jessica Dingler. She missed the Lady Indians last home game due to illness, missing her senior night.
Before the hardcore competition started, it was a nice reminder these communities can come together and look out for the other. Even in smallest gestures can mean a lot.
Nocona’s authoritative straight sets win in the first match was on everyone’s mind as the first set played out. The Lady Indians took control early and never looked back while the Lady Rabbits never got anything good going.
Nocona’s 10-5 lead grew to 21-9 with no hope of a raging comeback from Bowie. The Lady Indians won the set 25-10 to take the lead.
With such a one-sided start, would this be another straight sets win from Nocona or would the Lady Rabbits show some fight.
Bowie let it be known early in the second set that the first set was going to be an anomaly. The Lady Rabbits jumped out to an early 7-3 lead, but the Lady Indians came back to cut the lead to 8-7.
From there the middle of the set was all Bowie, going on a 9-1 run to extend the lead almost to double-digits 17-8. Nocona fought back and cut the lead to 19-16.
Looking like the Lady Indians might come back and steal the set after controlling it, the Lady Rabbits finished strong, winning the set 25-21.
With the score tied, the third set was a back-and-forth affair. An early 12-8 lead from Nocona was erased as both teams battled to a tie 20-20. Bowie got the advantage going up 23-20, but the Lady Indians came back to tie the score at 25-25. From there, Nocona won the next two points to win the set 27-25 and take back the lead.
The fourth set was similar to the third. The teams were locked at 10-10 and 15-15 as neither team could get much momentum to grab a lead.
As the set wound down, it was the Lady Rabbits who took control, going on a streak at just the right moment to win 25-22 and force a fifth and final set.
After two competitive sets that went both ways previously, the fifth set was expected to be similar. Instead, The Lady Indians got hot to start out the set, winning the first eight straight points.
Playing to 15 points instead of 25, any lead is multiplied in the fifth set since there are less points to play for in the set. Bowie shook off that start to play the rest of the set competitively, but could not make up that eight point lead. Nocona won 15-7 to win the match 3-2.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the weekend edition of the Bowie News.
Landry Norwood has agreed to become the new Head Boys Basketball Coach for Bowie High.
Norwood grew up in Paradise, playing a number of sports for the Panthers during his high school career. With a number of family members still in the area and the position coming open, Norwood applied and was hired.
“I know the tradition up here,” Norwood said. “I was glad (Athletic Director and Head Football) Coach Tyler Price felt he could put his trust in me.”
Bowie’s varsity went 2-10 last year, both wins coming against Vernon. Norwood spent five years as an assistant in Lipan before spending the next four years at Llano, three years as head coach. He said his last two years in Llano were rough after graduation of nine seniors his first year and a 26-7 squad.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News
Nocona came into game two of its Class 2A Division I bi-district series with Archer City looking to rebound from a 17-0 loss in game one.
The Lady Indians took a quick lead but the Lady ‘Cats had too much in the tank and knocked Nocona out of the playoffs courtesy of a 13-3, five-inning victory winning the best of three series, 2-0.
Kylea Wallace reached base on a second baseman’s error. With one out, M’leigha Franklin took a pitch over the wall in left field for a home run, igniting the Lady Indian crowd with a 2-0 lead.
Archer City prevented further damage by retiring the next two hitters. The Lady ‘Cats struck in the bottom of the inning for seven runs.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
Culture. It’s a beautiful word.
Bowie Softball Coach Griffin Fields has been trying to install a positive, winning culture since taking over the job. For the first time since 2019, the Lady Rabbits qualified for the postseason, facing District 8 top seed Early in the bi-district round.
After beating the Lady ‘Horns 9-8 in game one of the best-of-three series April 23, Early came back and evened the series less than 24 hours later, 15-0. The Lady Rabbits used the aforementioned culture and got out to a quick lead in game three.
Bowie was then forced to come from behind for the second straight night. Kinley Baker, who had the game winning RBI in game one, came through again in game three and broke a 6-all tie with a single to lift the Lady Rabbits to a 9-6 victory in the finale.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
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