SPORTS
Bowie wins final home game
Bowie got to send the home crowd at Jackrabbit stadium away happy the final time this season with its win against Ponder.
The Jackrabbits held on to win 28-21 as the Lions made a late push to tie the score in the final seconds of the game.
Bowie overcame its second half woes, shutting out Ponder in the second half and taking the lead in the fourth quarter.
The Lions proved to be a tough team early in the game. They ran the wishbone offense that leaned heavily on the run and was unlike anything the Jackrabbits had played against.
Requiring every defender to cover their assignments, big plays can happen if one defender is out of position. Early on, Bowie was making those mistakes.
Ponder scored on its first possession as Terrance Clark scored on a 30-yard run up the middle to take a 6-0 lead. The Jackrabbits immediately answered back as running back Ty Harris scored on a 65-yard run. The extra point from Alan Miranda put Bowie up 7-6.
The two teams defenses got a hold of themselves after allowing the big plays, exchanging turnover on downs at around mid-field.
The Lions then scored on another big run from Clark, this one from 37 yards away. Ponder converted a two-point conversion to go up 14-7 as the game headed to the second quarter.
After the Jackrabbits punted the ball back to the Lions, Clark again scored on a big run from 57 yards away. Bowie’s defense just seemed a step behind the offense with all of the different options on each play.
Down 21-7 and with both the offense and defense struggling for consistency, it looked like it was the start of a long night for the Jackrabbits.
Bowie’s offense responded with its most effective drive of the game. Outside of Harris’ one big run, the Jackrabbits had not done much up to that point.
At Ponder’s 21-yard line, quarterback Colby Miller threw a pass up to receiver Ryder Richey, who was one-on-one on the outside. Richey went up and caught the pass and scored on the play, cutting the lead to 21-13.
The Lions were threatening to score once more before halftime. With time running down and timeouts limited, the run heavy offense tried to connect on some deep passes.
Thinking its taller receiver could make a play on Jackrabbits cornerback Camden Starnes, Starnes made Ponder pay as he intercepted a pass in the end zone on the final play of the first half, keeping the game within one score for Bowie.
This was familiar territory for the Jackrabbits. In three of their recent losses Bowie had trailed by only one or two scores heading into halftime only to lose by much more after a lackluster second half.
At this point in the season it seems both players and coaches are at a loss for the exact cause of this trend, but the Jackrabbits looked to reverse it on Friday.
Bowie took the opening drive down the field and Miller scored on 24-yard run. Harris converted the two-point conversion and just like that the Jackrabbits had tied the score 21-21 early in the third quarter.
The teams defenses kept the other from doing much with the ball. Bowie’s defense tightened its hold on Ponder’s wishbone. The big running plays from the first half were nowhere to be seen for the Lions as the Jackrabbits seemed to have made the proper adjustments to the attack.
While Bowie’s offense had trouble scoring with its passing attack being conservative, one thing that worked was handing the ball to Harris. The senior seemed to consistently make positive things happen with the ball in his hands.
Still, he wasn’t enough to overcome some untimely negative plays to keep scoring drives going.
The Jackrabbit defense created an opportunity for the offense late in the third quarter. Ponder went for a fourth down on its own 31 yard line and was stopped.
The Jackrabbits took advantage as Harris punched the ball in from four yards out to give Bowie its first lead 28-21 since the first quarter.
With almost nine minutes still to play, there was still plenty of time for the Lions to respond. With both teams mostly moving the ball through running the ball though, that time would go by fast.
After the defense got the ball back, the Jackrabbits’ offense looked to take as much time off the clock as they could. A score would potentially put the game out of reach. Early in the drive, Bowie had a big decision.
The Jackrabbits faced a fourth down and only had to pick up one yard. The problem was it was on their own 30-yard line. A turnover on downs would give the ball to Ponder with a short field and big momentum burst.
With Harris and the running game humming, it seemed likely Bowie would pick it up, but Coach Cory Mandrell still spent a time out to think about it. He went for it and the Jackrabbits converted.
Bowie made the Lions use all of their time outs as the clock wound to less than two minutes. The Jackrabbits’ offense stalled at Ponder’s 34-yard line, unable to convert another fourth down.
Needing to drive 66 yards with no time outs and 1:42 left in the game, against an offense that is designed to run the ball and had found little success in the second half, it looked like Bowie’s defense would seal the game.
The Lions’ offense found some life with their backs up against the wall. Some big plays started to spring including the first two pass completions of the night.
One was for 24 yards that went right through the hands of a Jackrabbit defender and moved the ball to Bowie’s five-yard line with 11 seconds left after a spike.
Unfortunately for Ponder, there was an unsportsman like penalty on called on them after the spike the moved the ball back to the Jackrabbits 20-yard line.
Still after several improbable plays had moved the Lions down the field, there was still a feeling Ponder could pull off some magic.
That was put to bed as linebacker Jre Donnell came around unblocked from the blindside and sacked the Lions’ quarterback to end the game. Bowie hung on to win 28-21.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the mid-week edition of the Bowie News.
The Nocona Indians were able to beat Saint Jo at home on Thursday night in a tight contest.
The Indians won 55-48 against the Panthers in a game where both teams played hard, but made plenty of early season mistakes.
Nocona came into the game following a low-scoring win against Bells earlier in the week 35-30. For a young Indians team that only has a few players with varsity experience this year, every early season win builds confidence.
For Saint Jo, the Panthers were still without several returning starters since football is still going on. Despite that, new Coach Jacob Nocktonick is trying to build what he can with his group of basketball first players that include several key players even when the football team is integrated.
Despite Saint Jo being the smaller school, overall it had the height advantage in the front line since Nocona features only one player, Kasch Johnson, who is built like a post player. That is nothing new for the Indians, who featured a short team the previous year as Coach Brody Wilson emphasizes full-court pressure on defense and pushing the ball in transition in his system that makes up for a lack of height and size.
Initially Nocona’s pace and energy, grabbing several offensive rebounds, got it the lead 9-3. Eventually, the Panthers adjusted and trailed only 12-11 after the first quarter.
Saint Jo got the lead early in the second quarter. Post Trent Gaston took advantage of his size advantage, especially when the Indians had Johnson out, and led 17-12. Both teams had trouble scoring in a rough second quarter as open perimeter shots just were not going in and shots at the rim were tough to convert.
The Panthers led 23-20 heading into halftime.
Both teams had better offensive success pushing the ball when it could in the second half.
Saint Jo broke Nocona’s press and punished the Indians with quick baskets. Nocona ran whenever it could and seemed to put up an array of perimeter shots and drives, getting offensive rebounds it seemed at will to keep the pressure up and infuriate the Panthers coach.
The Indians got a big push from Landon Fatheree in the second half. After scoring eight points in the first half to lead the team, he scored 10 of his team’s 14 points in the third quarter.
Nocona got the lead back, but only led 34-33 heading into the final period.
The Indians had a comfortable lead up 44-36 when Saint Jo’s Gaston fouled out with 4:56 left in the game. Still, the Panthers did not give up and a minute later had whittled Nocona’s lead down to one basket 44-41 with 3:45.
The game stayed a one-possession game for the next two minutes as Saint Jo had several chances to tie or take the lead not go through.
Nocona made its free throws down the stretch to win with a little more comfort, with the final score being 55-48.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the weekend edition of the Bowie News. To see more pictures, click here https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=bnews1&AID=6870682&T=1
Nocona senior Meg Meekins signed her official letter of intent to play college basketball at Lubbock Christian University on Wednesday. Meekins, the daughter of Brandi and Lance, is a four-year starter on the volleyball and basketball court. She has earned several accolades like being named to the All State Teams for TGCA, TABC, Associated Press and was selected to the All Tournament Team at the UIL State Basketball Tournament in San Antonio last year.“The coaching staff and the community of the LCU program and just knowing you have a staff that coaches you, but also looks over you just like Coach (Kyle) Spitzer did here was a huge part in the recruiting process,” Meekins said. She plans to pursue a degree in either physical or occupational therapy.
For more pictures, click here https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=bnews1&AID=6870680&T=1
The Bowie Lady Rabbits got more than they bargained for when they traveled to Bellevue on Tuesday night.
The Lady Rabbits escaped with the win 44-40, taking the lead with less than a minute to go after trailing whole game.
Bowie came into the game confident. The larger 3A school was supposed to play Windthorst, but had to reschedule because the Lady Trojans volleyball team was playing in the state tournament.
Finding a last minute replacement, the Lady Rabbits thought they would have an easy game playing the 1A program down the road. Little did they know.
Bellevue had a couple of players out with injury to limit its depth a bit and a new coach in Celsey Hoffman, but the Lady Eagles were coming off of nearly beating a Nocona team the previous week. While the Lady Indians were missing four starters who were still in volleyball, it still showed this was not a 1A team to take lightly.
Bellevue came out fast showing tough defensive pressure despite giving up size at nearly every position. Within a few minutes the Lady Eagles had used that pressure to force turnovers and convert those steals into transition opportunities.
Also, the energy showed in other areas as Bellevue seemed to grab every loose ball and fought for offensive rebounds despite lacking in height compared to Bowie.
After a little more than four minutes into the game the Lady Eagles led 15-0. The Lady Rabbits had barely been able to set up their offense or attempt a shot against the pressure.
Bowie Coach Matthew Miller had to reset his shell-shocked team during multiple timeouts. The young ballhandlers was reminded how the team was going to break the press defense so it could set up its offense.
Bellevue led 19-4 after the first quarter, led by Mary Grace Broussard and Brittany Gill who each scored six points.
The Lady Rabbits settled down and made some good progress in the second quarter. Their defense switched between man-to-man and 1-3-1 to keep the Lady Eagles off balance. With them taking care of the ball better, there were less chances for Bellevue in transition and the Lady Eagles offense struggled to consistently find ways to score against Bowie’s length.
The Lady Rabbits offense found some success as well. Five different players made at least one basket and the team made two 3-pointers.
While the game was physical from the start, now that Bowie knew what type of game it was in the team responded back. It was not pretty and only enough fouls were called to make the game watchable, but individual foul trouble affected Bellevue harder than the Lady Rabbits in the second quarter.
The Lady Eagles still led heading into halftime, but Bowie had gotten it down to single digits trailing 25-19.
The third quarter was more even between the two teams as both had trouble consistently scoring baskets. Bellevue made three baskets and a couple of free throws to keep ahead.
The Lady Rabbits got a big lift from Lanie Moore, who knocked in all three of her 3-pointers in the quarter, scoring nine of the team’s 12 points.
Bowie still trailed, but had cut the lead down to one point earlier in the quarter and one basket 34-31 heading into the fourth quarter.
Bellevue grew the lead to 38-32 early in the final period. The Lady Rabbits struggled to get anything going offensively and trailed 40-34 midway through the quarter.
Bowie’s Kendall Fallis made a 3-pointer in transition to cut the lead to one basket 40-37.
The score stayed there for the next several minutes even as the Lady Eagles had two starters, Karis Denson and Mattie Broussard, foul out of the game.
With a little more than a minute left, the Lady Rabbits drew up and out of bounds play that got Laney Segura an open shot in the corner. Despite not having made a basket all game, she sunk the 3-pointer to tie the game at 40-40 with a minute still to play.
Bowie had been in a pressure defense for the second half of the fourth quarter to prevent Bellevue from passively running clock. Still in the defense, the team next stole the in-bounds pass and Railey Martin made the undefended layup to give the Lady Rabbits their first lead of the game 42-40 with 48 seconds left.
The Lady Eagles could not tie the score on their next offensive possession. Bowie would made two more free throws to make the final 44-40.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the weekend edition of the Bowie News. For more pictures from the game, click here https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=bnews1&AID=6870678&T=1
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