SPORTS
Boys Roundup
Bowie
The Bowie Jackrabbits won their final district game on Tuesday at home against Breckenridge.
The Jackrabbits won 64-44 despite a close first half that kept fans worried.
Bowie had a reason to be nervous. The Buckaroos were coming off upsetting a Nocona team that is heading into the playoffs and also has handed the Jackrabbits a loss this season.
While Breckenridge was not postseason bound even with a win on Tuesday, it was still a solid team that Bowie knew it could not write off. The Jackrabbits could not afford to either.
A loss the previous game to Holliday meant Bowie had to win the game in order to force a play-in game for the district’s second seed, the winner being able to avoid either Peaster or Brock in the first round of the playoffs.
The Jackrabbits got out to a great start up 18-8 after the first quarter.
The Bucks then turned around and cut the lead to one 28-27 heading into halftime thanks to a balanced scoring and three 3-pointers.
The Jackrabbits defense did a better job of tightening the screws in the second half, with their pressure really wearing on the low depth of the Bucks. Bowie bounced back offensively and scored well in the third and fourth quarters to pull away.
In the end the Jackrabbits won with little drama 64-44.
Cade Thompson led Bowie with 16 points, most impressively going 9-11 from the free throw line.
Brody Armstrong joined him in double-figures scored 10 points.
The result from that game will be posted on the Bowie News social media pages as well as playoff information when released.
Nocona
The Nocona Indians ended their regular season on a great note with a blowout win against Jacksboro on Tuesday for senior night.
The Indians won 65-36 to wrap up fourth place and the final playoff spot.
Nocona was coming off of a roller coaster week, winning a dramatic game at Holliday before losing to non-playoff team Breckenridge.
The loss meant the chance to move up in the district standings was most likely over, but the team could still get a fun win at home while honoring its seniors.
The Tigers struggled all season and were sitting last in the district standings.
Nocona made sure to not take them lightly as they got out to an 18-8 lead in the first quarter. The defense continued to smother Jacksboro as the Indians lead grew to 32-14 heading into halftime.
It was the type of game where everyone on the Nocona bench got to play and contribute with the outcome all but decided.
Brady McCasland and Ryder Oswald led Nocona with 11 points each.
Nocona gets to play the winner of the district between Brock and Peaster next week in the bi-district round. Playoff information will be posted on the Bowie News social media pages.
Saint Jo
The Saint Jo Panthers lost a disappointing regular season finale against Slidell on Tuesday night.
The Greyhounds came back from a 16 point deficit in the fourth quarter to win 58-56 against a Panthers team that thought they had them this time.
Saint Jo controlled the game for the first three quarters. The team was shooting the ball well overall and led by 12 heading into the fourth quarter. The Panthers upped that lead to 16 points with six minutes left to play.
Then things started to fall apart. Slidell started to make shots it had been missing all game. The Greyhounds switched to press defense that started to give the Panthers issues. Saint Jo was also dealt a blow when senior Logan Brawner fouled out.
All of the momentum switched to Slidell as Panther free throws that could have kept the lead were missed.
Saint Jo did have a chance at the last shot to either tie the game or win. Unfortunately, a runner at the basket missed and the Panthers lost 58-56.
Kile Thurman led Saint Jo with 24 points. Collin Thomas joined him in double-figures with 10 points and Brawner grabbed 12 rebounds.
Saint Jo is scheduled to play Perrin-Whitt in the bi-district round at 8 p.m. on Feb. 22 at Bridgeport.
Prairie Valley
The Prairie Valley Bulldogs were able to win their final regular season game against Bellevue on Tuesday to earn their first playoff appearance since 1996.
The Bulldogs won 51-32 against the Eagles who were playing to hopefully force a play-in situation.
Prairie Valley won the first match up between the teams and this time around despite being on the road was not much different.
The Bulldogs jumped out to an 18-3 lead after the first quarter. Though the offense stalled a bit, Prairie Valley still held a solid 24-7 lead at halftime
The Bulldogs were able to withstand an Eagles’ fourth quarter push that saw them score 17 points since Prairie Valley’s lead was so big to that point.
The Bulldogs won 51-32.
Konner Ritchie led Prairie Valley with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Tyler Winkler also finished with a double-double scoring 13 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Isaac Yeargin finished in double-figures scoring 12 points.
The team gets Graford in the bi-district round of the playoffs, the third ranked team in the state in 1A.
The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Feb. 21 at Chico.
Saint Jo will have a new boy’s basketball coach this school year.
Jacob Nocktonick is coming to the district after spending the last two years at Bland as an assistant coach. It is his first head coaching job in basketball.
Nocktonick graduated from Princeton High School in 2015 where he played and loved basektball. He graduated in 2019 from Tarleton State University and despite playing basketball up until he graduated, he did not see coaching in his future. He worked for most of three years after college at a landscape supply company, but something was missing from his life.
“I realized after being out of it for three or four years, something was missing from my life that I really loved,” Nocktonick said. “That was playing the game I love and being around people that really love to be there.”
Nocktonick did not have much experience coaching before then, but through his experience at Bland, he knows he has found his true purpose.
“I missed that passion,” Nocktonick said. “I love it and love the kids I have been working with.”
Nocktonick is especially excited in his role in shaping young men for the future through basketball.
“At the end of the day, people aren’t going to remember me for my records,” Nocktonick said. “I get to touch lives in this role. It’s a lot different than other jobs because I have a lot of kids that look up to me. Even past players from Bland still hit me up, asking for life advice and it’s just different.”
He describes himself as the type of teacher who likes to climb up on his desk and get everyone involved more than just lecture through power point presentations. That extends to his coaching as well.
“I am extremely passionate and enthusiastic,” Nocktonick said. “I want kids to know when the time is to be serious, but know we are going to have fun, bond and become like family. I am not in this for the business. I am in this for the relationships.”
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the mid-week edition of the Bowie News.
The Bowie cheerleading team went to cheer camp on July 13-16 at Texas Women’s University.
It was a good opportunity for the team to learn new things to take into the school year, according to cheer sponsor Destanie Curry.
“They learn their job is not to just lead the crowds in cheers, but they are ambassadors of their school and community and how to fulfill that role to the best of their ability,” Curry said. “Of course, they also learn stunt safety, new stunts, new cheer material and how to incorporate all this into pep rallies, routines and games.”
It can be intense, with campers expected to eat, sleep and breathe cheerleading from morning until night, staying positive and spiritful in everything they do since councilors are always watching and looking to see who will earn extra awards.
At the end of the four days, the Lady Rabbits cheerleading team took home several team and individual awards.
The team won one spirit stick daily and one on the final day. They were awarded each night to teams who demonstrated leadership, positive attitudes, excellent class participation and who respect and encourage one another, their coaches and staff.
Bowie earned its National Federation of State High School Association’s squad credential. The group earned Stunt SAFE, which was presented to teams that displayed excellent skills in spotting and stunt technique.
The final team award was in the Game Day Championship trophy. The competition included crowd involvement with a game day chant and cheer learned at the camp.
They were judged on crowd leading effectiveness, use of props, incorporation of stunts, technique and execution of skills.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the mid-week edition of the Bowie News.
Nocona got its new press box into place this week at Jack Crane Stadium. The old press box, which was in place for more than 60 years, was taken out in early June and moved to Indian Valley Raceway. The new press box was by the Southern Bleacher Company out of Graham. Athletic Director Black Crutsinger said they looked at a lot of press boxes and decided they liked the one at Lindsay High School and went with that model. Sean Hutson operated the crane from the Hurd Crane Service that put the press box up for Nocona.
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