SPORTS
Prairie Valley girls beat Gold-Burg in play-in
In a rematch from a few days before, the Prairie Valley Lady Bulldogs won the play-in game against Gold-Burg on Friday night in Saint Jo to earn their first playoff appearance since 2013.
The Lady Bulldogs held on to win another close game 41-38 just three days removed from winning a close game against the same Gold-Burg team.
Both teams were ready for the other coming into Friday’s game. Prairie Valley had won only 43-42 earlier in the week, but it could have easily been won by the Lady Bears with a couple of shots and free throws bouncing their way in a crazy final three minutes.
The Lady Bulldogs knew they had to defend Gold-Burg’s senior Kelly Contreras well and not give up any open 3-pointers against their 1-3-1 zone.
The Lady Bears knew they had to rebound well and focus their efforts on limiting Prairie Valley’s leading scorers Carmen Gomez and Emily Carpenter.
The first quarter saw Gold-Burg go to freshman post player Sadie Weaver early and often to use her height to get off tough shots near the basket and draw fouls.
The Lady Bulldogs were led by not just Gomez by her little sister Makaylee. The two combined to score all of Prairie Valley’s 11 points in the first quarter as they led 11-10.
The Lady Bulldogs lead grows a little bit with some scoring contributions from Carpenter and Karagan Ritchie, leading 20-12 at the most midway through the quarter.
The Lady Bears changed their defense from a zone to a switching man-to-man defense that stifled Prairie Valley for all but one more basket the rest of the way.
Gold-Burg was still trying to get close shots around the rim and were drawing more free throw attempts, but did not make as many as it could.
The defense allowed the Lady Bears to cut the lead to 22-17 at halftime, but better shooting (5-11) from the free throw line could have had them in the lead.
The third quarter saw Gold-Burg slowly come back to tie the score up by the end. Even with the team switching back to the 2-3 zone for most of the quarter, Prairie Valley’s offense seemed out of sync with too many turnovers.
The score was tied 30-30 heading into the fourth quarter. With the amount of free throws Gold-Burg was earning, foul trouble for the Lady Bulldogs in the post had been trouble all game.
Two minutes into the final period, Prairie Valley senior Jaylie O’Neal fouled out.
Having to defend the taller Weaver now fell to Briana Harris, who matched better with her height, but was less experienced despite being older.
The teams had trouble scoring field goals for most of the quarter, but fouls on both sides meant players were heading to the free throw line for crucial free throws down the stretch.
Makaylee gave the Lady Bulldogs 35-34 lead with 2:14 to play. Gold-Burg’s Contreras tied the game 30 seconds later by making one free throw.
The Lady Bears then was gifted a turnover and had a chance to break the 35-35 tie with 1:34 left with free throws, but missed.
On the other end, the Lady Bulldogs Carpenter earned herself free throw attempts and made one to give them a 36-35 lead with 1:17 left to play
After a jump ball got Prairie Valley the ball back a few seconds later, the Lady Bulldogs broke through Gold-Burg’s full-court press defense with Harris scoring on an uncontested layup to make the score 38-35.
The Lady Bears were able to respond quickly as Madison Fulmer made a shot to cut the lead to 38-37 with 50 seconds left to play.
Gold-Burg elected not to foul but pressure Prairie Valley in the hope to force a steal. After running some clock, the team was able to get a clear layup for Harris following several good passes to make the score 40-37 with 18 seconds left.
The Lady Bears ran down the court and knew they needed to hunt a 3-point shot that had been absent for them all game. With three seconds left a desperate 3-point attempt was hoisted up despite heavy pressure.
This drew three free throws with three seconds left that would were likely the game with that little time left.
Unfortunately for Gold-Burg, the first two missed and the last went in to cut the lead to 40-38.
A desperate foul on Prairie Valley’s Carmen forced free throws with less than a second left that just added to the Lady Bulldogs total as they won 41-38.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the mid-week edition of the Bowie News.
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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