SPORTS
Jackrabbits beat Wall in regional quarterfinal series
The Bowie Jackrabbits won their regional quarterfinals series against Wall on Saturday after three games.
After winning game one on Thursday 9-5, the Eagles came back to win game two 6-3 before the Jackrabbits run-ruled them in game three 12-0 in six innings.
Wall came into the series as favorites, ranked 10th in the state in 3A despite the team being made up of mostly underclassmen. Bowie showed that type of acclaim would not matter in the first game, leading for most of it before retaking the lead in extra innings to win. After taking Friday off, the teams got together again to play game two on Saturday.
The Jackrabbits hoped they could close the series out with a win and not have it come down to a winner-take-all game three. Kawlyer Swearingin got the start on the mound. Despite giving up a walk and later a balk to move the runner into scoring position, no runs were scored from the Eagles in the first inning.
Bowie put a bit more pressure, with Carson Sanders and Kynan DeMoss drawing two walks. Later Devin Melton hit a groundball to the shortstop that induced an error that allowed one run to score and put the Jackrabbits up 1-0.
Wall got that run back in the second inning. A one out double and a passed ball put a runner on third base with one out. A groundout allowed the runner to score and tie the game at 1-1.
Bowie retook in the lead in the same inning. Logan Hutson got on base with one out thanks to an error at first base. Brody Armstrong followed with a single to left field. An error followed with the fielder trying to scoop the ball up off the ground that allowed runner A.J. Whatley to score after initially stopping at third base. The Jackrabbits led 2-1.
Wall would not go away though. A single and two walks loaded the bases up with one out in the third inning. The next batter hit into a fielder’s choice and was out at first, but it allowed one run to score.
A base hit into right field allowed another run to score for the Eagles. A blooper that just squeezed out of a diving Bowie fielder’s glove allowed an additional run to score, putting Wall up 4-2.
The Jackrabbits looked poised to respond as DeMoss led off with a single and Colton Richey and Swearingin drew walks with two outs to load the bases up. Unfortunately, the next batter popped up to the pitcher for out three.
Bowie responded with its first 1-2-3 inning of the game, with Swearingin striking out two of the three batters he faced. The Jackrabbits again had a chance to score with Armstrong leading off with a single and Sanders later drawing a walk with one out. Unfortunately, the next two batters hit harmless fly balls for outs.
In the fifth inning Wall added to its lead. After a leadoff single, a bunt induced an error to put runners at the corners with no outs. Following a groundout, the next batter hit a lineout to second base for out two. Trying to turn a double play, the throw was off and it allowed the runner at second base to score and put the Eagles up 5-2.
The Jackrabbits had no answer with their bats as the game moved to the sixth inning. Swearingin and the defense had another 1-2-3 inning, with two of the batters striking out. With the bats, Cade Thompson hit a double with two outs to try and spark something, but to no avail as the game went into the final inning.
Richey came in to pitch the final inning. A single and double were hit by the Hawks with one out. A deep fly ball to left field for out two allowed one runner to come in and score to make it 6-2. After a walk, the next batter flew out to centerfield for out three.
Bowie would need a big inning in its final three outs, but the team had put up four runs late in game one two days before. DeMoss and Fallis led off with back-to-back singles to get things going.
Following a fielder’s choice out at second base, Richey hit a deep fly ball for out two that still allowed one run to score and cut the lead to 6-3. Unfortunately, the next batter grounded out to end the game. Wall had tied the series at 1-1.
Despite not playing their best, Bowie had to quickly turn around and play game three 30 minutes after the end of game two. It was a different type of game with winner-take-all on the line.
Neither team had any luck getting anyone on base in the first inning. Bowie had Melton hit a one out single in the second inning only for the next batter to ground out into a double-play.
The Jackrabbits returned the favor in the same inning. The Hawks got two runners on with base hits, only for the inning to end with a double-play from Bowie.
The Jackrabbit bats and some mistakes from Wall got Bowie going in the third inning. Swearingin led off with a double. A sacrifice bunt allowed Swearingin to advance to third base.
Armstrong then hit a groundball that was too hot for the third basemen to handle for an error that led to the first run. Armstrong was able to advance to second on the same play before Thompson drove him in on a single.
Following Sanders hitting a single, DeMoss drove in another run on a base hit. Fallis then grounded out to the shortstop, but it allowed the fourth run to come in to score and put the Jackrabbits up 4-0.
Thompson got the start on the mound and did not allow another base runner in the third or fourth inning. In the fifth inning he allowed his only walk of the game with one out, but was rewarded by his defense again as they pulled off another inning ending double-play.
The sixth inning saw Bowie have an even bigger stretch with its bats. Melton hit a triple with one out.
A passed ball later allowed him to score. A hit batter and two drawn walks allowed the bases to get loaded. Armstrong came through with an infield single to score another run.
A drawn walk and hit batter from Thompson and Sanders allowed two more runs to score. DeMoss then hit a single up the middle to score another run. Fallis followed with a single to right field that drove in two runs. Finally, Melton drove in the final run of the inning on a sacrifice fly ball to right field to make it 12-0.
The Hawks were at a loss as they went through four pitchers in that same inning as the game slipped away.
Up by 10 or more after five innings would signal a stop to the game unless Wall could score three runs or more by the end of the inning.
Thompson and Bowie had too much momentum and retired the three batters with little trouble to end the game.
The Jackrabbits won game three 12-0 and the series 2-1.
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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