SPORTS
Panthers sweep Northside in playoff series win
The Saint Jo Panthers demolished Vernon Northside in Thursday’s double-header bi-district playoff round.
The Panthers won both games by run-rule 12-1 and 19-1 in games that were never close or dramatic.
Saint Jo came into the games as favorites after winning the district title and not having lost any playoff series to anybody except for Dodd City the past five years.
The Panthers pounced on the Indians from the jump in the first game thanks to a large helping of Northside fielding errors.
Saint Jo scored in the first inning as Payton Harris groundball induced an error at third base to drive in a run. Jonathan Diaz then laid down a sacrifice bunt that scored a run. On the same play, Logan Brawner was able to score somehow thanks to some messy fielding to put the Panthers up 3-0.
Brice Durham got the start on the mound for the Panthers. Despite allowing a single following two strikeouts, he forced a groundout to move to the second inning.
The Panthers loaded the bases with no outs in the second inning. Matthew Butler-Everson hit into a fielder’s choice out, but drove in one run. Another run was scored on the basepaths from Collin Thomas to make it 5-0.
The Indians got their best start to an inning with their leadoff hitting a line drive into right field that induced an error and allowed him to reach third base. Durham rebounded well, striking out two batters and forcing the next one to groundout to keep the shutout going.
Saint Jo again loaded the bases up in the third inning. With one out, Thomas hit a sacrifice fly to right field that scored a run.
After drawing a walk to load the bases again, Jace Johnson hit a single that drove in two runs. Harris followed with a double that drove in two more runs to make the score 10-0.
Northside batters did draw two walks and would advance both runners into scoring position to threaten the Panther defense. A fielder’s choice allowed the Indians to get on the board with one run to cut the lead to 10-1, but Saint Jo made sure that would be all by making the routine plays on groundball hits.
The fourth inning was one of the few scoreless innings for the Panthers in either game. Durham and the Saint Jo defense got back on track as well with a strikeout and two groundball outs.
In the fifth inning, Payton Harris hit a single into left field with two runners on base. It would have driven in one runner, but an error trying to gather the ball off the ground allowed the other to score and Harris to reach third base. Unfortunately, that was where he would stay as the next two batters struck out looking to end the chance.
The Panthers were up 12-1 and needed to not let Northside score two or more runs to end the game early due to the run-rule being 10 runs or more after five innings would be stopped.
Durham and the defense did not allow any base runners in the final inning as the first game came to a close and the final being 12-1.
The second game got started 20 minutes after the first and it was more of the same story.
Thomas was starting on the mound for Saint Jo and despite a fielding error allowing one Indian runner to get on base with two outs, it did not result in any runs coming through in the first inning.
The Panther bats picked up right where they left off in the first inning. Butler-Everson hit a groundball that induced an error that allowed the first run to score. Harris later drove him in on a single to left field. Substitute runner Diaz would advance to second base on a sacrifice bunt and then steal third base, before scoring thanks to a bad throw to make it 3-0.
Thomas struck out the side in the second inning before the Saint Jo bats came alive again.
Thomas hit a double that drove in two runs. Later, with the bases loaded and two outs, Durham hit a ball into the outfield that induced an error that scored all three runners on base and allowed him to reach third base. Next batter Logan Hoover then drove him with a single to up the Panthers lead to 9-0.
The third inning saw Thomas again strike out the side. Unfortunately, it was also the second inning of the series that saw the Saint Jo bats not only fail to score a run, but the only one where it did not get a base runner on.
The fourth inning saw Northside bats finally pick up. A leadoff single was nullified when the Panthers later caught the runner trying to steal second base. A double put a runner in scoring position and it was followed up with another double that drove in the runner to cut the lead to 9-1.
Saint Jo was able to shake off that moment of vulnerability and get that run, and then some, back with its hot bats again.
Harris drove in a run with a single. Durham followed with a double that drove in another run. Two batters later Brawner drove in a run on an infield single.
The team wasn’t done.
Following a fielder’s choice out, Kile Thurman drove in a run on a double. Following a hit batter, Butler-Everson drove in a run on a single. Johnson then grounded into a fielder’s choice for the second out, but it drove in a run.
Harris and Durham followed with RBI singles. Hoover then hit a groundball that induced an error that allowed another run to score. Brawner then laid down a bunt and beat the throw to first base to drive in another run to make the score 19-1 heading into the fifth inning.
The Indians would need to score nine runs to prevent from getting run-ruled again. Instead, Thomas struck out the side for the third time to end the game and the series.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the weekend 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
-
NEWS2 years ago2 hurt, 1 jailed after shooting incident north of Nocona
-
NEWS1 year agoSuspect indicted, jailed in Tia Hutson murder
-
NEWS2 years agoSO investigating possible murder/suicide
-
NEWS2 years agoWreck takes the life of BHS teen, 16
-
NEWS1 year agoMurder unsolved – 1 year later Tia Hutson’s family angry, frustrated with no arrest
-
NEWS2 years ago
Sheriff’s office called out to infant’s death
-
NEWS2 years agoBowie Police face three-hour standoff after possible domestic fight
-
NEWS2 years ago
Driver stopped by a man running into the street, robbed at knifepoint