SPORTS
Jackrabbits have off shooting night against Iowa Park
It was a disappointing loss for the Bowie Jackrabbits on Wednesday night when they hosted Iowa Park.
The Hawks won 55-40 in a game where the Jackrabbits struggled to make any open shots.
Bowie came into the game following a disappointing loss at Holliday to close out the first round of district play. With another loss earlier to City View, the Jackrabbits were sitting in third place in the district standings.
Bowie had handled the opening district game at Iowa Park back in December, handing the Hawks a 53-39 welcome to the new district. The Hawks went 2-4 in the first round and were on the outside of the playoff race.
Still, the first half of the first game between the two teams had been competitive throughout until the Jackrabbit defense stepped things up to help them run away with that game.
Therefore, it was not surprising when the first quarter saw the team’s tied at 11-11 at the end of it. The Hawks played zone defense throughout which meant Bowie could hunt open perimeter shots if it passed the ball around smartly. Only one 3-pointer fell in to start the game which would prove ominous as the game went along even with the game tied after the first quarter.
The Jackrabbits were getting open looks from outside, but none of them went in during the second quarter. Even with players trying to drive to the basket against Iowa Park’s tall and lanky post defenders, the good chances just seemed to roll out every time.
Bowie made only two field goals all of the second quarter and missed its both shots in its one free throw trip.
Scoring only four points in a quarter will get you behind in most varsity games and the Jackrabbits found themselves behind 24-15 at halftime.
Bowie was hopeful once it could start to knock down shots the game would flip as it was not like the team was running horrible offense, turning the ball over or taking rushed, bad shots that were out of character.
Still, the led on the basket stayed closed at the start of the second half for Bowie. The Jackrabbits scored more than four points, but not by much, scoring seven points on three made field goals.
Bowie’s success on defense shutting down Iowa Park in the first game was never replicated on Wednesday. The Hawks handled the Jackrabbits pressure and made them pay with smart passing and timely shot making from all over.
It looked dire with Bowie trailing 37-22 heading into the fourth quarter, with only a blisteringly one-sided performance the only way the team was going to come back.
The Jackrabbits upped their intensity and urgency as the time slipped away and finally did start to score the ball. They sold out with their pressure defensively, which created some turnovers and led to some transition opportunities that were lacking in the middle quarters.
Unfortunately, that selling out meant Iowa Park was able to feast on breakdowns if it beat the aggressive press defense which led to some easy scores for the Hawks.
Both teams scored 18 points in the frantic final period which meant Bowie finally did break through offensively, but it was too little too late and at the expense of its defense in the process.
Iowa Park won 55-40.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the weekend 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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