SPORTS
Bowie names new boys basketball coach
The Bowie Jackrabbits have found their next boys basketball coach.
Ryan Dykes was officially named at Thursday night’s school board meeting. Along with basketball, Dykes also will coach cross country and be the junior high PE teacher as well.
He takes over for the departing Andy Atkins, who after three years had a 54-35 record with three playoff appearances along with a run to the regional quarterfinals this season.
Atkins is still with the district as he transitions to the administration side and takes the assistant principal position at the high school.
Athletic director Tyler Price said the main thing that impressed him about Dykes was how he conducted himself.
“His positive energy and ability to build relationships really set him apart,” Price said. “His organizational skills are great. He always has a plan. I think he will do a great job here and he’ll have the ability to lead this team and this program to good things. He can carry on with what Andy has started.”
Dykes comes to Bowie most recently from Boyd, but has spent time at Decatur, Frenship, Lubbock Trinity Christian, Smyer, Silverton and Pampa during his 25 years of experience.
About half of that time was serving as an assistant, but he does have 13 years of head coaching experience and has picked up 267 wins during that time. Dykes has been a part of nine teams that have reached the regional tournament and one team that has made it to the state tournament.
A graduate from Plainview High School in 1992, he said playing under Coach Carl Irlbeck, who had more than 1,000 wins in his career and is in the Texas High School Basketball Hall of Fame, inspired him to want to pursue coaching.
“Just the mentorship and the role model he provided for me inspired me to want to do that for future generation,” Dykes said. “Just to see how much athletics can teach people that will determine their character for their adulthood, I just feel so fortunate and so blessed. His impact on me is what directed me this way and allowed me to make a great profession of it.”
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the weekend edition of the Bowie News.
Saint Jo clinched a playoff spot in their home finale. Nocona and Gold-Burg both suffered regular season losses.
Brief summaries of the games follow:
Tioga 50, Nocona 0
After losing a Nocona High students a few days before the Nov. 5 game, the Indians never fully recovered and wound up on the short end of the stick to the Bulldogs.
Nocona had just 95 yards of offense. Quarterback Brody Langford was 6-11 passing for 21 yards. Logan Gaston had 53 yards on 10 carries. McCrae Crossen had 22 yards on eight carries with Jax Fuller adding 18 yards on four totes.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
Looking to get back to the State championship, Nocona’s volleyball team got off to a quick start in its area round matchup with Coleman Nov. 3.
A bit of a letdown in the middle games was rectified in game four, allowing the Lady Indians to post a 3-1 (25-12, 26-24, 22-25,25-13) victory. Nocona Coach Sandy Langford said getting back to its style of game helped.
“We’ve had to overcome a lot this week,” Langford said in reference to the school losing a student in an accident two days prior. “We talked during a timeout about getting back to playing fast which is more our style. Coleman had us playing a slower style of play and they took advantage of it.
The fast style of play benefitted the Lady Indians, who got out to a 4-0 lead in game one courtesy of Paige Davis. Maddyn Bowles added a kill to keep things moving.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
When you’re gunning for a playoff spot, playing error free football is paramount.
Or is it?
In a District 4-3A Division I battle for the fourth and final playoff spot, Bowie had made five turnovers in the first nearly three quarters but still managed to lead 21-17 late in the third quarter. The Jackrabbits received a pep talk from their coaches and did not turn the ball over again while receiving some clutch defense down the stretch in a much closer than it looked 42-17 win over the Boyd Yellowjackets.
With the victory, Bowie clinched its first playoff spot in football since 2017. The Jackrabbits, 1-3 in district and 5-5 overall, will travel to Cisco for a 6 p.m. Nov.13 game vs. defending state champion Wall, who is ranked No. 4.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
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