SPORTS
Indians lose to Tolar in area round
The ride ended earlier than expected for the Nocona Indians as they lost in the area round to Tolar on Thursday night.
The Rattlers won 57-51 against the Indians in a physical game that came down to end-of-game execution.
Nocona came into the game as favorites. The Indians were 24-11, had gone undefeated in district play, were ranked ninth in the state in 2A in the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches poll and 21st on Max Preps rankings.
Tolar was 16-14, had finished third in its district and was ranked 23rd in the TABC poll and 79th on Max Preps. However, the Rattlers had one major thing on their side.
Tolar’s starting lineup featured players as tall as 6’6” and all but one player who got major minutes were at least six feet.
Nocona’s major achilles heel has been its lack of height, with Charlie Fuller being the only player on the roster who measures at least six feet, listed at 6’1.” That combined with the team’s trouble at grabbing defensive rebounds at times, much to Coach Brody Wilson’s chagrin, and it was a major matchup issue.
The Indians seemed to carve up Tolar’s zone defense early on, passing inside only to kick it back to the perimeter for open shots or for angles to drive.
Brady McCasland made two 3-pointers and scored 10 of the team’s 14 points in the first quarter.
Nocona tried to limit catches in the paint against the Rattler’s massive post player, but had to give up some room on the outside. Even after forcing a miss, trying to gather a rebound against opponents who had major height and size advantages was tough.
The teams were tied at 14-14 after the first quarter.
The Indians had their best stretch of the game in the second quarter. Nocona was pestering Tolar on defense and limited the Rattlers to only seven points.
On offense, the Indians had three players make one 3-pointer each while McCasland was able to earn some free throws driving into the lane.
Nocona led 27-21 at halftime.
The Indians started out the second half continuing to pick apart the Rattlers, scoring twice in the first minute to go up 32-21.
Tolar would then turn things around, finding success shooting off the dribble in the mid-range area while also making three 3-pointers in the quarter to get ahead.
The Rattlers came all the way back to take the lead 34-32 as Nocona had a scoring drought for most the quarter.
The Indians picked it back up offensively in the final two minutes, but trailed Tolar 42-39 heading into the fourth quarter.
It was back and forth the first four minutes of the final period. Karson Kleinhans 3-pointer put Nocona up 48-47.
The Rattlers then had back-to-back possessions where they scored right after an offensive rebound.
McCasland then earned free throws and made one of two to cut the lead to 51-49 with 2:37 left.
After running some clock, Tolar scored on a close post shot to go up 53-49 with 1:12 left in the game.
A deep 3-pointer from Nocona missed everything for an air ball, but Conley Kleinhans caught it underneath the basket and scored to cut the deficit back to one basket 53-51 with 29 seconds left.
The Indians needed to foul three times to get into the bonus and send the Rattlers to the free throw line with 13 seconds left.
The player made both free throws to make it a two basket game 55-51.
Nocona missed and Tolar scored in celebration with a dunk at the buzzer to make the final score 57-51.
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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