SPORTS
Lady Indians heading back to regionals
The Nocona Lady Indians are heading back to the regional tournament this weekend after beating Cisco on Tuesday night in Graham.
The Lady Indians won 56-48 against the Lady Loboes in a game that got harry at the end.
Nocona came into the game as favorites, with 31 wins and ranked ninth in the state in 2A according to the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches poll, and second in Max Preps rankings.
It was not expected to be an easy game for the Lady Indians which they had made it look like since the beginning of January.
Cisco had 27 wins and were ranked 15th in the state in the TABC poll and sixth in the Max Preps rankings.
Not only that, the Lady Loboes were Nocona’s stylistic opposites.
The Lady Indians are used to playing with a size disadvantage, either vertically or horizontally which they overcome with feisty help defense and fast paced play on offense.
Cisco had a player who both towered over and had much more size than any Nocona player. Brooklyn Hurtado was listed at 6’3” and had several pounds on the Lady Indians post player Avery Crutsinger who is listed at 5’8.”
It was not just size though as the Lady Loboes whole offense is predicated on trying to get Hurtado the ball in the post and working from there.
The first quarter was competitive and close as Nocona made four 3-pointers and led 12-11.
The Lady Indians defense started to lock in on really preventing Hurtado from touching the ball, which threw off Cisco in the second and third quarters as the team failed to score in double-digits.
Skyler Smith carried Nocona’s offense in the second quarter, scoring eight of the team’s 18 points as the team started to pull ahead even with Meg Meekins falling into foul trouble. The Lady Indians led 30-19 at halftime.
Nocona kept it up in the third quarter on offense, with Meekins carrying the load and scoring nine points and Reagan Phipps making two 3-pointers.
The Lady Indians led 47-28 and looked like they were going to cruise to an ending with little drama in the final period..
Nocona took the gas off the pedal offensively to run some clock per Coach Kyle Spitzer’s instructions, though the directive was not to hold the ball.
That got the Lady Indians out of their offensive groove which left the door open for the Lady Loboes.
Cisco’s Hurtado had scored only four points in the first three quarters and Nocona was daring her teammates to beat them from the 3-point line.
The Lady Loboes had some relative success at it, making four 3-pointers in the first three quarters. With their backs against the wall with the season on the line, Cisco players took more chances and were more aggressive offensively.
The Lady Loboes made three 3-pointers in the final period and players who Nocona expected to not make shots were coming through for them.
Cisco had come all the way back to cut it to six points 49-43 with 53 seconds left when Smith fouled out for the Lady Indians.
Thankfully, Nocona was able to take care of the ball and were forced onto the free throw line four times in the final minute.
Meekins came through, going 7-8 at the line in the quarter while scoring all nine of the Lady Indians points in the final quarter.
It was enough to hold off the Lady Loboes as Nocona won 56-48.
to read the full story, pick up a copy of the weekend edition of the Bowie News.
At the end of the November school board meeting for Bowie, athletic director Tyler Price had some updates about the new high school soccer club.
So far the club has fielded 40 players total, with 23 being boys and 17 girls meaning it can field both teams.
Both teams have full game schedules, with the girls being invited to play in the Wichita Falls Invitational Tournament in January.
One goal has been donated, both sets of team jerseys are fully donated as well with a commitment to donate the jerseys next year with the hope for home and away games.
The club is coached by Chad Word, Scott Siebert and Javier Fuerte. The club is not officially a part of the competition this year in the University Interscholastic League, but with a good turnout there is hope the presence of the club will lead to the Bowie School District adding the sport to its athletic department in the future.
If and when that is the case, the club leaders hope to help develop players for the high school team. Bowie would have to compete in the 4A classification if and when a high school soccer team is approved.
The Lady Rabbit team has their first game scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 17 at Burkburnett. For more information about the soccer club, go to the Bowie High School Soccer Club Facebook page.
Nocona girls
The Nocona Lady Indians were able to whoop up on Iowa Park on Tuesday night.
The Lady Indians dominated 86-38 against the Lady Hawks in a game that was not competitive at all.
Nocona was coming off a tough loss against state-ranked Bridgeport where the team did not shoot well.
From the jump, the Lady Indians’ offense was working over Iowa Park. Nocona felt safe to bring pressure on defense and created easy scoring chances in transition.
The Lady Indians scored 20 or more points in the first three quarters and got a lot of players in on the scoring action. Every player ended up making at least one basket.
Nocona took the gas off the defensive pressure in the second half so as not to be disrespectful. This allowed the Lady Hawks, who had scored only 12 points in the first half, to get some things going in the second half.
Nocona was actually outscored 11-9 in the fourth quarter, but it did not mean much with their lead already so high.
The Lady Indians won 86-38.
Nocona boys
The Nocona Indians lost a tough game on the road on Tuesday night at Henrietta.
The Bearcats won 60-50 in a game where the Indians fell behind early and were unable to come back.
Nocona was playing its first game in a week and was looking to see if it could hang with a program that is usually able to give a good challenge most years.
Henrietta got out to a big lead in the first quarter, getting to the free throw line for 10 attempts and scoring 20 points. The Indian offense was slow to get going as they trailed 20-9.
Nocona was able to slow down the Bearcat offense in the second quarter, but could not make up much ground as it trailed 29-21 at halftime.
The Indians could replicate the defense in the third and fourth quarter as Henrietta scored 16 and 15 points. Nocona’s offense kept pace and even outscored the Bearcats in the fourth quarter, but it was not enough to make up the deficit it was chasing.
Henrietta won 60-50.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the weekend edition of the Bowie News.
Saint Jo boys
The Saint Jo Panthers easily won at Tioga on Tuesday night.
The Panthers won 55-31 against the Bulldogs in a game they dominated from the start.
Saint Jo raced out to a 20-5 lead in the first quarter, with 14 coming from leading scorer Barrett Johnson.
The Panthers cooled down offensively in the second and third quarters, scoring 20 points combined during the time. Still, the defense was able to keep Tioga stifled in the second quarter before the Bulldogs played a bit more evenly in the second half.
Saint Jo still outscored Tioga in each of the quarters, not allowing the Bulldogs to make up the double-digit deficit. The Panthers closed the game out with a 15 point quarter with four different players scoring at least one basket.
Saint Jo won 55-31.
Saint Jo girls
The Saint Jo Lady Panthers were able to beat Chico at home on Tuesday night.
The Lady Panthers won 58-41 against the Lady Dragons in a rough and tumble game that suits Saint Jo just fine.
Both teams tried to pressure the ball while playing fast and physical throughout. The Lady Panthers got an 18-9 lead after the first quarter and 31-23 at halftime.
Saint Jo pulled away with a 16 point third quarter before slowing things down a peg in the fourth quarter while keeping the defensive intensity up.
The Lady Panthers won 58-41.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the weekend edition of the Bowie News.
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