SPORTS
Bears earn second district title
The Gold-Burg Bears wrapped up the second district title in program history on Thursday night with a win against Fannindel on senior night.
The Bears won 70-25, with the game ending about midway through the fourth quarter due to mercy rule.
Gold-Burg was coming in with confidence in its final regular season game. The Bears had won their opening district game at Forestburg the previous week, which at least guaranteed them a playoff spot since they play in a three-team district. Another win would earn them the district title.
Gold-Burg was the favorite coming in with a 5-4 record. Fannindel before the season was picked to finish last in the district, but the Falcons came in with a respectable 3-5 record. Still, the Bears and their fans were hoping they could get the game done early, but it turns out they got more than they bargained for.
Gold-Burg started the game off like it wanted to when Jayton Epperson scored on the first offensive play of the game to go up 8-0. Then Zander Crawford recovered the following onside kick and it looked like the game was going to be a one-sided smash that was done at halftime.
The Falcons showed their first bit of resistance when their defense came up with a quick stop after four plays. The Bears defense followed by getting the ball back on downs and the offense recovering to drive down to score. Levi Hellinger, playing through a hurt thumb, found Epperson for a 10-yard touchdown pass to go up 16-0.
Fannindel’s offense then got some momentum, mixing things up running inside and outside and testing the Bears secondary on pass-run options. The Falcons drove down the field and scored on a short run to cut the lead to 16-6.
Still, Gold-Burg showed it was still in control when Epperson scored on a 34-yard run to improve the Bears lead to 24-6.
Gold-Burg looked to keep the gas pedal down when its defense forced a turnover when Keelyn Case recovered a fumble. The Bears were heading into score when the second quarter started.
Unfortunately, a fumbled handoff exchange from Gold-Burg was recovered by Fannindel at its own 10-yard line to stop that scoring chance.
It did not take long for the Bears to reverse that mistake. The defense recovered another fumble near midfield, this time by Jepperson. The offense moved down into the red zone again and Hellinger found Jepperson again for a seven-yard touchdown pass to make it 32-6.
The Falcons then went on a long offensive drive that sucked up more than four minutes. While they did not end up scoring because Gold-Burg’s defense forced another turnover, taking up so much time proved to be costly since the Bears were trying to end the game by halftime.
Paul Jones intercepted a pass at Gold-Burg’s 10-yard line. Facing fourth down, Jones then got loose for a 67-yard touchdown run to put the Bears up 40-6 with less than a minute to go before halftime.
Gold-Burg would need to score twice to end the game due to the mercy rule being 45 points. The Bears got the first part of the equation to work when Crawford recovered the ensuing onside kick.
Unfortunately, Gold-Burg turned the ball over on a fumbled snap exchange between center and quarterback. Even with the Bears getting the ball right back when Epperson intercepted a deep pass, Gold-Burg was ran out of time.
The Bears went into halftime up 40-6.
The Falcons came out and showed right away they were not just going to lay down and let Gold-Burg end the game early. Fannindel scored on a 21-yard touchdown run from its fast running back on an outside run to make it 40-12.
The Falcons then followed it up by recovering a fumble during the ensuing kickoff to get the ball back. Then Fannindel found this little swing pass to its running back that seemed to exploit the Bears defense multiple times in the second half. The first time it went 20-yards for a touchdown to make it 40-18 midway through the third quarter.
Despite being up multiple scores, the Gold-Burg team was frustrated. A game that seemed to be on the cusp of ending early now was farther away as the team made mistake after mistake.
The Bears got back on track when they scored quickly as Epperson ran for 36-yard touchdown to make the score 48-18. Gold-Burg’s defense then came up with a goal line stand, forcing the Falcons to turn it over on downs at the one-yard line.
The Bears then drove the length of the field before getting Hayden Chambers to score on seven-yard run. Gold-Burg led 56-18 and were one score away from ending the game early heading into the fourth quarter.
Fannindel would not give up though. It again exploited the swing pass to its running back who went 37-yards up the sideline for a touchdown to cut the lead to 56-25.
Despite another setback, the Bears answered back and scored on a 15-yard run from Jones to make it 62-25. Needing a stop on defense, Gold-Burg got more than that. A bad snap from the Falcons led to Jones scooping the ball up and scoring for the game’s final touchdown.
The good extra point from Jorge Morales were the two points that ended the game. The Bears won 70-25 with 6:19 left to play in the fourth quarter.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the weekend edition of the Bowie News. For more pictures, click here https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=bnews1&AID=6870232&T=1
Bowie
1st team
Camille Schutte
2nd team
Callie Curry
Honorable Mention
Railey Martin, Sadie Weaver, Rhyan Carle
Academic all-district
Hayden Lea, Railey Martin, Madison Fulmer, Ollie Gaston, Camille Schutte, Olivia Stewart, Karsyn Childers, Ellie Mowery, Sadie Weaver, Laney Oliver
Nocona
Superlatives
Hitter of the year: Ava Johnson
Defensive player of the year: Aubree Kleinhans
1st team
Meg Meekins, Kaygan Stone
2nd team
Raylea Bowles
Honorable mention
Avery Crutsinger, Jolie Rose, Paige Davis, Leah Meekins
Academic all-district
Sy Parker, Presley Weber, Alexa Sosa, Julia Flores, Skye Kirby, Ava Johnson, Aubree Kleinhans, Meg Meekins, Raylea Bowles, Avery Crutsinger, Jolie Rose, Paige Davis, Leah Meekins
1A
Superlatives
MVP: Aubrey Morman, Saint Jo; Taylor Patrick, Saint Jo
Offensive MVP: Savannah Hill, Saint Jo
Defensive MVP: Brenna Briles, Forestburg
Blocker of the year: Kai Cearley, Prairie Valley
Setter of the year: Payzlie Cervantes, Saint Jo
Libero of the year: Renee Stout, Prairie Valley
Newcomer of the year: Mattie Broussard, Bellevue
Coach of the year: Belinda Lloyd, Prairie Valley
1st team
Maxey Johnson, Saint Jo; Kamron Skidmore, Saint Jo; Jordyn O’Neal, Saint Jo; Hallie Nelson, Gold-Burg; Natalee Young, Prairie Valley; Kennedy Stone, Prairie Valley; Linzie Priddy, Prairie Valley; Callie Martin, Bellevue; Tristan Shook, Bellevue; Braylee Briles, Forestburg
2nd team
Krista Reeves, Saint Jo; Reagan Wilson, Saint Jo; Tatum Morman, Saint Jo; Cara Vogel, Saint Jo; Averee Woodyard, Prairie Valley; Mary Grace Broussard, Bellevue; Brittany Gill, Bellevue; Taylor Griggs, Forestburg; Jocelyn Rich, Forestburg; Zara Andrade, Gold-Burg
Honorable mention
Megan Bain, Forestburg; Belle Smith, Forestburg; Selah Denson, Bellevue; Karis Denson, Bellevue; Chloe Broussard, Bellevue; McKayla Jensen, Gold-Burg; Alyson Rojas, Gold-Burg; Lexie Eaton, Gold-Burg; Abigail Renteria, Gold-Burg; Nevaeh Spann, Saint Jo; Abbie Pepper, Prairie Valley; Danyka Mancilla, Prairie Valley
Academic all-district
Saint Jo: Maxey Johnson, Krista Reeves, Taylor Patrick, Tatum Morman, Kamron Skidmore, Nevaeh Spann, Savannah Hill, Aubrey Morman, Cara Vogel, Jordyn O’Neal, Reagan Wilson, Payzlie Cervantes
Forestburg: Braylee Briles, Karman Willett, Morgan Walker, Doirsmar Gonzalez
Bellevue: Callie Martin, Brittany Gill, Mary Grace Broussard, Karisn Denson, Brooklyn Shook, Mattie Broussard
Gold-Burg: Hallie Nelson, Jocelyn Martinez, Zara Andrade
Prairie Valley: Linzie Priddy, Renee Stout, Natalee Young, Kai Cearley, Averee Woodyard, Abbie Pepper, Christy Anderson, Maloree Woodyard
The Nocona Lady Indians were able to finish in third place at the Decatur tournament on Monday and Tuesday.
The Lady Indians went 2-1 overall while playing against much bigger schools in the process.
Nocona is only in its second week with its full roster in a season that is expected to be another ambitious one, eying the state tournament.
To do that is to challenge itself against bigger schools that provide unique teams and players it most likely won’t have to face at the top of 2A, but is good to experience either way.
The Lady Indians started the tournament playing a 4A Randall team that had won 27 games.
It was a close game throughout. Nocona held a slight lead for most of the game and went into the fourth quarter holding a one-point lead 33-32.
The final period was an explosion of offense for both teams. The Lady Indians did a good job of playing with the lead and making free throws down the stretch to make it pay while the Lady Raiders had their leading scorer get hot. Nocona’s Meg Meekins did as well, scoring 17 of her team high 30 points in the fourth quarter.
The Lady Indians scored 26 points to help them hold on to win 59-51. Reagan Phipps was second on the team with 12 points, with nine coming in the fourth quarter.
The second game was against 5A Anna team that is coming off a 20 win season that won first place in its district.
The Lady Coyotes proved to be too much for Nocona as it won 68-51. The Lady Indians were trying to play catch-up from the start and just could not match Anna.
Meekins led the team with 23 points while Phipps again was second with 12 points.
Nocona played its final match of the tournament against private school RWG STEM from Arlington. Like most teams, the Lady Lions had a height advantage at most positions, but especially in the post in this game.
The Lady Indians gave extra attention on defense and had a pretty good 31-22 lead at halftime. RWG came back with a big third quarter to tie the score up at 38-38.
After a tight fourth quarter that saw both teams make clutch baskets down the stretch, the score was tied at 52-52 and the game headed to overtime.
Nocona made two quick 3-pointers to start the period to give itself the lead and was able to play with the lead and control the clock until the end of the game. The Lady Indians won 61-55.
Meekins led the team with 21 points as she was named to the all-tournament team. Aubree Kleinhans had her best offensive performance of the tournament, scoring 18 points.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the weekend edition of the Bowie News. For more pictures from the tournament, click here https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=bnews1&AID=6870776&T=1
The Bowie Lady Rabbits had a good two days playing basketball at their hosted Gayno Shelton Hoopin’ into the Holidays Tournament on Monday and Tuesday.
The Lady Rabbits went 2-2 overall as the tournament was formatted to play two games each day and did not feature brackets or championships.
Bowie started off the tournament on a strong note against Tioga. Featuring the team’s biggest offensive total so far, the Lady Rabbits beat the Lady Bulldogs in dominant fashion 61-22.
Bowie made 10 3-pointers in the game while on defense it pitched a rare shut out in the third quarter. Laney Enlow led the team with 12 points and Railey Martin score nine points while making three 3-pointers. Parker Riddle, Payton Holt and Laney Segura each pitched in eight points.
It was a good blowout win for the team because the next game saw the Lady Rabbits on the other side of it. State-ranked 2A team Muenster showed Bowie how far it still needs to go.
The Lady Hornets won 47-19 as the Lady Rabbits had trouble scoring throughout the game. Bowie did not start the game great, giving up 25 points in the first quarter. On the bright side, the team limited Muenster to single-digit quarter totals in the second and fourth quarter.
Riddle led the team with five points and Segura was second with four points.
Bowie made only one 3-pointer after making 10 the previous game and went 8-16 at the free throw line.
The Lady Rabbits were able to shake off that performance at the start of day two, playing against Millsap.
It was another rout for Bowie as everything seemed to be working for the Lady Rabbits. Bowie limited the Lady Bulldogs to only two points in the first quarter and won 57-22.
Segura led the team with 14 points while Martin was second with nine points, all coming from 3-point land.
Five other players finished with six points or more in another great showing on both sides of the court.
The Lady Rabbits final game of the tournament was the last one on Tuesday. It was the most competitive game of the tournament for Bowie, but unfortunately the Lady Rabbits fell to fellow 3A team Bells 48-37.
Bowie started the game with the lead and led 25-21 at halftime, but unfortunately switched up tactics from the Lady Panthers allowed them to grab control in the third quarter and extend their lead in the fourth quarter.
Hanna Bell led the team with 15 points and Enlow was second with eight points.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the weekend edition of the Bowie News. To see more pictures from the tournament, click here https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=bnews1&AID=6870777&T=1
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