SPORTS
2024 HS sports year in review: Saint Jo
The Saint Jo Panthers saw success in every sport in 2024. The year started with both basketball teams doing well. The Panthers finished third and made the playoffs before losing in the bi-district round to Perrin-Whitt.
The Lady Panthers won the district title and made it to the regional quarterfinals before losing to eventual state champion Newcastle.
In the spring, Julian Luna qualified for the regional golf tournament after finishing fifth at the district tournament.
In tennis, Saint Jo had the girl’s doubles pair of Taylor Patrick and Kyler Dunn make it back to the state tournament before losing in the first round. Fellow girl’s doubles pair Maxey Johnson and Bailey Nobile also qualified for regionals as well after finishing second at district.
The track program saw both teams win the district titles. The boy’s eventually had a few athletes qualify for the state meet. Damon Byrd earned a bronze medal in the triple jump and fourth place in the long jump. Byrd was also a part of the 4×200 meter relay team along with Blaine Penaluna, Devin Stewart and Lee Yeley that finished in seventh place.
The softball team recovered from a tough regular season to beat Perrin-Whitt in the bi-district playoff round. The Lady Panthers then lost to Jonesboro in area.
The Saint Jo baseball team also played in the playoffs, but fell short against Electra in the bi-district round.
The fall season was just as impressive. The Saint Jo volleyball team won the district title and made it all the way back to the regional final for the third straight year. Unfortunately, also for the third straight year, the Lady Panthers fell to the eventual state champion, this time Harrold.
The football team won its first nine games and finished second in district to make the playoffs for the sixth straight year. The Panthers also won their first playoff game since 2021, upsetting state-ranked Avalon in the bi-district round. Saint Jo then lost the next round to Abbott.
In cross country, the boy’s team qualified for the state meet after finishing third at the regional meet. The Panthers ended up eventually ninth place overall.
The Lady Panthers were one spot short of qualifying for state, finishing in fourth place. Still, the team had Savannah Hill qualify individually for state where she finished 55th.
To see pictures and see highlights of every school, pick up a copy of the weekend edition of the Bowie News.
Saint Jo hosted its own volleyball tournament Sept. 10-12.
In its first match, the Lady Panthers bested Sam Rayburn in a b est-of-three match 2-1 (25-11, 23-25, 25-14.) In the opener, senior Tatum Morman staked the Lady Panthers to a 4-0 lead with help from Kamron Skidmore and Olivia Johnson kills. The Lady Rebels would come back and tie the game at seven.
Savannah Hill’s kill broke serve and allowed Abby Carter to string together seven points. An ace and a Hill kill helped keep the drive alive. Hill later rolled off six points in a row, helped by two aces, to go up 23-10. Sam Rayburn broke serve but Saint Jo finished the game with a single Morman point.
Sam Rayburn came right out of the gate firing in the second game leading 4-0. A single Carter point, thrown down by a Hill block, and Hill’s four-point skein put the Lady Panthers up 8-6. Sam Rayburn tied the game at eight.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
Forestburg’s volleyball team gave visiting Chico a solid test Sept. 8, but the Lady Dragons rebounded from a third-set loss to pull out the 3-1 win (25-23, 25-19, 25-27, 25-19).
The Lady Longhorns got out to a quick start with aces from freshmen Madi Wadsworth and Lacie Shotwell staking the squad to a 4-1 lead in game one. Wadsworth later broke a 4-all tie with a kill.
Addy Conway rolled off four straight points, helped by a Wadsworth kill to give Forestburg an 11-9 lead. Chico took a 16-14 lead but a Brenna Briles ace and Jocelyn Rich’s two points forced Chico into a timeout down 17-19.
The respite worked as it would be Forestburg’s last lead of game one, the Lady ‘Horns not having another serving point.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
After splitting the first two games with Vernon Northside, Bowie’s volleyball team turned things out and wound with a 3-1 match win (25-17, 15-25, 25-17, 25-17).
Molly Enlow used two aces amidst a four-point string to give the Lady Rabbits a 5-1 lead in game one. Senior KP Rutherford’s pair of points extended the lead to 8-3.
Northside cut the deficit to 10-11 before Rutherford’s kill broke serve.
Bella Culwell’s point, aided by an Ellie Mowery kill, put Bowie up 13-10. Northside tied the game at 13 before Rutherford came through with another pair for a 17-14 lead. Lillie Maddox also had a deuce for a 20-15 lead and force a Lady INdian timeout.
Northside broke serve but a Sophie Maddox block and Lillie Maddox three-point string gave the squad game point at 24-16. The squads exchanged side outs to end the game.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
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