SPORTS
Lady Indians win area playoff; first time since 1995
The Nocona Lady Indians were able to evade a long drought on Friday as their area playoff win against Merkel at Graham High School breaks a two-decade streak for the program.
The Lady Indians took control in the second half on their way to an easy 63-47 win against the Lady Badgers, marking the first time the Nocona girl’s basketball team has won an area playoff game since 1995 according to the team.
The opening minutes saw the Lady Indians come out to claim a 6-2 lead in the first two minutes. The game slowed down a bit the next three minutes as Merkel came back to tie the game at 8-8.
Both teams traded four-point bursts and made one free throw each, but the Lady Badgers made a three-pointer to put themselves up 16-13 heading into the second quarter.
It was a physical game with not many fouls called in the first half as both teams raced up and down the floor. In the half court, Merkel tried to score by getting close shots passed to them from their post players who were set up in the high post.
Nocona had to deal with top scorer Averee Kleinhans getting the personal guard treatment even without the ball.
They could get her the ball if needed and she still was able to get to the basket anytime she wanted as she scored 14 of her teams 16 points in the second quarter.
The Lady Indians were able to push the ball with long outlet passes off of forced turnovers and rebounds to open up a 22-17 lead. They were able to keep that margin heading into halftime, leading 29-24, but the lead was far from comfortable.
The third quarter was where Nocona established complete control over the game. Everything the Lady Indians did in the second quarter to establish their little bit of a lead was multiplied. The defense was tighter, which allowed more opportunities to push the ball. More fouls were called, which meant more free throw attempts Nocona was able to take advantage.
The effort plays and 50-50 plays were mostly going the Lady Indians way and as the lead got into the double digits. The hope was going away for the Lady Badgers.
Kleinhans scored 15 of her teams19 points in the quarter, punctuated by a circus layup she maid falling to the ground as she got fouled. Nocona’s 48-33 lead felt much better heading into the fourth quarter.
Merkel would not only need a huge quarter to come back, but also need help from the Lady Indians laying an egg.
Early attempts in the quarter to hold the ball from Nocona saw the Lady Badgers cut the lead to 53-42, but with only 3:20 left, time was running out. Merkel was forced to foul and hope the Lady Indians missed their free throws.
Unfortunately for the Lady Badgers, Nocona was able to make 10 points worth of free throws to end the game as the Lady Indians won 63-47.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the mid-week edition of the Bowie News.
Bowie softball had a historic season, where the squad made the postseason for the first time since 2019 and knocked a top seed from the playoffs, come to an end April 29.
No-4 ranked Tuscola Jim Ned got out to a quick start and took an 11-1, five inning win in the area round of the Class 3A Division I playoffs. Bowie had its season end at 19-15.
With a large crowd at Weatherford High rooting them on, Bowie took the field looking to knock out another top seed, as they did with Early last week.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
Bowie will have two track athletes at the State track and field meet May 14 with top two finishes at the Region 1-3A track meet at Abilene Christian University May 1-2.
Tyler Richey finished 2nd in the pole vault with a 15’ leap. Richey was also 9th in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 15.39. Sophomore Braden Willett was 3rd in the 1,600-meters with a school record best of time of 4:21.93. Willett was 4th in the 3,200-meter run with a time of 9:29.71.
Several other Rabbits and Lady Rabbits competed at the regional meet. The 800-meter relay foursome of Colton Dosch, Richey, Finn Riddle and Jaxon White finished 6th with a time of 1:30.24 while the 1,600-meter relay team of Dosch, Judah Livsey, Riddle and Blaine Leonard finished 8th with a time of 3:30.76.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
Saint Jo’s boys and girls track teams took top honors at the Region III-A track meet at Hewitt Midway High School May 1-2 and will send several athletes to the state track and field meet May 16 in Austin.
The boys were led by Damon Byrd who won both the long jump with a 22’9 ¾” leap and triple jump with a 45’ 10 ½”. Byrd also won the 100-meter dash with a time of 1.03 and was a member of the victorious 800-meter relay along with Trent Gaston, Barrett Johnson and Lee Yeley with a time of 1:30.80.
Yeley won the high jump with a 6’ leap. Byrd, Yeley, Dominic Luna and Gaston combined for a 2nd-place finish in the 1,600-meter relay with a time 3:32.81. Gaston was 2nd in the 110-meter hurdles with a tie of 16.09. Johnson was 2nd in the 400-meter dash in 50.75, Ayden Giambruno was 6th in the 3200-meter run in 11:05.24 with Yeley 8th in the 200-meters with a time of 25.61.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
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