SPORTS
Looking back: 1974 state title
During the next few weeks The Bowie News will be looking back at sports teams that accomplished big things for their communities.
The next team we are looking at is Bowie High School’s 1973-74 boy’s basketball team that would win the program’s fifth state title 20 years after the last one.
The photo was taken from the school’s yearbook from that year. The text is from the March 1974 edition of The Bowie News.
If you have any memories of this team or time in Bowie’s history, we would love to hear from you.
There was never any doubt in the minds of the Bowie Jackrabbits that they would go all the way to the State Tournament in Austin this year and likewise there was no doubt that they would win the tournament which they did Saturday with an impressive 76-66 win over Friona.
And impressive they were. Showing the skill and determination of seasoned pros, the Jackrabbits with only two seniors, David Prater and Bobby Brashear, blew the game wide open in the third quarter of the final game when they popped the bucket with 29 big points to completely wipe out a three-point Friona lead at halftime.
The ‘Rabbits started the game hot as they quickly jumped to a two-point lead and at one time had Friona down 10 to 4 before cooling off and trailed 14 to 18 at the end of the first quarter.
Friona then took over the hot hand in the second quarter and built their lead at one time to 3 points, 22-30, before the tide started changing in favor of the ‘Rabbits.
Coach Gayno Shelton must have fed the ‘Rabbits some nitro during intermission, because they just completely exploded during the third quarter.
It was during this death blow quarter that Darwin McKinley hit on 8 points, Brashear on 8 points, Lee Ray Massey tallied with 9 points and Prater added another 4 points.
Sporting an 18 point lead heading down the final stretch, Bowie slowed the game just enough to maintain their margin and pull foul calls against their opponents.
The ‘Rabbits lost the services of Prater via the foul route late in the fourth quarter and right behind Prater to the bench with five fouls was Darwin McKinley, but the big hurt had been put on Friona and Coach Shelton literally emptied the bench in the final 15 seconds of play.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the mid-week edition of the Bowie News.
Landry Norwood has agreed to become the new Head Boys Basketball Coach for Bowie High.
Norwood grew up in Paradise, playing a number of sports for the Panthers during his high school career. With a number of family members still in the area and the position coming open, Norwood applied and was hired.
“I know the tradition up here,” Norwood said. “I was glad (Athletic Director and Head Football) Coach Tyler Price felt he could put his trust in me.”
Bowie’s varsity went 2-10 last year, both wins coming against Vernon. Norwood spent five years as an assistant in Lipan before spending the next four years at Llano, three years as head coach. He said his last two years in Llano were rough after graduation of nine seniors his first year and a 26-7 squad.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News
Nocona came into game two of its Class 2A Division I bi-district series with Archer City looking to rebound from a 17-0 loss in game one.
The Lady Indians took a quick lead but the Lady ‘Cats had too much in the tank and knocked Nocona out of the playoffs courtesy of a 13-3, five-inning victory winning the best of three series, 2-0.
Kylea Wallace reached base on a second baseman’s error. With one out, M’leigha Franklin took a pitch over the wall in left field for a home run, igniting the Lady Indian crowd with a 2-0 lead.
Archer City prevented further damage by retiring the next two hitters. The Lady ‘Cats struck in the bottom of the inning for seven runs.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
Culture. It’s a beautiful word.
Bowie Softball Coach Griffin Fields has been trying to install a positive, winning culture since taking over the job. For the first time since 2019, the Lady Rabbits qualified for the postseason, facing District 8 top seed Early in the bi-district round.
After beating the Lady ‘Horns 9-8 in game one of the best-of-three series April 23, Early came back and evened the series less than 24 hours later, 15-0. The Lady Rabbits used the aforementioned culture and got out to a quick lead in game three.
Bowie was then forced to come from behind for the second straight night. Kinley Baker, who had the game winning RBI in game one, came through again in game three and broke a 6-all tie with a single to lift the Lady Rabbits to a 9-6 victory in the finale.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
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