SPORTS
STORM CENTER: Let the girls’ playoffs begin
The first time the sports editor came to Texas for a sports position, it was as a reporter for the Temple Daily Telegram.
The Telegram is owned and operated by the legendary Mayborn family.
When I worked for them in 2002 and 2003, boys’ and girls’ basketball wasn’t my beat. This guy was primarily focused on high school boys’ and girls’ soccer and junior hockey.
I think I covered maybe only four basketball games during my time there.
When I was a sports editor at newspapers in the Oklahoma Panhandle and southwest Kansas, I wrote accounts featuring a smattering of Texas schools such as Gruver, Perryton and Follett.
That means this basketball season truly has been a baptism by fire for me. It’s basketball, with a spicy Texas flavor.
The sports editor has been blessed to cover some wonderful teams this season – including the state-ranked Bowie and Forestburg girls and Bellevue boys.
On Monday, the Bowie girls accomplished one of their many goals by going through the district season undefeated with an 83-19 victory over City View.
Players took turns cutting down pieces of the net.
Bowie head girls’ basketball coach Colby Davis-Pastusek lifted the cut net high in celebration. But, the coach knows this is just the first step. It is part of the process, something Davis-Pastusek readily admits.
“Everybody is 0-0 now,” she said. “Everybody has new life going into the playoffs.”
The goal for all playoff bound teams is simple: Destination San Antonio. Instead of remembering the Alamo, we must keep the Alamodome in mind.
This marks the first season since the University Interscholastic League decided to move the state basketball championships from the University of Texas to San Antonio.
Editor’s Note: The Storm Center column is the expressed written views of sports editor Eric Viccaro and not The Bowie News.
Bowie’s Jordan Brightwell (24) has been a great addition for the Jackrabbits this season. The 6-foot-2 force has altered a slew of opponent’s shots, causing absurdly low field-goal percentages. Click on the image itself for the complete photo. (News photo by Blake Wood)
In its first match since last year’s state semifinal appearance, Saint Jo hosted Bryson Aug. 11 and took a 25-13, 25-12, 25-21 win over the Cowgirls.
The Lady Panthers lost some talent to graduation but have five seniors ready to have a successful season. Savannah Hil, one of the five, got Saint Jo rolling offensively with a four-point serving string, including a pair of aces. Abby Carter’s kill and Kamron Skidmore’s block helped put the Lady Panthers up 5-2 in game one.
Hadleigh Moore added a four-point string of her own to extend the lead to 10-3. Tatum Morman’s pair, helped by a Hill kill, gave Saint Jo a 14-5 lead. Bryson got within five before a Hill 3-pointer, with help by a Carter kill, put the lead back at 18-10.
After an Olivia Johnson kill broke serve, Jordyn O’Neal served up the final five points, with Johnson providing a kill to move things along.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
Despite being the smallest school in the Brock varsity classic volleyball tournament, the Lady Indians finished 4th out of the eight teams there.
After losing to the host team in its first pool play match Aug. 14 18-25, 14-25 and also to Class 3A Wall 12-25, 8-25, Nocona rebounded to close out pool play with a 20-25, 25-23, 25-20 win over Christoval. Sy Parker had 16 kills and 7 blocks in the three matches. Raylea Bowles had 12 kills, 17 digs and served up three aces. Maddyn Bowles had seven kills and 14 digs while Paige Davis had seven kills and 15 digs. Baylee Thomas added 11 digs.
From the setter spot, Kasi Castro had 20 assists, served up five aces and contributed 14 digs. Leah Meekins added 18 assists and six digs during the three matches.
To open Saturday’s bracket play, the Lady Indians posted a 25-18, 18-25, 26-24, 25-19 win over Fort Worth Christian. Castro staked Nocona to a 2-0 lead in game one. Kills by Parker set up pairs of points from Raylea Bowles and Leah Meekins helped Nocona negate an early deficit and take a 10-9 lead.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
County football teams had their first scrimmage of the season Aug. 14 with mixed results.
Forestburg hosted Azle Christian and Victory Christian. Under a new system with new head coach Cori Hayes, the Longhorns looked pretty good in the coach’s eye.
“The first team looked good,” Hayes explained. “Overall we need to work on our pace and blocking assignments and blocking assignments. Overall we looked good for the new regime.”
Forestburg hits the road to scrimmage Newcastle Aug. 21.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
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