SPORTS
Jackrabbits come back to win
The Bowie Jackrabbits baseball team picked up a huge win at Iowa Park on Tuesday.
The Jackrabbits won 7-5, coming back from a 5-2 deficit and tying the district series after losing to the Hawks the first time the teams played.
Fresh off another big game, winning on a walk-off RBI in extra-innings against another probable playoff team Jacksboro, Bowie could not afford to come in and have an off game or a team like Iowa Park would make them pay.
The Jackrabbits got out to the first lead of the game as Brody Armstrong led off with a single. Tucker Jones laid down a sacrificed bunt to move him to second base and two batters later, Friday night’s hero Kynan DeMoss continued his hot play by driving Armstrong in with a double. Bowie led 1-0 following a strikeout for out three.
Edmond DeLeon got the start on the mound for the Jackrabbits and the freshman had yet to lose in his previous four starts during district play. After an infield pop up for out one, the Hawks drew a walk and hit a single to get two runners on base.
DeLeon and Bowie’s defense came through getting a groundout force out at third base followed by a line out at third for out three.
Besides Conner Earp drawing a one out walk, the Jackrabbits did not get anything going in the second inning.
This left the door open for the Hawks to swoop in and take advantage when they threatened again. Following a strikeout, Iowa Park drew two walks and a single to load up the bases.
A passed ball allowed one run to score and the other two runners to advance. A sacrifice fly to left field allowed another run to score, giving the Hawks a 2-1 lead before getting a groundout to end the second inning.
Bowie answered in the third inning as Jones drew a one out walk. Two batters later, after Jones had successfully stolen second base, DeMoss came through again with a single to left field that drove in the tying run 2-2.
It would not stay tied for long. Iowa Park responded in the same inning. The leadoff batter hit a ball right into the right field corner for a triple. Next batter drove in that runner with a single to put the Hawks up 3-2 and they were feeling pumped up.
That momentum was snuffed out by the Jackrabbits with the next batter. A sacrificed bunt was laid down, but after getting the out at first base the lead runner made a break for third where he was tagged out for a double play.
A single followed, but it did not lead to anything as the next batter grounded out to the shortstop for out three.
Seth Hall led off for Bowie in the fourth inning with a single. Two batters later DeLeon hit a deep single that allowed Hall to reach third base to put runners at the corners. Pinch runner A.J. Whatley then stole second base to put two runners in scoring position.
Unfortunately, the Jackrabbits could not take advantage. The next two batters struck out and the runners were left stranded.
The Hawks added to their lead. A one out walk and single put two runners on base.
A sacrificed bunt then moved both into scoring position where Iowa Park’s next batter came through with a two RBI double. The Hawks led 5-2 and seemed to be in control having taken advantage of more of their opportunities than Bowie had so far through four innings.
The Jackrabbits got one run back in the fifth inning. Carson Sanders hit a one out double and DeMoss followed drawing a walk. Troy Kesey then hit a single to left field. Sanders went for home, but unfortunately was thrown out.
Next batter Hall popped one up high into the shallow outfield, but was bailed out by bad communication from the Hawks as several stared at each other as it dropped to the ground for an error. This allowed DeMoss to come in and score, cutting the lead to 5-3.
Iowa Park put itself in position to get the run back. A leadoff single followed by a rare off target throw to first base for an error two batters later put two runners on base with one out.
A groundout followed for out two, but both runners were allowed to advance and were in prime scoring position. Thankfully, DeLeon came through with a clutch strikeout to end the scoring chance.
The sixth inning proved to be the Jackrabbits big inning. Cy Egenbacher drew a walk with one out followed up with a single from Armstrong.
Jones then hit a ball to right field that was mishandled by the Hawk outfielder for another error that loaded up the bases.
Sanders came through with a single into the gap that drove in two runs. He was caught trying to stretch the hit into a double for out two, but Jones was still at third base.
DeMoss came through once again with his bat, driving in Jones with a single to right field and giving Bowie the lead 6-5. He advanced to second base thanks to another error out in right field, though it counted as a hit. Unfortunately, the next batter struck out for out three.
Iowa Park had responded every time up to that point, but after multiple innings where uncharacteristic fielding errors led to multiple runs being scored the Hawks seemed rattled.
Armstrong came in to pitch the final two innings. Despite the leadoff batter hitting the first pitch he saw for a single and later advancing all the way third base, Armstrong was able to induce an infield pop fly and routine groundouts to get out of the inning unscathed.
Hall led off for Bowie and again got another gift from the Hawks fielding. A groundball to shortstop resulted in Iowa Park’s fourth fielding error, and it would come back to bite.
Hall successfully stole second base before Earp laid down a sacrifice bunt to move him to third base.
Boston Farris, playing in his second varsity district game and his first at-bat of the game after subbing in to play in the outfield when there was a pitching change, came through with a sacrifice fly ball to center field which allowed Hall to score.
Bowie’s lead was up to 7-5 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning following a groundout for out three.
Armstrong retired the first two batters with a strikeout and a fly out to right field. Iowa Park would not go away down to its last out though.
A drawn walk and single followed, putting the tying runners on base. With tension coming from every pitch, Armstrong quickly worked ahead on the next batter up 0-2 in the count, but the batter fouled off three straight pitches and held for a ball as the Hawks would not go away.
Finally, the next pitch was popped up into foul territory and fittingly third basemen DeMoss caught it for the final out.
Bowie won 7-5.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the weekend edition of the Bowie News.
The Nocona Indians were able to beat Saint Jo at home on Thursday night in a tight contest.
The Indians won 55-48 against the Panthers in a game where both teams played hard, but made plenty of early season mistakes.
Nocona came into the game following a low-scoring win against Bells earlier in the week 35-30. For a young Indians team that only has a few players with varsity experience this year, every early season win builds confidence.
For Saint Jo, the Panthers were still without several returning starters since football is still going on. Despite that, new Coach Jacob Nocktonick is trying to build what he can with his group of basketball first players that include several key players even when the football team is integrated.
Despite Saint Jo being the smaller school, overall it had the height advantage in the front line since Nocona features only one player, Kasch Johnson, who is built like a post player. That is nothing new for the Indians, who featured a short team the previous year as Coach Brody Wilson emphasizes full-court pressure on defense and pushing the ball in transition in his system that makes up for a lack of height and size.
Initially Nocona’s pace and energy, grabbing several offensive rebounds, got it the lead 9-3. Eventually, the Panthers adjusted and trailed only 12-11 after the first quarter.
Saint Jo got the lead early in the second quarter. Post Trent Gaston took advantage of his size advantage, especially when the Indians had Johnson out, and led 17-12. Both teams had trouble scoring in a rough second quarter as open perimeter shots just were not going in and shots at the rim were tough to convert.
The Panthers led 23-20 heading into halftime.
Both teams had better offensive success pushing the ball when it could in the second half.
Saint Jo broke Nocona’s press and punished the Indians with quick baskets. Nocona ran whenever it could and seemed to put up an array of perimeter shots and drives, getting offensive rebounds it seemed at will to keep the pressure up and infuriate the Panthers coach.
The Indians got a big push from Landon Fatheree in the second half. After scoring eight points in the first half to lead the team, he scored 10 of his team’s 14 points in the third quarter.
Nocona got the lead back, but only led 34-33 heading into the final period.
The Indians had a comfortable lead up 44-36 when Saint Jo’s Gaston fouled out with 4:56 left in the game. Still, the Panthers did not give up and a minute later had whittled Nocona’s lead down to one basket 44-41 with 3:45.
The game stayed a one-possession game for the next two minutes as Saint Jo had several chances to tie or take the lead not go through.
Nocona made its free throws down the stretch to win with a little more comfort, with the final score being 55-48.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the weekend edition of the Bowie News. To see more pictures, click here https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=bnews1&AID=6870682&T=1
Nocona senior Meg Meekins signed her official letter of intent to play college basketball at Lubbock Christian University on Wednesday. Meekins, the daughter of Brandi and Lance, is a four-year starter on the volleyball and basketball court. She has earned several accolades like being named to the All State Teams for TGCA, TABC, Associated Press and was selected to the All Tournament Team at the UIL State Basketball Tournament in San Antonio last year.“The coaching staff and the community of the LCU program and just knowing you have a staff that coaches you, but also looks over you just like Coach (Kyle) Spitzer did here was a huge part in the recruiting process,” Meekins said. She plans to pursue a degree in either physical or occupational therapy.
For more pictures, click here https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=bnews1&AID=6870680&T=1
The Bowie Lady Rabbits got more than they bargained for when they traveled to Bellevue on Tuesday night.
The Lady Rabbits escaped with the win 44-40, taking the lead with less than a minute to go after trailing whole game.
Bowie came into the game confident. The larger 3A school was supposed to play Windthorst, but had to reschedule because the Lady Trojans volleyball team was playing in the state tournament.
Finding a last minute replacement, the Lady Rabbits thought they would have an easy game playing the 1A program down the road. Little did they know.
Bellevue had a couple of players out with injury to limit its depth a bit and a new coach in Celsey Hoffman, but the Lady Eagles were coming off of nearly beating a Nocona team the previous week. While the Lady Indians were missing four starters who were still in volleyball, it still showed this was not a 1A team to take lightly.
Bellevue came out fast showing tough defensive pressure despite giving up size at nearly every position. Within a few minutes the Lady Eagles had used that pressure to force turnovers and convert those steals into transition opportunities.
Also, the energy showed in other areas as Bellevue seemed to grab every loose ball and fought for offensive rebounds despite lacking in height compared to Bowie.
After a little more than four minutes into the game the Lady Eagles led 15-0. The Lady Rabbits had barely been able to set up their offense or attempt a shot against the pressure.
Bowie Coach Matthew Miller had to reset his shell-shocked team during multiple timeouts. The young ballhandlers was reminded how the team was going to break the press defense so it could set up its offense.
Bellevue led 19-4 after the first quarter, led by Mary Grace Broussard and Brittany Gill who each scored six points.
The Lady Rabbits settled down and made some good progress in the second quarter. Their defense switched between man-to-man and 1-3-1 to keep the Lady Eagles off balance. With them taking care of the ball better, there were less chances for Bellevue in transition and the Lady Eagles offense struggled to consistently find ways to score against Bowie’s length.
The Lady Rabbits offense found some success as well. Five different players made at least one basket and the team made two 3-pointers.
While the game was physical from the start, now that Bowie knew what type of game it was in the team responded back. It was not pretty and only enough fouls were called to make the game watchable, but individual foul trouble affected Bellevue harder than the Lady Rabbits in the second quarter.
The Lady Eagles still led heading into halftime, but Bowie had gotten it down to single digits trailing 25-19.
The third quarter was more even between the two teams as both had trouble consistently scoring baskets. Bellevue made three baskets and a couple of free throws to keep ahead.
The Lady Rabbits got a big lift from Lanie Moore, who knocked in all three of her 3-pointers in the quarter, scoring nine of the team’s 12 points.
Bowie still trailed, but had cut the lead down to one point earlier in the quarter and one basket 34-31 heading into the fourth quarter.
Bellevue grew the lead to 38-32 early in the final period. The Lady Rabbits struggled to get anything going offensively and trailed 40-34 midway through the quarter.
Bowie’s Kendall Fallis made a 3-pointer in transition to cut the lead to one basket 40-37.
The score stayed there for the next several minutes even as the Lady Eagles had two starters, Karis Denson and Mattie Broussard, foul out of the game.
With a little more than a minute left, the Lady Rabbits drew up and out of bounds play that got Laney Segura an open shot in the corner. Despite not having made a basket all game, she sunk the 3-pointer to tie the game at 40-40 with a minute still to play.
Bowie had been in a pressure defense for the second half of the fourth quarter to prevent Bellevue from passively running clock. Still in the defense, the team next stole the in-bounds pass and Railey Martin made the undefended layup to give the Lady Rabbits their first lead of the game 42-40 with 48 seconds left.
The Lady Eagles could not tie the score on their next offensive possession. Bowie would made two more free throws to make the final 44-40.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the weekend edition of the Bowie News. For more pictures from the game, click here https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=bnews1&AID=6870678&T=1
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