SPORTS
STORM CENTER COLUMN: A memorable basketball year
Last year, the sports editor of The Bowie News found himself on the street without a job after he was the victim of layoffs at the Times Record in Fort Smith, Ark.
It’s never fun for anyone to face an uncertain future.
So, there I was sending my resume around the Midwestern United States, but I primarily focused on Missouri and north Texas.
Last year at this time I was a free agent while scores of professional football players were looking to secure gainful employment as well.
However, there are only 32 National Football League teams. There are plenty more newspapers to work for.
In the end, it came down to two newspapers in the Texoma region – The Bowie News and the Graham Leader.
Back in early June, I wrote in my introductory column I decided to return to Texas because of the sport of football, and the allure of those “Friday Night Lights.”
Looking back at my decision to join the Bowie News, my decision was based more on a different sport – basketball.
Last fall, I looked forlornly while Graham advanced all the way to the Conference 4A Division I semifinals before falling to Argyle 23-20.
I wondered what it would have been like to enjoy the deep playoff run the Steers had.
Especially in light of the fact only one high school in Montague County qualified for the postseason, and that was 6-Man Division II Forestburg.
Chillicothe came back from a huge deficit to defeat the Longhorns on a woefully chilly November night by a count of 58-41 in Archer City. My football season evaporated in one two-hour stretch.
Basketball season was thrust upon me.
And, in the end, the sports editor’s decision to join The Bowie News has appeared more about 3-point field goals rather than kicked field goals; fouls more than penalties and painted lines over chalked lines. Read more in the weekend News.
Editor’s Note: The Storm Center column is the expressed written views of sports editor Eric Viccaro and not The Bowie News.
The sports editor was astounded to see so many Bowie fans in attendance for this Conference 3A regional quarterfinal. The game started at 4 p.m., in order fans could get home to avoid Wednesday night’s wintry weather. Bowie lost to Ponder by 14 points. (News photo by Eric Viccaro)
SPORTS
District awards for 1A released
With the baseball and softball seasons over for the area 1A schools, district awards have been released.
Listed below are those earned honors on the field and in the classroom for Saint Jo and Bellevue.
Softball
Saint Jo
Honorable mention
Utility player: Taylor Patrick; Catcher: Jordyn O’Neal
Baseball
Superlatives
Offensive MVP: Devin Stewart, Saint Jo
Newcomer of the Year: Bryce Ramsey, Bellevue
Pitcher: Trent Gaston, Saint Jo
Outfielder: Jayden Curry, Saint Jo
Second team
Pitcher: Charlie Barclay, Saint Jo
Infielder: Brycen Bancroft, Bellevue; Sam Martin, Saint Jo
Outfielder: Rylan Forrester, Saint Jo
Catcher: Charlie Evans, Saint Jo
Utility: Logan Hoover, Saint Jo
DH: Amzy Barclay, Saint Jo
Honorable mention
Cody Gaston, Saint Jo; Xander Joyner, Saint Jo
To see academic awards from Saint Jo players, pick up a copy of the weekend edition of the Bowie News.
SPORTS
Forestburg coach retiring
Eldon Van Hooser is leaving Forestburg better than he found it.
The head boy’s basketball coach is retiring after more than 30 years, spending the last five at Forestburg.
Van Hooser did not come to this decision because of a lack of fire or feeling tired after decades in the profession. He had to for family reasons.
“My wife has MS (multiple sclerosis) and it’s a disease where you have trouble standing and walking and she needs help,” Van Hooser said. “I am able to so I am going to step away from teaching and coaching to be there for her.”
Van Hooser was hired in 2019. Along with being the boy’s basketball coach, he also was the football team’s defensive coordinator.
There were some lean years for Forestburg on the boy’s athletic side, with numbers being low and the available athletes being mostly underclassmen.
For two years, the Longhorns’ boy’s basketball team won few games and one of those seasons saw the team field five players on the high school team.
“One of those years we had COVID-19 and the other we had five kids,” Van Hooser said. “It was very rough. After that we worked with the kids and we had a good freshman group coming up. Next year they are going to be seniors.”
That group has helped to turn the program around. Last year the young Longhorns team contested for a playoff spot and just barely missed it finishing fifth in the district.
This season, that same group took a leap and finished second in district with a record of 7-5.
Despite losing its last two regular season games in dramatic fashion heading into the playoffs, the team stepped up in the bi-district game.
Playing against an athletic Newcastle team, Forestburg led for most of the game.
Unfortunately, the previous game against Bellevue saw the Longhorn team blow the lead late in the fourth quarter against a hard pressing style team and they were suffering the same fate against the Bobcats down the stretch.
Fortunately, Forestburg held on just enough to win 53-46. It was the first boy’s basketball playoff win in nine years for Forestburg.
“It was huge for our program,” Van Hooser said. “This new year we will have new goals. The new coach will have some goals of his own, but I set some for the team and think that we have come a long way.”
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the weekend edition of the Bowie News.
SPORTS
Bowie Sports Banquet
The Bowie sports banquets was on Monday night. Olivia Gill and Tucker Jones were named Jackrabbit and Lady Rabbit of the year. Pick up the mid-week paper for all of the sports team awards and pictures.
-
NEWS1 year ago
2 hurt, 1 jailed after shooting incident north of Nocona
-
NEWS6 months ago
Suspect indicted, jailed in Tia Hutson murder
-
NEWS1 year ago
SO investigating possible murder/suicide
-
NEWS1 year ago
Wreck takes the life of BHS teen, 16
-
NEWS10 months ago
Murder unsolved – 1 year later Tia Hutson’s family angry, frustrated with no arrest
-
NEWS1 year ago
Sheriff’s office called out to infant’s death
-
NEWS1 year ago
Bowie Police face three-hour standoff after possible domestic fight
-
NEWS1 year ago
Driver stopped by a man running into the street, robbed at knifepoint