SPORTS
Saint Jo pair compete at state tennis
While the Saint Jo girl’s double team is not bringing a medal home this year from the state tournament, they still put up a good showing.
Senior Kyler Dunn and junior Taylor Patrick fell in the first round of the state tennis tournament on Thursday at North East High School against a team from Knippa that would go on to finish second overall.
The pair were making their second straight appearance at state. Last year the team did not know what to expect. Coming in after finishing second at both district and regionals, the odds were against them advancing past the first round.
Instead, they beat a team from Vernon Northside with the scores 6-0, 7-6 to move on. In the second round, the pair eventually lost to the eventual state champs from Utopia, but finished tied for third place and brought back a bronze medal.
This season, Dunn and Patrick had higher expectations and came in with a lot of confidence. They blitzed through both the district and regional tournaments, facing few teams that could win even a game against them let alone challenge them.
Still, that does not guarantee success at state.
Facing a team that share the same last name from Knippa, the first set was a battle that ultimately didn’t go Saint Jo’s way, losing 7-6.
The second set was competitive, but unfortunately the Lady Panther duo could not get many of the deuce points to go there way. Knippa won the second set 6-1 to win the match 2-0.
The team that beat Saint Jo had a much easier time in the second round against a Mertzon Irion County team before losing in the finals against the same Utopia team that won the state title the previous season and also that had beaten Dunn and Patrick last year.
While it was not the ending the pair was hoping for, it was a still a good season for them to get back to state, with them having the pressure coming into the season unlike last year.
“I am extremely proud of them for making it to state for the second year in a row. That is not something that is done easily,” Coach Brady Hilton. “They worked hard throughout the entire year, coming up to practices despite having softball and track practice as well, and I cannot be more proud of them for the work they put in the entire year.”
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the mid-week edition of the Bowie News.
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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