SPORTS UPDATE #134

WELCOME

*** FRIDAY – JANUARY 4, 2008 ***

• 2007 All-Big Country: Class 3A   –  The games are over. Coaches made their nominations. And now the 2007 All-Big Country football teams can be announced.

• Late foul shots lift Wylie

• Lady Eagles win in San Angelo

• Coyotes relying heavily on experience in the ’08 soccer season (Alice)

• AHS goes to Bullard for 14-AAA opener   –  The Athens Lady Hornets are scheduled to open defense of their District 14-AAA title Friday at Bullard.

• Brenham’s playoff hopes on the line  –  Brenham’s boys and girls basketball teams already have their backs up against the wall.

• Panthers suffocate Lobos  –  The Lopez Lobos faced a tough opponent in the Weslaco Panthers (11-8, 1-1), who were hungry after losing its first district game last week….

• Lions play host to No. 12 Wylie tonight
  Russell Foy (50) and the Brownwood Lions (14-6) will attempt to snap a two-game losing streak against the Class 3A 12th-ranked Abilene Wylie Bulldogs at 8 p.m. tonight at Warren Gym. The Lions will also host Glen Rose at 6:30 p.m. Friday in their final game before the District 16-4A opener against University on Jan. 11.

• Vipers strike Texans early  –  It’s not a good idea to fall behind against Victoria Memorial this season. Ray found that out the hard way Thursday night, as the Vipers raced to an early 10-point lead and never trailed en route to a 58-47 boys … Read

• Frost grows up in 45-36 win over No. 17 Cross Roads  –  Don’t tell the Frost Polar Bears boys basketball team they are young. They’ve already grown up. ….more>>

• JHS soccer teams prepare for season  (Jacksonville)

• Dragons host Henderson tonight; girls on road   (Nacogdoches)

• Queens earn first district win
  The Queens’ resolution: New year. New attitude. (Del Rio)

• Rams can’t overcome slow start
  The Rams’ shooting woes followed them into the new year. (Del Rio)

• Franklin, Coronado girls teams play today
  Rivals clash to start the second half of the high school girls basketball season when Franklin plays at Coronado today. Full story

• Lake Travis champs to be honored in parade

• Elkins girls squad rebounds with win against Hightower  –  The Elkins girl’s basketball team had a tough start to December, playing in several tournaments and facing tough District 23-5A teams like Marshall and Willowridge.  Full Story

• Still much lot to be settled in District 23-5A boys hoops  –  The season is still young in District 23-5A boy’s basketball, but there are still a lot of questions to be settled.

• Bryan, Consol basketball teams to return to 13-5A action tonight 

• High School Basketball Box Scores for January 3 

• Back to Work  –  The weary got a little rest over the holidays, but it’s back to work tonight for the Hornets and six other boys basketball teams from District 18-4A. ….more>>  (Huntsville)

• Clutch Cruz; Tigers squeak by Mustangs on Cruz layup  –  Martin coach Hecky Noyola, Jr regarded Wednesday’s district tilt against Nixon as a contest that would either make or break his team. Full Story

• Lady ‘Horns hold off Panthers for fifth district win  –  The United Lady Longhorns survived a late comeback effort from the United South Lady Panthers Wednesday night to earn a 70-64 win and improve to 5-2 in district play.  Full Story

• Cigarroa girls beat Eagle Pass to stay behind Alexander  –  Cigarroa coach Ale Arreguin used her team’s dismal performance at the Border Olympics tournament to remind her team, that from this point on, they have to be perfect the rest of the season if they want to contend for the district title. Full Story

• Lady Pack opening district tonight   (Lufkin)

• Lady Longhorns take tourney title   ZEPHYR – Gordon’s Brooke Van Bramer made a clutch shot as time expired in a 53-51 win over the Tolar Lady Rattlers basketball team on Saturday in the finals of the Zephyr High School Tournament.….more>>

• Strawn splits wins with Priddy, Goldthwaite   –  STRAWN – The Strawn Lady Greyhounds picked up a win and took a loss in a pair of recent non-district games.

• Lady Panthers, Ladynecks meet in 15-3A opener   (White Oak, Spring Hill)

• ET Basketball 

• Prosper takes two from Bonham
  In a very competitive District 9-3A contest, the Prosper Lady Eagles edged the Bonham Lady Warriors, 42-36. The boys game was also close, but the Prosper Eagles defeated the Bonham Warriors, 52-49. Bonham hosts Van Alstyne for a Saturday afternoon contest, although the time has yet to be determined.Full Story

• Bells Panthers upset Gunter Tigers, 52-49
  The Bells Panthers (10-8, 1-1) played host to the Gunter Tigers in continuation of District 14-2A basketball action Thursday night. The Panthers would grab their first district win of the season. Bells will continue with district 14-2A play and host Callisburg Saturday for an afternoon game beginning at 2:00 pm with JV games.Full Story

• CORNER TREY
  PHARR — Harlingen South coach Brian Molina couldn’t remember exactly how the ball got from… (full story)

• ’Stangs’ coach not talking about ‘what if’ with WalkerMcALLEN — McAllen Memorial coach Roxanne Balducci doesn’t sound willing to think about “what if” for… Full Story… 

• Viking PG Garza shakes off ankle sprain

• Akins runs past Lady Rattlers  –  It’s like Murphy’s Law is following the San Marcos girl’s basketball team. The Lady Rattlers struggled from the free-throw line and the injury bug continued to plague them as they fell to Akins, 77-52.….more>>

• Rattlers’ late run fall short  –  The Akins Eagles used a 10-0 run to start the second half and used that margin to stave off a fourth-quarter Rattler comeback attempt, taking a 70-59 win Wednesday at The Snake Pit.

• Girls basketball: Liberty proving its mettle against top teams

• Gymnastics: Pioneers have depth, experience

• Carroll Aims to Halt Buffalo Shooter  –  Lady Dragons Intend to Bounce Back From Loss, Regain District Lead  –  On the path to a 4-0 district start heading into the Christmas break, the Carroll girls basketball team hit a bump in the road.

• Magical Ending  –  Dragons Receiver to Finish High School Career at All-America Contest   –    In fairy tales, it’s common for a dragon to provide a challenge for warriors in a magic kingdom. In the kingdom of high school football, the Dragons of Carroll have enjoyed their fair share of conquering opponents and claiming championships.

• Trying to Keep Momentum  –  Carroll Hopes Success at Whataburger Carries Over to District  –  The Dragons’ start to the district basketball schedule left lots to be desired, as the Carroll boys lost their first two contests to 5-5A opponents by an average of 21 points.

• Poteet can’t dig out of early hole in loss to Terrell
  Time after time, the players on the Poteet bench would start to stand up, ready to celebrate. –

• West Mesquite, Poteet girls pick up district victories
  West Mesquite and Poteet each returned to District 10-4A play on Thursday in successful fashion by picking up victories.

• Lady Broncos show no mercy against Little Elm
  With back-to-back scrimmages to open the 2008 soccer season scheduled for Thursday against Little Elm and today against Arlington Bowie, McKinney Boyd head coach Jimmie Lankford opted to give a few of his players an extra day of winter vacation

• Tough ’07 has Bulldog wrestler excited for ’08
  The first lesson Zach Gagnon picked up from wrestling was a painful one to learn.

• For Lions, Lionettes, winter break has been a major benefit
  It may have been received a week late, but McKinney boys basketball coach Wes Watson got exactly what was on his holiday wish list when the Lions returned to practice on Monday. –

• Bulldogs trying to regain their rhythm; Lady Bulldogs excited for a fresh start  –  New Year’s Eve is an exciting day for many, but for McKinney North boys basketball coach Darryll Craft, Monday’s holiday took on a special meaning.

• Western Hills boys build cushion, beat Birdville

• Martin girls smother Arlington with defense

• Boswell girls end Fossil Ridge’s district win streak

• Wyatt boys hand E. Hills first district loss

• Arlington Bowie boys outlast Lamar

• Wrestling tournament  draws top talent

• Rivalry secondary for Lee, RSS girls
  The Lee and Sterling girls’ basketball teams will take center stage at 7 p.m. tonight when they play the nightcap of a intracity doubleheader.

• Angleton edges Brazosport in OT
  FREEPORT — The Angleton and Brazosport boys basketball teams took to the court on Thursday for the first time in 2008 and rang in the new year with a classic district battle.

• Ladycats claw Lady Exporters
  ANGLETON — The holidays didn’t seem to slow down the Angleton Ladycat basketball program.

• Tors twist Buccaneers
  CLUTE — Brazoswood scored first, 17 seconds into the game, but Ball responded with a 17-0 run and then ran away for a 61-42 victory at Performance Gym.

• Archie, Gators hold off rally by Stings
  DICKINSON — Dedrick Archie scored 11 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter as Dickinson held off a rally to beat Texas City, 69-61.

• La Marque takes care of Friendswood
  LA MARQUE — The Coogs took a step toward their bid to repeat as district champs, racing past Friendswood for a 58-41 victory on Thursday.

• Friendswood takes big step toward playoffs
  FRIENDSWOOD — The Lady Mustangs took advantage of a short-handed La Marque squad for a 55-40 victory.

• Standing atop the district race
  SEGUIN — Perhaps every big run deserves another.

• Cayuga falls to Goodrich    –   BETHEL — Cayuga head coach Greg Jenkins knew when the Wildcats became the top ranked team in Class A, there would be a target on their backs.  Wednesday afternoon, that target was hit hard by Goodrich, who defeated Cayuga 71-50.

• Coyotes, Hondo to vie in basketball tomorrow
  The Uvalde Coyotes will play their first home game of the 2008 season and their final pre-district game of the season tomorrow when they take on the Hondo Owls in varsity basketball competition.

• University keeps La Vega in check, 57-49  

• Jan. 4 High school basketball scores   (Central Texas)