SPORTS UPDATE #142

WELCOME

*** FRIDAY – JANUARY 25, 2008 ***

• AD resigns at Bay City
  Blackcat athletic director and head football coach Dan Edelman accepted a job with Arlington ISD.

• Some questions and answers on Texas high school steroid testing By JIM VERTUNO, Associated Press  AUSTIN (AP) – Texas’ massive high school steroids testing program is about to start. No doubt, many students and parents have questions about who gets tested and how….More of this story 

• Texas state title decided two years later   –  DALLAS-A Dallas high school will forfeit its 2005-2006 boys basketball state title after an internal investigation showed a player’s failing grade was changed. Dallas Independent School District Superintendent Michael Hinojosa announced Wednesday results of the review of the South Oak …

• Bear attack  –  Tuesday night’s boys basketball showdown featured one of the best teams in the state going up against the leading scorer in the state. No. 5 West Oso won this battle hands down, as the Bears held one of the leading …

• JHS powerlifters compete in Brownsboro   –  BROWNSBORO — The Jacksonville boys and girls competed in the recent Brownsboro Bears powerlifting meet.

• NHS Athletic teams in action tonight  (Nacogdoches)

• Dragons get back on right track, 71-56  (Nacogdoches)

• Class 4A district favorites hope history repeats itself  –   El Paso fans might see a carbon copy of last year’s high school Class 4A district swimming championships, as each reigning champion is poised to repeat

• Pirates punch Lions
  Hunter Skelton delivered the first punch. Pine Tree dealt the knockout blow. (Henderson)

• Lions’ soccer team destroys Diboll
  Henderson’s shutout streak is over. It’s win streak continues.

• BOYS’ BASKETBALL –  Johnston senior eyes his final game, seventh surgery

• Another Del Valle basketball player heading to Baylor

• Deer Park downs Mavs for 6th straight victory

• Tiebreaker gives Katy girls wrestling win over Waller

• Deer Park football team honored for sportsmanship

• Wrestling: Reagan on the rise on the mat

• Shame on those who cheated SOC out of its title

• DISD wants to ensure standards are being met

• Lancaster senior guards have a close connection

• Mesquite Horn going above & beyond

• Despite lofty record, Plano West wants more

• Mansfield goalie Staab excels while dealing with diabetes

• Area High School Notebook: Hornets looking like champs again   –  The Hornets sure look like district champs again. Holding a two-game lead with five games to play — and winning the first seven district games by an average of 29 points — the Huntsville boys are on pace to repeat as champions of 18-4A.

• Double OT loss brings Taylor boys back to the pack
  Taylor High School boys’ basketball coach Doug McCarter loved the overflow crowd that showed up to cheer on his squad on ‘Pack the Place Pink’ night Friday against Elsik.

• StalemateUnited-Martin ends in draw   –  The United Longhorns and the Martin Tigers braved the cold Wednesday night at the Student Activity Complex, but neither team found the back of the net and settled for a scoreless 0-0 tie  Full Story

• Panthers looking to surge into first-place tie  –  Lufkin traveling to Conroe to take on district-leading Tigers tonight

• Rams fly past Owls in overtime win at MWHS   –   The Mineral Wells Rams avenged two early season losses and stayed a live in the District 8-4A basketball race on Tuesday with a 66-57 win over the Joshua Owls in overtime.

• HIGH SCHOOL BEAT
  Pride of the East Side: Sam Houston’s girls

• Swimming: OHS girls have better outlook for 3-5A meet

• Basketball: Boys / Girls Polls

• Football: Permian made progress in 2007 season

• Crochett, Watson learning under fire for Mustangs  –  Going into the 2007-08 basketball season, West Orange-Stark basketball fans knew their young team would be a work in progress.

SPORTS UPDATE #141

WELCOME

*** WEDNESDAY – JANUARY 23, 2008 ***

• Wylie girls win defensive struggle

• UIL selects testing lab; steroid tests to start soon   AUSTIN — The company that conducts drug testing for the NCAA, minor league baseball and other sports leagues has been chosen to run Texas’ massive high school steroids testing program.  

• Report: South Oak Cliff must forfeit basketball title

• Huntsville wakes up, beats Bulldogs   WALLER — The Hornets certainly didn’t have a cakewalk Tuesday night, but because they buckled down defensively and started hitting shots, they didn’t wear egg on their faces back to Huntsville.

• Mavs, Rams show big improvement  In a district where Taylor, Cinco Ranch and Katy have state-wide prowess in girls soccer, two young teams are looking to join that mix.

• Lufkin routs Magnolia 

• Strong second half lifts Hudson past Huntington 

• Diboll wins in 2 OTs 

• Pack soccer shuts out Bryan to move to 8-0-1 on season 

• Indians roast Mavericks  (J’Ville – Marshall)

• Lady Mavs get season sweep over Jacksonville with 44-40 win 

• Santo whips Tolar  –  TOLAR — The state-ranked Santo Lady Wildcats basketball team is riding high.….more>>

• State-ranked Strawn bombs Moran in 86-7 district win   –  STRAWN — If this had been a sixman football game instead of a girls basketball game, it would have been over at halftime via the 45-point rule.

• District showdowns  –  Parkland wins, takes over 2-4A girls race  Parkland’s girls basketball team was a hurricane, trapping and whirling its opponent into 27 turnovers in a rematch Tuesday at Del Valle High School

• Third quarter key to White Oak win

• Shooting fails Lobos late in loss  (Longview)

• Boys basketball: OHS pulls away to beat Permian

• Boys basketball: Panthers get chance for payback vs. Bronchos (Permian – Oldessa)

• Jasper nips Lady Cards in double OT thriller  –  A full game was not enough for the Bridge City Lady Cardinals and Jasper Lady Bulldogs Tuesday night in Cardinals Gym.….more>>

• LC-M swimmers do well in Alvin  –  The Little Cypress-Mauriceville Swim Team wrapped up the 2007-08

• FREER SPEARED  –  SANTA ROSA — He looked like Ruben Vela III. He wore the No. 14 jersey for the Santa Rosa Warriors… (full story)

• Jan. 22 area basketball scores (San Angelo area)

• Girls basketball: Guyer moves into third in 5-4A with win

• Boys basketball: Wildcats sweep rival Denton

• Denton notebook: Lady Broncos look for big rebound

• Another player learns ins and outs of recruiting

• High schools: Ryan falls to Wichita Falls

• Boys basketball roundup
  Plano Senior head coach Tom Inman said he won’t give up on his team’s playoff hopes until the final whistle is blown at the end of the Wildcats’ 14th district game. –

• Plano East district streak snapped
  Until Tuesday night, no team in District 9-5A had proved themselves better on the basketball court than Plano East.

• Coppell basketball wrap up

• ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: Coll. Heritage boys sink Richland Tuesday, January 22   Brandon Shaw points the Panthers to an 8-0 record in District 5-5A.

• Granbury taps Highland Park assistant as head coach

• Summit boys coach back on the job

• Mansfield job goes to Fort Bend Clements coach

• Wildcats run out of gas in fourth quarter as A&M Consolidated prevails 87-67

• Tem-Cats suffer another heartbreaker as late free throws give A&M Consol 47-46 win

• Early struggles hold back Belton girls in 52-30 home loss to Shoemaker
  BELTON – It would stand to reason that the Belton Lady Tigers were due for a breakthrough coming off of a pair of good-quality performances in losses.

• Poor shooting dooms Rangers in loss
  If it’s not one thing for the Sterling boys’ basketball team then it’s another.

• Eighth-graders set for new high school
  Gentry coach awaits orders for split feeder

• Central girls take advantage of speed in rout of Lumberton

• Nederland moves forward after two tough district losses

• Ships get 5th win in a row
  MANVEL — At one point, the Brazosport Exporters were 1-2 in the District 23-4A basketball race. But Tuesday night the Ships picked up their fifth consecutive district win with a 78-66 victory over Manvel to keep them more than just in the thick of things.

• Lights go out on the Lady Exporters
  FREEPORT — After a rather lethargic first half in which his team trailed by a 3-0 count to visiting Santa Fe, Brazosport girls soccer coach Steve Slater was hoping his Lady Exporters would come out in the second half and play lights out.

• Area roundup: Angleton falls to La Marque
  Jimmy Wooten scored a team-high 17 points as La Marque beat visiting Angleton 67-63 on Tuesday in District 23-4A play.

• Danbury point guard excels
  DANBURY — Since the seventh grade, Bianca Chambless had been targeted to lead the Danbury Lady Panthers at the point.

• Akins bests Seguin
  SEGUIN — The Seguin girls basketball team might be a program on the rise, but Akins still has a say in things.

• La Vernia slips past Marion in OT
  MARION — It was deja vu all over again when the Marion and La Vernia girls basketball teams met Friday night, with two notable exceptions.

• Canyon’s win earns tie for third
  Area basketball: Cougars edge back into contention with win over Steele; NB falls at Clemens

• Cougarettes, Unicorns score shutouts
  Area soccer: Goals galore for teams in big wins on Tuesday

• Basketball an addiction for Neches’ Todd –  NECHES — For Neches’ Justin Todd, basketball started out as an activity based on peer pressure more than anything else.  But it soon turned into an addiction.  “I like everything about basketball, it’s as simple as that,” the Neches senior said.….more>>

• Hodges leads Vipers to 70-64 victory  (Victoria)

• Jan. 23 High school basketball scores  (Waco area)

• HS Notebook: Legendary Judson coach keynote speaker 

• Tors storm past previously undefeated Falcons
  HOUSTON — Mike Littleton helped the Ball High Tors whip the Clear Lake Falcons, the No. 8-ranked in the state coaches poll

• Girls basketball: OHS faces Permian with eye on playoffs

• Parkland wins, takes over 2-4A girls race  –  Parkland’s girls basketball team was a hurricane, trapping and whirling its opponent into 27 turnovers in a rematch Tuesday at Del Valle High School.

• Chapin holds off Austin to keep hold of second place   –   Johnny Davis scored a game-high 28 points as the Chapin High School basketball team did just enough to hold off Austin 78-77 on Tuesday night.

• Tigers stay unbeaten in 15-5A  –  OAK RIDGE NORTH – Taking sole possession of the District 15-5A basketball race was hard enough. The Conroe High Tigers found out Tuesday night just how hard it will be to remain in that top spot.

• Hightower beats Dulles to keep district title hopes alive — Hightower coach David Green made it quite clear to his players that if they wanted any chance at a piece of the District 23-5A championship, the Hurricanes’ game against Dulles on Tuesday night was a must-win.

• Girls: Langham Creek tops Cy Springs

• HS WRESTLING NOTES: Episcopal adds four wins at tourney 

• Texas chooses vendor; school steroid testing set to begin 

• Sizable victory gives Jesuit a share of first 

• Duo helps Mesquite Horn put away rival

• Tuesday’s high school basketball replay (DFW)

• Cold weather forces area soccer teams to cancel games

• Wylie boys shut down Clyde in post and perimeter

• Steroid testing for students to begin soon

• Lady Eagles hold off big Cooper comeback

• Carroll, Deckard come up big for AHS boys (Abilene)

• Davis doesn’t mind increase in playoff teams

• Metro Basketball Today (Amarillo)

• High School Basketball Linescores  (Amarillo)

• High School Wrestling Results

• Ladycats eyeing district title, Austin
  The Ladycats are just a game away from finishing the first round with a perfect record. (Bay City)

• Boerne shuts out Tivy, 3-0

• High School Basketball District Standings  (College Station)

• St. Joseph girls finding a way to win together 

• Cleburne falls in rematch with Everman, 56-47   Cleburne earned a win the first time the team met Everman in December, but couldn’t pull out a win on the road Tuesday as the Lady Jackets lost their second consecutive game, 56-47.

• Jackets take win over Bulldogs Cleburne held the Bulldogs to 10 points in each of the first three quarters and escaped Everman with a 54-37 win Tuesday.….more>>

• Crowley downs Alvarado, 64-14   –  The Crowley Lady Eagles ran their record to 25-4 and 9-1 in District 8-4A play with a 64-14 win over Alvarado on Tuesday night

• Eagles soar past Indians, 75-45    Crowley remained unbeaten in District 8-4A play after a 75-45 win over Alvarado on Tuesday night.

• No Williams, no worries for Port A    PORT ARANSAS — State-ranked Port Aransas is finding that there is life after Whitney Williams. The No. 17 Marlins girls basketball team hasn’t lost a step this season, even though it is now playing without Williams, the all-state post who …

• Soaring to new heights: Lady Tigers top ’Hachie 46-40 for 20th win   It was a night where nothing went right for the Lady Tigers. That is with the exception of the end result. The Lady Tigers defeated Waxahachie 46-40 Tuesday at Tiger Gymnasium to pick up their 20th win on the season.

• Indians fend off pesky Tigers, 50-44   The Tigers (1-7 in District 15-4A) came into the game as cold as the weather outside George W. Solis Gymnasium. The Tigers fell to the Indians 50-44 Tuesday night in Waxhachie.

• BHS perfect through first half of district play (Boerne)

SPORTS REPORT #140

WELCOME

*** MONDAY – JANUARY 21, 2008 ***

• In his own words: Crowley basketball coach Robert Hale    –  Back coaching the Eagles (21-3, 7-0 in District 8-4A) after battling cancer, Hale will be honored for his 700th win in a pregame ceremony before Tuesday’s game against Alvarado.

• Dunbar definitely is not in the zone

• Spring sports face GCM transition
  Ninety freshman and sophomore football players wrapped up their first full week of off-season football drills for Goose Creek Memorial Friday. But what about athletes in other sports who are headed to Baytown’s third high school next fall?

• Tempers flare as young Mavericks team falls
  Inexperience and youthfulness got the better of the Manvel Mavericks in their soccer game Saturday morning against the Spring Branch Memorial Mustangs in the Alvin ISD Shootout.

• Ball High girls eye big things this season
  GALVESTON — Ball High soccer coach Jeff Given says the Lady Tors are ready to take the next level.

• Jackson lifts Wildcats over Fairfield  –  Palestine’s Larry Jackson had four stitches in his chin and a cut lip, but none of that seemed to have an effect on the Wildcat senior.  Jackson scored 37 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter, as the Wildcats rallied for a 65-58 win over Fairfield Friday night. ….more>>  

• Panthers win heated game
  NL boys defeat Mount Pleasant; girls move into first place by themselves.

• Rivercrest splits two with Chapel Hill
  MOUNT PLEASANT — Susan Smith scored 15 of her game-high 21 points in the second half as the Rivercrest Lady Rebels rallied from nine points down to beat the Chapel Hill Lady Red Devils, 44-38, Friday night to move into the thick of the playoff picture in District 15-2A.

• WHITEHOUSE’S ATTAWAY NAMED MVP OF DISTRICT 12-4A 

• Reicher’s family atmosphere propelled team to another title 

• Former Marlin QB Sanders renews commitment to Baylor 

• Playoff trip keeps Penelope smiling 

• TRIBUNE-HERALD TOP 100: Texas’ top high school football recruits and where they’re going 

• Robinson chases down Lorena, 38-31 

• Late 3-pointer sends AHS to defeat (Abilene)

• Jim Ned rolls in top-10 battle

• No. 9 Matadors pull away from Steers late  (Big Spring)

• Benitez lifts Cubs past Foster  –  The Brenham Cub soccer team got an improved effort and another victory on the second day of the Diadora Cup at Hohlt Park on Friday.

• Panthers hold off Louise, 55-51  –  The Burton Panthers played in front of a packed home crowd Friday night and took a 55-51 non-district victory over Louise High School.

• Lions, Stephenville opt out of title game showdown

• King ousted in Gulf Coast Classic championship  –  Penalty kicks determined what 80 minutes of regulation couldn’t Saturday night –

• Maidens beat Lady Lions, end losing streak   –  The Jacksonville defense sparked a 41-24 District 12-4A girls basketball win over Henderson Friday night.

• Indians score 33 in third, down Henderson   HENDERSON — It was just a matter of when, not if.  When the Jacksonville Indians would explode to have a near-perfect quarter.

• Bullard hoop teams sweep Canton    BULLARD — Just when the Panthers and Lady Panthers needed a doubleheader sweep, they got it.

• Martinsville girls out to 7-0 start in district play 

• Woden rebuilding, contending in district 

• Top 10 notebook

  1. Top-ranked Eastwood once again edged No. 2 Montwood in boys basketball, this time holding on for a 38-35 win.  

• Indians win Austin/Cathedral tournament   –  Ysleta’s boys soccer team missed the playoffs last year, but the boys appear poised to make a good run in 2008.

• Upset bid foiled in OT  (North Shore – Memorial)

• Katy Taylor, Deer Park athletes draw top honors — A goalkeeper who found the fast lane in the Interstate 10 Shootout and a guard with a knack for the 3 are singled out for excellent recent showings. READ STORY

• Waller wins tiebreaker, takes wrestling title from Cy Ridge

• Girls soccer: Youth bringing energy to Episcopal

• Deer Park girls shut out Cypress Creek 1-0 in soccer

• SportsDay boys basketball player of the week: Lancaster’s Jacolby Anderson

• SportsDay’s area boys basketball rankings

• Pack attack; Garcia, Wolves win first BO title  –  The Lyndon B. Johnson Wolves left their mark on the final day of the fifth annual West Wind Homes Border Olympics tournament held at the TAMIU soccer grounds and the SAC Saturday. Full Story

• Lufkin wins Longview tournament 

• Lady Pack edges St. Joseph’s, 2-1 

• All in the Family   –   Robinsons and Carsons bring kindred spirit to MHS

• Late ET basketball 

• Change of Seasons: Page is multi-sport athlete for Wildcat  –  Jan. 17, 2008 – Sulphur Springs senior Kaylon Page has seen playoff atmosphere with the Wildcats football team this year, is currently dealing with a tough stretch in the basketball season and is setting his sights on the upcoming track and field season.

• Tomcats left wondering what more they have to do
  Tom Bean’s Wes Hall spoke of the feelings of frustration in the Tomcat locker room ahead of their game against the S&S Rams. These feelings come as no surprise to Tom Bean fans, as their beloved boys’ basketball team has twice come incredibly close to their first district win, but failed to come out on top. Friday’s game did not do anything to alleviate those feelings, as the Cats yet again fell to a narrow defeat by a score of 46-44.

• Gymnastics: Panthers cruise to Mojo Invitational title

• Soccer: Midland High girls, Del Valle boys win Presidents Cup titlesMIDLAND Midland High’s girls and El Paso Del Valle’s boys were crowned champions Saturday at the Presidents…   Full Story… 

• Football: Ten more applicants in Andrews

• Trio leads RGC girls wrestling
  RIO GRANDE CITY — Dedication has kept the Rio Grande City girls wrestling team at the top of…

• 1.19.08 Boys basketball reportSaturday’s Games…
  Full Story… (Valley)

• Rivas gives verbal pledge to Texas State

• Gymnastics teams sweep at Round Rock (San Angelo)

• Local soccer roundup   –  The Central High School girls soccer team shut out McKinney North 2-0 to capture the Copperas Cove Invitational championship on Saturday.

• Softball practice to start  –  As first days of work go, Aimee Foutch has seen worse. When the Ryan Lady Raiders start practice with the rest of the area teams today, she’ll see a battle-tested, veteran team that has already been to the state tournament. Today, they start working on not only getting back to the tournament, but winning it.

• High school soccer: Guyer falls to Lobos in shootout

SPORTS REPORT #139

WELCOME

*** SATURDAY – JANUARY 19, 2008 ***

• Cooper comes alive in 2nd half  –  Cooper’s Darius Robinson hit a 3-point shot early in the third quarter Friday that produced the 14th lead change in a District 3-5A game between teams with identical records.

• Jim Ned rolls in top-10 battle

• Odessa High runs past Lady Coogs

• Late 3-pointer sends AHS to defeat (Abilene)

• River Road grabs control of District 2-2A reins

• Metro Boys Roundup (Amarillo)

• Expectations high for AHS powerlifters (w/schedule)   –  Randy Smith has a ton of expectations for his Athens High School powerlifting squads.

• Brenham baseball to auction balls signed by Ryan, Clemens  –  The Brenham High School Baseball Alumni Association will auction off the autographs of two of the best pitchers in baseball history next Friday at its annual banquet.

• Proffitt to remain Goldthwaite coach after roller coaster week
  GOLDTHWAITE — This normally quiet central Texas community experienced a week straight from the once-popular TV soap opera “Dallas.”

• Grandview continues winning streak with Keene victory   –  The Grandview Lady Zebras continued their domination of District 11-2A with a 52-43 win over Keene on Friday night to remain in first place with a 7-1 record.

• T-M bounces back from tough defeat  –  CORPUS CHRISTI-Tuloso-Midway bounced back nicely Friday night from a 30-point loss to Calallen earlier in the week. The Warriors overcame a four-point, fourth-quarter deficit against defending District 31-4A champion Flour Bluff to do so in posting a 57-49 boys basketball victory …

• ‘We believe’: Lady Lions top Kerens 81-73 in front of packed house  –  Senior Kelsie Tipping said prior to Friday’s game against Kerens that it was the biggest game of her career. Tipping put up a season-high 32 points and pulled down 12 rebounds as the Lady Lions finally got the monkey that was the Kerens’ Lady Cats off their back. ….more>>

• Lady Jags top Wortham 61-59  –   The game matched up to all the hype surrounding it, but it was Hubbard that came out on top 61-59 Friday night over Wortham.

• Lady Dragons keep Whitehouse at bay

• Whitehouse captures 12-4A game over NHS   (Nacogdoches)

• Jefferson girls force 28 turnovers en route to win over Burges  –  The Burges girls basketball team has been the gold standard in this city, and during their reign they’ve written a simple book on winning.  

• Andress, Chapin game may have title implications  –  It wouldn’t be District 1-4A boys basketball if Andress and Chapin high schools weren’t locked in a battle for the district title.

• Pflugerville defeats Georgetown, enters tie for District 14-5A lead 

• Atascocita downs Kingwood, has playoffs in mind — Atascocita used its athleticism and some tough defense Friday night, defeating Kingwood High School 52-49 on its home floor.

• GIRLS: College Park rallies past Conroe in OT

• Lamar Cons. football given probation for rules violation

• SOCCER: Katy Taylor advances to tourney title pool match

• Mesquite Horn boys battle past Mesquite 

• Ex-Lincoln star Riley stands tall for Oklahoma State

• Friday’s high school basketball replay

• Pinkston athlete commits to Louisiana-Lafayette

• High school coach stands by former player  –  Troubled and separated from family, former Katy fullback Anansi Flaherty nevertheless had been one of coach Jeff Dixon’s favorites, writes columnist Kevin Sherrington. And now here Anansi was in jail, charged with first-degree murder and an unthinkable act.

• Lady Bulldogs use size inside to topple Lady Lions 66-32   NEW WAVERLY — The New Waverly Lady Bulldogs dominated the first quarter Friday against Franklin, outscoring the Lady Lions 18-2 in the period. After holding Franklin to just 11 first-half points, the Lady Bulldogs rode that momentum to a 66-32 victory.

• With 3s not falling, Bulldogs adjust to down Lions 91-67   NEW WAVERLY — When at first you don’t succeed, try, try something else. For the New Waverly boys basketball team, this rang especially true Friday night.

• AHS honors football players (Abilene)

• Tivy wins ‘war’ with Billies
  Boys Basketball: Perry’s 25 points help push Antlers to 3-0 district start

• Antlers forging ahead
  Girls Basketball: Tivy doesn’t look back, romps past Fredericksburg to fourth straight victory

• ITM surprised with late Texans burst
  Boys Basketball: Wimberley, Warriors now tied for first in district

• Comfort boys 3-0 in district
  Basketball Roundup: Harper boys 2-0 after win over Rocksprings

• Tivy hits Greyhound wall
  Boys Soccer: Antlers team effort not enough for Boerne

• Nixon-Cigarroa highlight 29-5A  –  In the Times’ Boys Game of the Night, Cigarroa travels to Nixon.

• Lufkin overcomes The Woodlands, 55-40 – Panthers struggle but still top Highlanders

• Bulldogs outlast Diboll 

• Cold shooting plagues Lady Mavs in 54-36 loss to Kilgore 

• Size advantage lifts Hallsville over Lady Pirates 

• Marshall streaks to win over Bulldogs 

• DeVance sparks Lady Lobo win (Longview)

• Roughnecks dish out first loss to Sabine, 51-40 

• Frisco Liberty boys 49, Bonham 44

• Saltillo takes two from Dodd City
  Dodd City’s Kamey Herpeche dropped in a dozen points and Cecily Darwin scored 10, but it wasn’t enough to keep Saltillo from picking up a 16-point win. In the boys game, good defense by the Saltillo Lions limited the Hornets scoring opportunities and kept them to a season low of 24 points. Full Story

• Basketball: Panthers get huge district victory
  Tyrone Moorer knew when he entered the game with 55 seconds left that he might be relied on…

• Soccer: OHS boys win, Permian boys tie on the road

• Basketball: Lady Bronchos get key road victoryABILENE The good news for the Odessa High Lady Bronchos was that they ended a five-game losing streak…  Full Story… 

• Bears nab critical win against PN-G   –  Without question, the Little Cypress-Mauriceville Bears needed a District 22-4A victory at home against Port Neches-Groves Friday night to stay in the heart of the playoff chase.

• Jasper downs Orangefield in vital 21-3A bout  –  The Jasper Bulldogs could not have started any hotter and the Orangefield Bobcats could not have started out any slower Friday night in Bobcat Gym.….more>>

• Pace tops Weslaco for eighth straight
  BROWNSVILLE — Browns-ville Pace set the pace from the start…. (full story)

• McHi clinches playoff spotMcALLEN — By now, anyone who knows a thing or two about Rio Grande Valley hoops understands the McAllen…  Full Story… 

• 1.18.08 Boys basketball report (Valley)

• Garden City brings home wins

• High school basketball scores  (San Angelo area)

• Basketball: Eagles wear down Sanger

• Basketball: Liberty uses pressure to pull away from Lady Lions

• Basketball: Halfway home  –  On their midterm exam, the Ryan Raiders get an A. The Raiders wrapped up the first half of District 5-4A play with a hard-fought win over Wichita Falls Rider, giving Ryan a winning record in district play and a leg up on the playoff race in 5-4A. Ryan didn’t always have its “A” game throughout the win, but the Raiders made enough plays down the stretch to squeeze out a 63-59 win over Rider on Friday at Billy Ryan Gym. The win was Ryan’s fourth straight district win.

• Plano solid in ChampionsTournament
  MURPHY  –  Any team wants to play well in their own tournament.

• Horn knocks off Mesquite to take over top spot in 12-5A
  Horn did not win the District 12-5A championship on Friday

• Horn, North Mesquite girls set up 12-5A showdown on Tuesday

• West Mesquite crushes Highland Park, remains unbeaten in 10-4A

• Poteet, West Mesquite come up short in 10-4A play
  Poteet hung tough for one quarter, but Pearce took control in the second and pulled away for a 79-49 victory on Friday.

• Stallions crush Tyler Lee to improve to 2-1 in 12-5A
  North Mesquite took control early and never looked back as it cruised to a 69-45 victory over Tyler Lee on Friday

• DISTRICT 10-4A GIRLS BASKETBALL
  Quick Look: West Mesquite moved one step closer to a playoff berth on Friday while Poteet saw its playoff hopes take a dramatic hit.

• DISTRICT 15-4A GIRLS SOCCER
  Quick look: In the first battle of heavyweights, McKinney edged Poteet on Friday with a 1-0 victory. As a result, the Lionettes stay with McKinney Boyd at 2-0 in district play, one-half game ahead of McKinney North who was idle on Friday.

• COURTSIDE REPLAY   –   Fort Worth Dunbar’s shots aren’t falling, but the Wildcats are. They lost for the third time in the past four games Friday night.

• Boys basketball: Polytechnic tightens the district race Friday, January 18  –  The Parrots avenged an earlier loss to Southwest with a 73-67 overtime victory that put Polytechnic one game out of first place.

• Football: Sam Houston, Seguin vacancies filled

• Summit coach leaves hospital, assistant fills in

• Girls basketball: L.D. Bell drops crucial district game

• Valdez, Temple make crucial plays late to edge Belton 60-58 for first district win

• Temple girls keep Belton scoreless in overtime to prevail 43-36, improve district standing

• LEADER OF THE PACK: Tigers top Forney, 67-41  –  In District 10-4A, things can change in the blink of an eye. (Terrell)

• Panthers score early and often in 22-4A blowout over Dayton  Ozen 98, Dayton 41

• Brown scored 18 points in Wildcats’ win   ANGLETON — Angleton junior Garrett Brown, who had not practiced all week due to an illness, gave the Wildcats a much needed shot in the arm Friday and helped send Dickinson home sick as he poured in 18 points in a hard-fought 57-54 District 23-4A win.

• Dickinson defeats Ladycats   DICKINSON — Class 4A state finalist in 2007, Dickinson rolled in Round 2 of the Ladycat and Lady Gator battle in District 23-4A with a 70-50 victory Friday night.

• Exporters dominate Cougars FREEPORT — The Brazosport Exporters capped the first half of District 23-4A play on Friday with their most meaningful win of the season.

• Danbury no match for Hitchcock   HITCHCOCK — The Hitchcock boys and girls basketball teams continued their unblemished district seasons Friday night with victories over visiting Danbury.

• Tors bounce back from last week’s loss   GALVESTON — Ball High held off Clear Brook to move a half game ahead of the Wolverines in the district standings.

• La Marque, Creek girls come out on top
  A roundup of high school basketball and soccer action around the county.

• SV’s slow start leads to TR’s win
  Area basketball: Rangers girls, boys lose at home to Rough Riders; Canyon, NB teams remain in playoff contention

• Rangers, Brahmas fight to rainy tie
  Area soccer: SV, Mac wind up scoreless; Canyon teams shut out Wimberley

• LONGVIEW KEEPS LIONS WINLESS

• Vipers win streak reaches 14 games  (Victoria)

• Robinson chases down Lorena, 38-31 

• Connally closes out La Vega with 10-2 4th quarter 

• Jan. 19, 2008: Aledo, Pampa coaches lead both boys and girls programs at their schools  Think of what it takes to be a head coach.  Full Story
  

SPORTS REPORT #138

WELCOME !

*** FRIDAY – JANUARY 18, 2008 ***

• Haskell borrows from N.M. legend to build program

• Panthers get strong second half effort in win over Ingleside (Aransas Pass)

• Diadora Cup brings more than 2,000 to Brenham

• Depth perception: Lady Cats’ bench geared to take care of business  –  On the eve of their third game with Blooming Grove, the Kerens Lady Cats were talking about “taking care of business.”

• Lions’ Sanchez selected to 2008 All-Texas High School Team   –  Blooming Grove’s Juve Sanchez will be among the state’s elite when the 2008 winter edition of Dave Campbell’s Texas Football hits newsstands today.

• Fairfield hires Valley Mills’ Piske as head football coach/AD   –  Trying to get back to its winning tradition, the Fairfield football program has a new leader – Darrell Piske.

• Indians, Maidens in recent soccer action  –  The Jacksonville High School soccer teams had mixed results in recent action.  The Jacksonville Maidens fell 3-0 to Nacogdoches in the home opener. Kesli Brumber was the most valuable player in the defeat, according to JHS coach Howard Story.….more>>

• Bullard teams sweep Brownsboro   –  BROWNSBORO — It was Bullard’s turn to dominate. In recent years, Bullard teams have time getting wins against Brownsboro, especially on the road.

• Deckard does it all for successful Lady Dragon team  (Nacogdoches)

• District 2-4A teams share strong starts
  The Del Valle and Canutillo High School girls basketball teams are enjoying their best seasons in years, so it’s only fitting that the pair are in the hunt for the District 2-4A title. 

• BASKETBALL  –  Eagles ready for one final ride (Georgetown)

• Bastrop hires Plano East coordinator to fill head coaching post 

• Lamar Consol gets probation for LBJ game practice foul

• HIGH SCHOOL NOTES: Chavez’s Fenton commits to New Mexico

• Boys basketball: Awty sharpens skills vs. Australian squad

• 4A districts to give fourth-place teams a place to go

• Colleyville Heritage gets 3 football wins reinstated

• DFW football coaches clinic set for Jan. 25-27

• Recruiting: W.T. White, Bishop Lynch players commit

• South Garland son is shining

• Plano basketball coach suspended for one game  –  Plano boys basketball coach Tom Inman said he is suspended for tonight’s game at Richardson. Jim and Tammy Jeffcoat, parents of Plano West basketball player Jackson Jeffcoat, said they met with Plano athletic director Gerald Brence and Inman earlier this week to discuss inappropriate language they said Inman used during a game between Plano and Plano West on Jan. 8.

• An all-star invitation  –  Jared Williams thought he was in trouble when Huntsville football coach Mitchell Coey recently called him into his office.  Turns out there was no need for Williams to fret. Coey had good news for the talented senior who played tight end for the Hornet varsity football team the last two seasons.

• Area high school notebook: Hornets kick off district soccer season with 3-2 victory  (Huntsville)

• New names, but the game remains the same
  Boys Basketball: Intense battle expected when Tivy hosts Fredericksburg tonight.

• Tough lessons paying off in district
  Girls Basketball: Tivy takes three-game winning streak to Fredericksburg tonight.

• Panthers hosting The Woodlands in basketball action tonight   (Lufkin)

• Pack stays hot with shutout of Pearland   (Lufkin soccer)

• Marshall football team holds awards banquet 

• Longview High squads back on court against JT 

• 12-5A basketball standings 

• Mount Pleasant’s Hill commits to Baylor 

• Lobos settle for 2-2 tie   (Longview)

• Tom Bean falls just short of win against Bulldogs
  The Tom Cats managed to make the game a close one until late, but a late surge by the Bulldogs helped them secure the win. Full Story

• Gymnastics: Permian boys ready to keep tradition rolling

• Soccer: OHS boys win, Permian boys tie on the road>> ODESSA HIGH BOYS 4, MESQUITE 2: Edgar Lozoya scored two goals while Carlos Sifuentes and Jose Anchondo…

• Basketball: District 3-5A preview briefsPERMIAN GIRLS VS. ABILENE HIGH…

• Cinderella Greyhounds lose magic
  Last year at this time the San Benito Greyhounds were eyeing a playoff berth, which they ended…

• 1.17.08 Girls basketball reportThursday’s Games… (Valley)

• 1.17.08 Boys basketball reportThursday’s Games…  (Valley)

• Banner day Brownsville at BISD tourneyOn a cold but relatively rain-free day, Brownsville schools Pace, Hanna and Rivera all won matches in…

• Notebook: Winning breeds confidence for Guyer girls

• Soccer: Guyer to host Iron Bridge Classic

• Lady Wolves roster full of youth
  Plano West enters the 2008 season as the defending Class 5A State Champions.

• Championship Crow raises bar for East
  Plano East head coach Dawn Crow can often be seen wearing a very distinctive piece of jewelry: a national championship ring.

• Temple, Belton boys have seen 13-5A success replaced by district drought
  BELTON – Remember Temple boys basketball players Tony Troup, Ronnie Martin, Cameron Davis and Travis Johnson?

• Tem-Cats, Lady Tigers clash in crucial duel as 13-5A playoff race heats up

• After first-ever playoff in soccer, Central is looking for an encore in 2008

• Area hoops teams compete in key matchups
  GUADALUPE COUNTY — All eight area basketball teams are at different phases of their district slates, and all eight compete tonight.

• Fairfield hires Piske as new head coach   –  FAIRFIELD — Trying to get back to its winning tradition, the Fairfield football program has a new leader — Darrell Piske.  After getting only two wins in the last two years and not making the playoffs in the last three years, Fairfield announced the hiring of Piske as the new Fairfield head coach and athletic director.….more>>

• Palestine soccer starts season not giving up a score  –  Following last year’s successful season, the Palestine Wildcats have started this season undefeated in the regular season as well as district. Palestine began district on Tuesday night with a 6-0 romp of Diboll. Francisco Nunez led the way with four goals, and Saul Mancera and Asa Davidson each had one. Sammy Vargas also had four assists.

• Ladycat offense explodes in win   –  When Palestine girls’ soccer coach Stephen Cooksey decided to change his formation this season, he knew there would be an emphasis on playing defense. But it was the offense that exploded for the Ladycats Tuesday night, as Palestine shut out Diboll, 9-0, in the district opener.

• Defense key in Slocum’s win over Grapeland

• Lobos to play Cards here tomorrow night
  The Uvalde Lobos will play their last game of the first half of the District 29-4A basketball season tomorrow when they host the Southside Lady Cardinals.

• HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL STANDINGS (East Texas)

• LEE STILL SHOOTING FOR FIRST DISTRICT WIN (Tyler)

• Area hoops leaders – Boys (Wichita Falls area)

  Area hoops leaders – Girls (Wichita Fall area)

   

SPORTS REPORT #137

WELCOME!

*** THURSDAY – JANUARY 17, 2008 ***

• East coordinator makes move to Bastrop
  Plano East offensive coordinator and assistant head coach Gerald Perry has accepted his first high school head coaching position.

• Lady Wildcats don’t expect to slide by
  At the indoor practice facility of Plano Senior on Wednesday, head coach Diane Davey made her way around the pitch poking and prodding players with constructive criticism. However, the analysis was not her own, but that of the girls on her team.

• GAMES TO WATCH
  Mesquite vs. Horn, boys basketball

• Poteet girls out to prove they are among the state’s best
  The Poteet girls had no easy task in trying to prepare for the tough District 15-4A with just one weekend tournament.

• Lady Dragons remain focused, won’t get caught looking ahead
  Considering her team didn’t make the playoffs last season, Carroll girls basketball coach Nicky Gilley could be worried about her team looking towards the playoffs.

• Kendzior makes things happen for Lady Dragons
  When the need arose on Saturday, Carroll senior forward Annie Kendzior came up with not one but three big goals to help the Lady Dragons to the title at the Dragon Invitational.

• Dragons make their way into playoff hunt
  With one game to play in the first half of District 5-5A boys basketball play, Carroll has inched its way back into the playoff chase.

• Allen trying to figure it out
  Allen opened district play Dec. 14 with a 54-48 victory over Plano Senior.

• Girls soccer kicks tourney season off on right foot
  The Allen-hosted Winter Classic IV lived up to its name as the increasingly frigid temperatures during Saturday’s final were matched only by the physical play between Allen and Rowlett

• Lady Eagles enter season ranked No. 2 in the nation
  With only two losses last season, both by one goal to Class 5A State Champions Plano West, the case could be made that Allen was the second best team in the state.

• Area swimmers look toward next week’s district meets and beyond  (DFW)

• Mansfield Summit coach remains in hospital  

• Mount Pleasant wins battle of the Tigers 

• Prosthetic leg doesn’t slow Woods
  DANBURY — He isn’t an all-American, but Zach Woods is the type of athlete any player would love to have as a teammate.

• Pasadena beats Tors in soccer, 1 -0
  GALVESTON — Although Pasadena slid by the Tors on Wednesday, Ball High shows a lot more potential under its new head coach.

• Bears use big fourth to wear down Seguin
  SEGUIN — For three quarters, the Seguin boys basketball team held its own against Bastrop on Tuesday.

• Sandiettes win on last-second shot   –  SLOCUM — The Grapeland Sandiettes looked to be done.  Grapeland had not scored a point since the 6:29 mark of the fourth quarter and after two turnovers in the final minute, the Sandiettes had lost their lead to Slocum.

• Cayuga falls to Martin’s Mill   BEN WHEELER — In a battle of highly-ranked Class A teams, Martin’s Mill clipped Cayuga 41-38 Tuesday night.  Cayuga (0-1, 15-3) entered Tuesday ranked No. 1 in the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches poll and Martin’s Mill (2-0, 16-6) is ranked fifth.

• NL has no answer for Paris’ Jackson, Furtch
  The Paris Wildcats pounced on North Lamar early and never let up Tuesday night as they coasted to a 68-51 victory before an overflowing crowd in Wildcat Gym.

• Clarksville sweeps HG to highlight RRV action
  Tigers, Lady Tigers remain in first; Detroit wins ninth straight.

• Centex all-star game idea worth pursuing

• HS Notebook: Piske leaves Valley Mills for Fairfield 

• Wrestling Domination:  Pirates improve to 18-3 after pummeling five foes at McKinney North Duals The Pirates finished 6-0 in duals this past week to run their overall record to a stellar 18-3. Read Full Story >>

• Lady Eagles singing the same song: defense  (Abilene)

• High School Notebook 01.17.08  (Abilene Cooper)

• Hornets top Kilgore, 1-0   KILGORE — The Athens Hornets opened District 17-AAAA soccer action with a 1-0 win over Kilgore Tuesday night.

• Steers’ rally comes up short again  (Big Spring)

• Area Roundup: Garden City, Grady sweeping through district

• Lady Vikes survive Shoemaker rally, pull away late  (1/16/2008)

• High School Box Scores  (1/17/2008) (Bryan – College Station area)

• Consol boys cruise past Belton 

• Hornets too much for Cubs — Huntsville too big, too quick for BHS

• Cubettes earn shutout in district opener (Brenham)

• Brenham boys top Elgin at dual swim meet

• Thorndale unmerciful to Burton hoops

• Coyotes recognized as six-man national champs

• Rusk girls snap long losing streak    CENTRAL — The long wait is over!
  The Rusk Lady Eagles won 52-40 over Central on the road Tuesday to end several years of frustration.

• Indians hammer Hallsville   –  The Jacksonville Indians took an easy 71-49 win over Hallsville in District 12-4A action Tuesday night.

• Center defeats Huntington 

• 2007 All-Williamson County Football Team 

• 4A districts to give fourth-place teams a place to go — Next season, things will be different for teams like 7-3 Friendswood. A ruling by the University Interscholastic League last week adds a fourth-place team from each 4A district to the playoffs. READ STORY

• SHRINE GAME: Area’s top recruits come full circle

• Mansfield Summit boys basketball coach collapses after game

• Cedar Hill’s Collins is driven to succeed

• Irving is all together now

• Frisco’s Moore is a sore winner

• Study Hall: Growing and glowing

• At it again; LBJ boys, girls defeat Alexander

• Marshall soccer teams lose to Whitehouse 

• State-ranked Graford runs past Poolville   –  GRAFORD — The second-ranked Graford Jackrabbits didn’t take any prisoners in a win over the ninth-ranked Poolville Monarchs on Tuesday at GHS.

• High school report: Spotlight on La Vernia boys basketball

• Lobo Invitational kicks off today   (Longview)

• Lady Cats fall again to unstoppable Howe
  The Howe Lady Bulldogs again showed why they deserve top spot in district when they disposed of the Tom Bean ladies 52-39 Tuesday night. Despite a late fourth quarter surge from the Lady Cats, the deficit was just too much to overcome. As for Howe, they remain undefeated in district play and seem to be well on their way to the playoffs.
  Full Story

• Coaches vary on 4A adding fourth playoff team   –  Let there be four.

• OF Lady Bobcats forget to rebuild  –  They lost seven seniors a year ago. Two starters are back from a regional semi-finalist team. ….more>> (Orangefield)

• Looking Good
  After stumbling out of the gate in District 30-5A play, McAllen High has turned things around…

• It’s the Girls’ Turn  Rio Grande Valley boys soccer teams grabbed most of the attention last weekend as the high school season…

• Eight Lady Cardinals foul out during two road games against district foesRene Duque and his La Villa Lady Cardinals completed a curious two-game swing against Coastal Bend teams….

• Cougars shoot past the Rebels  –  Vincent Sorrells slammed the ball against the backboard after missing two consecutive put-backs on Tuesday night. It was one of those games for the Hays boy’s basketball team, as it lost to New Braunfels-Canyon 64-46.….more>>

• Tough loss for the SMHS girls  –  The San Marcos Lady Rattlers saw their comeback attempt against Austin-Anderson fall short in the final minute of the game as the Lady Trojans took a 46-41 victory at the Snake Pit Tuesday.

• Soccer: Guyer to host Iron Bridge Classic   –   Guyer head soccer coach Cody Schroeder had a plan in mind when he started the Iron Bridge Classic last year.

• Ryan notebook: Williams chooses Nebraska after all

• Cooper boys shut out Wichita Falls High

• Coogs play complete game in win (Abilene Cooper)

SPORTS REPORT #136

WELCOME

*** WEDNESDAY – JANUARY 16, 2007 ***

• Wylie jumps to 22-0 lead on way to win over Breckenridge

• Central pulls away late to pin loss on Cooper

• Coogs play complete game in win (Abilene Cooper)

• Cooper boys shut out Wichita Falls High

• Amarillo High, Tascosa renew rivalry

• Metro High School Basketball Notes

• Ingleside visits AP looking to get a leg up on district race

• Five Trinidad players named to all-state team –  The state semifinalist season of the Trinidad Trojans did not go unnoticed. Five players have been named all-state by the Six-Man Football Coaches Association.….more>>

• Van Vleck teams unbeaten in district
  Van Vleck’s basketball programs remain undefeated in District 27-2A, and the Lady Leopards are nearly through with round one.

• Lady Greyhounds are victorious in Victoria

• Boerne girls up district record to 3-0

• Brazos Valley High School Basketball District Standings 

• High School Basketball Scores for January 14 

• Bryan boys run past Temple 

• Cubs face district leaders — BHS, HHS have won last five 18-4A titles

• Soccer teams open district tonight (Brenham)

• Brownsville teams’ showing in BISD Tournament not all that disappointing (soccer)

• Lions soccer places second at Aledo tournament (Brownwood)

• Jackets sting Indians – Cleburne won its third consecutive district game Tuesday at Alvarado Gymnasium, 51-34 over the Indians.….more>>  

• Grandview avenges lone 11-2A loss  –  The Lady Zebras had revenge on their minds

• ‘Cats claw back  –  The Calallen girls basketball team put so much into Tuesday night’s game that senior forward Amanda Haven passed out at halfcourt after leading the Wildcats to a thrilling 62-55 overtime triumph over District 31-4A rival Tuloso-Midway. Haven was carried off …

• Say uncle: Family to face off in 31-4A  –  Tonight’s Tuloso-Midway vs. Calallen basketball game features an uncle playing against his nephew for the first time in an organized game. Family bragging rights and more will be at stake today when T-M senior guard Phillip Belford matches up against …

• Free throws pay off for Moody boys   –   CORPUS CHRISTI-Defending District 30-4A champion Moody made the most of its opportunities from the free throw line Friday night. The Trojans used 28 free throws to post a 75-66 comeback victory over Beeville in a District 30-4A boys basketball game at …

• UIL adding fourth team to Class 4A postseason   –  AUSTIN — Four schools from each Class 4A district will qualify for the playoffs in all sports beginning this fall, the University Interscholastic League announced Thursday. The move to four qualifying teams per district mirrors the playoff structure used in …

• Tx. H.S. steroid testing plan moves forward   –    AUSTIN-The state’s new steroid testing program for high school students has taken a big step forward with approval of the final rules of how it will be conducted. University Interscholastic League officials in Austin approved the rules Thursday and said …

• In the zone     –     CORPUS CHRISTI-West Oso girls basketball coach Roy Williams isn’t as concerned about how well the state-ranked Bears start the season as how they finish. Williams could not have asked for a better start to the season, however, as the fourth-ranked Bears …

• Making ‘em earn it: Lady Jags sneak out of Dawson with 48-41 win  –  Hubbard’s Africa Lang was determined to not let the Dawson Lady Bulldogs get the best of the Lady Jags. Lang scored 12 of her game-high 27 points in the fourth quarter to led Hubbard to a 48-41 win over Dawson Tuesday at Dawson’s Bulldog Gymnasium. ….more>>  

• Lady Eagles continue dominance of District 19-3A   –  The Fairfield Lady Eagles continued their dominance in District 19-3A, defeating Palestine-Westwood, 77-39 at Fairfield Gymnasium. 

• Boys roundup: Kerens gives Italy first district loss

• Dragons survive scare, top J’ville   (Nacogdoches)

• NHS girls still perfect in 12-4A  –  Lady Dragons rout Pine Tree, 63-37 (Nacogdoches)

• Opening run sparks Matadors in victory
  It was a long-distance sprint for Parkland’s boys basketball team Tuesday, but the Matadors didn’t even need a second wind.

• Eastwood wins, sweeps Montwood in 1-5A play
  Eastwood basketball coach Gary Pippen was expecting a close game Tuesday as his Troopers took on Montwood High School — and that’s exactly what he got. 

• Bowie wrestling coach has heart attack
  Bowie High School wrestling coach Victor Montes recently suffered a heart attack and is scheduled for open-heart surgery either today or Thursday, former Bears wrestling coach Bob Bourquin said. 

• Addition of fourth playoff team could help Henderson
  Thursday’s announcement of the addition of a fourth playoff team in Class 4A could help the Henderson Lions, should they remain in 4A.

• Bellaire coach likes players’ independence — Quietly, the Bellaire boys have emerged as one of the top teams in the area. Alvin is moving up too. The lay of land in the boys’ and girls’ districts is surveyed in this week’s basketball review. READ STORY

• Cinco Ranch defeats Katy Taylor, stays perfect in district

• HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING NOTES

• Boys basketball: Buffs firing, but few shots falling

• Tuesday’s high school basketball replay (DFW)

• Dicus to coach Duncanville’s football team

• Hornets keep rolling, crush Cubs 68-42  –  BRENHAM — The scene sure was different the last time the Hornets played basketball in Blue Bell Country. The final score was different, too.

• Bulldogs coast past Tigers   –  TRINITY — It took a few minutes for the Bulldogs to get going, but once they did, Tuesday’s game got out of hand quickly. Everyone on the New Waverly roster had a hand in this one, including Jarvice Sykes, Kyren Watts and Joseph Carrington, who each scored 20 or more points, as the No. 3 state-ranked Bulldogs routed Trinity 108-74.

• Oak Ridge edges Lady Pack (Lufkin)

• Panthers roll past Oak Ridge  (Lufkin boys)

• Diboll girls win, guys lose 

• Hudson falls to Carthage 

• Jefferson boys soar into top 10 

• Pine Tree victorious in district opener 

• ET girls basketball 

• Free throws finish off Panthers   (Spring Hill)

• Dragons subdue Pirates, 62-56   (Nac-Pine Tree)

• Basketball: Tuesday’s scoreboard (Midland – Odessa)

• Basketball: Midland High pulls away from Permian boysMIDLAND The Permian Panthers gave the Midland High Bulldogs a hard time Tuesday in their District 3-5A… Full Story… 

• Football: Andrews candidates come from near and far

• Fontenot, Bear lifters fare well in Nederland Meet   –  Little Cypress-Mauriceville’s Maegan Fontenot was named Outstanding Lifter for the light platform in the Girls Division at the Nederland Powerlifting Meet over the weekend.

• Roma rules

• High school basketball scores (San Angelo area)

• Girls basketball: Argyle heals up against Pilot Point

• Girls basketball: Guyer gets revenge on Sherman

• Denton notebook: Hunter leads improving Broncos

• Boys basketball: Ponder 73, Anna 37

• Boys soccer: Ryan bounces back to beat rival Denton at tourney  

• Boys basketball: Hunter leads Denton to win in OT

• District standings not expected to stand pat
  Last year at this point in the District 9-5A schedule, everybody seemed clear on a couple of facts. Nobody was an outright frontrunner; and a single game could change the scope of the entire district overnight.

• Fast-break analysis on basketball in the City of Plano
  It’s time for the mid-season basketball report; although the girls and boys basketball schedules are staggered, so neither one is actually at the mid-point of district play, with the girls having played eight of 14 district games and the boys six of 14.

• Skeeters continue road warrior act in win over North
  Walking into enemy territory is nothing new for the Mesquite boys basketball team.

• Trojans move into first-place tie with overtime win
  Monday night, things looked bleak for Newman Smith after Flower Mound finished off a five-point play that gave the Jaguars a 67-57 lead with 3 minutes, 18 seconds to play

• Southwest hands Dunbar second loss in three games Tuesday, January 15  Fort Worth Southwest scores the final six points to prevail against perennial power Fort Worth Dunbar.

• Arlington Bowie boys can’t contain Duncanville

• Weatherford boys force OT, then win it

• Keller Central boys prevail in double overtime

• Turnovers hinder Temple boys as Harker Heights wins crucial 13-5A game

• Tem-Cats rally from 14-point deficit to hand first-place Heights first league loss

• Last 3-pointer falls short as Belton girls get edged by A&M Consolidated

• Salado girls strengthen hold on first place, Academy boys rally to win in 25-2A duel

• Ranger defense a no-show in 69-52 loss   –  “We looked like we were in a daze, like a deer in headlights,” Sterling head coach Mark Patton said.

• Defense not enough for Ganders
  The Lee Ganders played some lock-down defense against the District 21-5A leaders Tuesday night, but lost 43-34 to Humble.

• Big wins in District 24-2A raises Hardin’s hardcourt profile

• Sweeny tops Wharton
  SWEENY — Sweeny remained in the driver’s seat of District 24-3A as the Bulldogs whipped by Wharton, 62-44, in an important matchup Tuesday night.

• King leads Ships over Gators
  FREEPORT — The Brazosport Exporters missed a mass of free throws on Tuesday night against the Dickinson Gators, but sophomore Dajon King hit his when they mattered most.

• Seguin trio, coaches take part in game
  SEGUIN — Seguin football coach Jim Carson is going into unchartered waters pretty soon.

• Westwood falls in close game to Mexia  –  Westwood head coach David Reed spoke of the importance of his team winning home games.

• Jan. 16 High school basketball scores   (Waco area)

• Jan. 16 High school soccer score   (Waco area)

• HS Notebook: Piske leaves Valley Mills for Fairfield 

SPORTS UPDATE #136

WELCOME

*** TUESDAY – JANUARY 8, 2008 ***

• Ballinger senior guard worthy of attention  –  Jayton Buxkemper, guard, Sr., Ballinger boys basketball — He’s 6-foot-1, quick, with the ability to score inside or outside. Yet Ballinger guard Jayton Buxkemper may as well be a sumo wrestler as far as most colleges are concerned.

• Lady Coyotes bite first vs.rival Calallen (Alice)

• Hodde scores 10 in Panthers’ 38-30 loss  –  BARTLETT, Texas — The Burton Panthers came up on the short end of a 38-30 decision Saturday afternoon against the Bartlett Bulldogs.

• Fowler returns to Ray — as assistant at King  –  Brittany Fowler knows as well as anyone how difficult it is for an opposing basketball team to come into the Ray High School gym and get a win. When Fowler starred as a flashy point guard for the Texans, her …

• Andress, Burges girls will battle to stay in District 1-4A title chase
  Youth has created occasional speed bumps for the girls basketball teams of Burges and Andress this season. 

• Traveling Aussie basketball team making stop in Alvin — It’s a long way from Melbourne, Australia, so the people of Alvin are putting on the ritz today for the traveling Brighton Wolves team. The Wolves taken on Alvin in two games on “Australia Day” in the school district. READ STORY

• Dickinson, Kingwood sharpshooters turn in sharp showings

• Boys basketball: For Smith, Johnson’s play a big victory

• Aquatics: Bellaire to host Cardinal Classic at Lamar

• Big ticket Tuesday: Boys basketball

• Big ticket Tuesday: Girls basketball 

• Boys Basketball Report  –  Staff writers discuss Duncanville, Kimball, Episcopal Dallas, rankings and key games this week

• Girls Basketball Report  –  Staff writers discuss DeSoto, Rockwall-Heath, Bishop Lynch and others and preview upcoming games this week

• Lady Rams rally past Lady Bulldogs  –  The Mineral Wells Lady Rams basketball team stayed alive in the District 8-4A playoff race with a 54-45 win over the Everman Lady Bulldogs on Friday in Everman.….more>>  

• Bulldogs riddle Rams in 56-39 win in Everman  –  The Everman Bulldogs used a high-pressure defense and an up-tempo offense to take a 56-39 win over the Mineral Wells Rams on Friday at EHS.

• Ram Stadium set to open   –  Ram Stadium will be open for business in nine days.

• Signing Day nears for prospects 

• Lobos open 12-5A basketball race against North Mesquite tonight 

• Area high schools facing key games  (Gulf Coast)

• Prep Basketball

• Lake View in the Gilbert era

• Buxkemper synonymous with basketball in Ballinger

• Notebook: Denton pulls together after tough start to season

• Broncos’ captain carries a heavy load into final high school season
  May 10, 2006: A day not soon to be forgotten by one McKinney Boyd senior.

• Lady Bulldogs hope to pull off mammoth upset
  Valerie Little wasn’t being a pessimist when she admitted her McKinney North girls basketball team might have to wait until later this week to have a chance at getting that elusive first district victory. –

• HIGH SCHOOL SPOTLIGHT MANSFIELD TIMBERVIEW’S KEENA MAYS –  Keena Mays first caught the attention of Mansfield Timberview girls basketball coach Candi Harvey when Mays was a seventh-grader at Danny Jones Middle School.

• AREA BOYS BASKETBALL LEADERS (HIGH SCHOOLS)  (DFW)

• Sweeny enjoying season so far
  SWEENY — Rich in basketball tradition with state championships in 1954, 1985, 1987 and 1988, this year’s version of the Sweeny Bulldogs is making quite an impression on the court.

• Wildcats find 4th gear against Manvel
  Angleton was reminded there are no gimmes in District 23-4A, even against a first-year program fielding a bunch of juniors, sophomores and freshmen.

• Creek hosts Ball in critical 24-5A match-up
  LEAGUE CITY — The Wildcats want to use their size advantage in a match-up against Galveston County rivals Ball High Tornadoes tonight.

• Matadors suffer second half meltdown
  AUSTIN — After two quarters of play on Saturday, the Seguin boys basketball team trailed 28-25.

• Jan. 8 High school basketball scores   (Waco – Central Texas)

• January 8, 2008: District 3-5A basketball capsules

  
   

SPORTS UPDATE #135

WELCOME

*** MONDAY – JANUARY 7, 2008 ***

• 2007 Super Team   –  Super Team players are picked based on their selection to a particular class’ first team and/or their overall performance during the season. Full story »

• Graham takes road triumph at Wylie

• Cooper boys, girls come up short

• AISD swimmers challenge MISD

• No. 800 for Griffin  –  It was not a typical district opener Friday night for the Brownsboro Bearettes.….more>>

• Bullard blisters Lady Hornets  BULLARD — The Bullard Lady Panthers used a dominant first quarter to fuel a 55-39 win over the Athens Lady Hornets in a District 14-AAA opener Friday night.

• Lions edge AHS, 40-38 The Athens Hornets came up on the short end of a 40-38 score in a non-district game against the Kaufman Lions at the AHS g ym Saturday afternoon.

• Cubs solid in 18-4A win  –  The Brenham Cubs were already in a hole after losing their first two District 18-4A contests of the season. (Brenham)

• 2008 Girls Soccer Preview  –  The Rivera Lady Raiders soccer team went from four wins two years ago to 19 victories and the District 32-5A championship in 2007….More of this story

• Jackets fall to Eagles, 49-34 Cleburne couldn’t find the basket until the 1:18 mark in the first quarter when Ricky Aly hit a 3-pointer and was unable to rebound from Crowley’s 17-7 lead in the first frame as the Jackets fell 49-34 in District 8-4A play.

• Stephenville downs Owls at the line They don’t call them free throws for nothing.

• Joshua erupts in third quarter for win   –  After scoring only 23 points in the entire first half, the Joshua Lady Owls blasted Stephenville with 20 points in the third quarter on the way to a 53-45 win Friday night.

• Coyotes ride wave of emotion to win  –  Friday night’s District 31-4A opener was an emotional one indeed for the Alice girls basketball team. The Coyotes players dedicated the game to longtime Alice assistant girls basketball coach Jo Newman, who missed the game against Calallen after her mother …

• Lady Tigers stage unbelievable comeback against Midlothian   –  After a nip and tuck first half that ended with Corsicana taking a slim 25-23 lead into the intermission, Midlothian exploded for an 18-2 run in the third quarter to lead 41-27 going into the final period.

• Tiger slide: CHS gives up 10-point lead to Midlothian  –  It has slowly become natural for the Tigers. Start slow, put together two solid quarters and struggle in the fourth quarter. That’s exactly what happened Friday against Midlothian as the Tigers took a 10-point lead in the third quarter and was outscored 16-8 in a wild fourth and fell to the Panthers 42-40.

• Indians roll over Kilgore, 75-55   KILGORE — Four Indians scored in double figures as Jacksonville ripped Kilgore, 75-55 in District 12-4A action Friday night. The Indians had the Bulldogs on the ropes early with scoring from the inside and the outside.

• Bullard boys down White Oak   BULLARD — The homestanding Panthers took a 59-50 win over non-district foe White Oak Thursday to run their season record to 14-5 on the year.

• 1/5 AREA BASKETBALL SCORES   (Nacogdoches – East Texas)

• Falcons run Rams ragged
  Stevens showed no mercy on the Rams varsity basketball team Saturday afternoon. (Del Rio)

• Tigerettes win district opener
  The Brackett Tigerettes varsity basketball team began their district season on the right foot.

• Franklin gets district win against Coronado
  Franklin High School’s girls basketball team gutted out a 51-46 win at Coronado on Friday to end a four-game District 1-5A losing streak. Full story

• Meekins earns coaching spot in U.S. Army All-American Bowl   –  Since 2000, Westfield head football coach Corby Meekins has been a staple on the Westfield sidelines, but this Saturday, Meekins will be roaming the Alamodome sidelines in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, a prestigious event showcasing the nation’s top high school football talent.  Full Story

• Dickinson, Kingwood sharpshooters turn in sharp showings — How’s this for a line: 17 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists and five steals? Dickinson’s Marissa Ashton put it up in a recent 42-point win over Texas City. READ STORY

• Houston-area stars shine in All-American Bowl

• Cy-Fair lineman about to get wish, join Aggies

• Basketball (boys): Alzee Williams

• SportsDay area girls basketball rankings

• SportsDay area boys basketball rankings

• Oklahoma recruits get a test against the best

• Bryan boys basketball team has no trouble with Belton 

• High School Basketball Box Scores for January 5 (Central Texas)

• Consol boys fall to Killeen Ellison in tight 13-5A game  

• Hitting the Man with the Hot Hand   –  Patiently, the Hornets waited. They waited and waited Friday, biding their time while looking for a vulnerable spot to attack the Willis Wildkats. (Huntsville)

• Panthers hammer Kashmere in final non-district tuneup 

• Lufkin gears up for season with 2-2 tie in alumni game 

• Central boys, girls sweep Hudson teams 

• Tatum’s Bryce Beall MVP of 19-2A All-District Football Team 

• Runnin’ Cats rout Bremond 74-24; move to 12-7   –  It was obvious from about midway through the first period that the 1A Tigers of Bremond, fresh out of the State Football Playoffs, were way overmatched.

• Lobos excited, optimistic about chances beginning new season   (Longview)

• Falcons stay perfect in 32-5A

• Friday’s West Texas Basketball Scores – January 4

• Bastrop rattles San Marcos   –  Teams have figured out how to beat the San Marcos boy’s basketball team and they don’t even have to step on the floor. A size disadvantage haunted the Rattlers once again, as San Marcos fell to Bastrop 76-60 at the Snake Pit.

• Lobos still looking for first district win   –  It was easy to sense the frustration from Lehman head coach Thomas Acker after his team’s 49-23 loss to New Braunfels-Canyon.

• SMHS girls fall at Bastrop; Rebels lose at NB

• Skeeter defense smothers Tyler Lee for first district win

• North’s 12-5A streak comes to an end; Horn bounces back

• West Mesquite girls run away early from Poteet
  If anybody thought West Mesquite might be looking ahead to its 10-4A showdown with Rockwall-Heath on Tuesday, the Wranglers erased any doubts from the opening tip.

• Pantarotto coaches MHS varsity girls soccer to shutout to end 28-hour journey
  When people in the sports world discuss the long road to victory they’re often referring to the figurative journey it takes to find success.

• No. 2 Frisco pulls away from Boyd
  FRISCO — McKinney Boyd went step-for-step with Frisco, the second-ranked team in the state, for almost the entire game Friday, but a poor stretch of defense in the second half that proved to be the Bronco’s ultimate undoing during their upset attempt of the Lady Raccoons Friday.

• Bulldogs rally past Lake Dallas, 66-58
  MCKINNEY — With star post Nico Taylor off swatting homers in south beach, Darryll Craft (issued a challenge to his McKinney North basketball team for Friday’s district tilt against Lake Dallas.

• Lions topple Cougars
  THE COLONY — The McKinney boys basketball team remained undefeated in District 9-4A with a 50-39 victory at The Colony Friday.

• Wolves muscle past Allen, 53-40
  When is 53 more than 97?

• Crowley welcomes its coach back with a victory

• Arlington Seguin still undefeated in 15-4A

• New coach hits Baytown running
  New Goose Creek Memorial coach Bret Boyd officially starts to work Tuesday.

• RSS girls turn up the defense
  It was not a beauty pageant by any means. But it was good enough where Sterling was concerned.

• Hardin-Jeff pulls away from Silsbee

• Boys soccer squads set for 2008 season
  The Brazoswood and Angleton boys soccer teams have been constants in the postseason for the last 14 seasons. That’s an accomplishment other area teams want to start to emulate in their soccer programs.

• Angleton press stops Manvel
  MANVEL — Defense wins championships, and as Angleton demonstrated against Manvel on Saturday, it also can lead to a lot of layups.

• Ball High defense drills Oilers
  GALVESTON — The swarming Tor defense shut down the Pearland Oilers 45-32 for their 20th victory of the season.

• Westlake outmuscles Seguin, 47-38
  SEGUIN — There was no heroic comeback this time.

• Bulldogs run past Texans
  WIMBERLEY — The Marion girls basketball team didn’t forget what Wimberley did to the Bulldogs last season.

• Cayuga edges Mustangs in wild game   SLOCUM — From the tip-off, it was evident Friday night’s Anderson County matchup between Cayuga and Slocum would be a wild one that came down to the wire.  The Wildcats and Mustangs did not disappoint as Cayuga edged Slocum 64-58 at the Mustang Gymnasium.….more>>

• Cayuga rebounds with win over Tigers   NECHES — The Neches Tigers were looking for a team to challenge them and help them get ready for district play.
  The Cayuga Wildcats were looking to rebound from a tough loss to Goodrich Wednesday.

• Pittsburg has the Wright stuff
  Kendall Wright scored 24 of his team-high 35 points in the second half as the Pittsburg Pirates used a stellar performance and rallied to defeat the Paris Wildcats, 74-67, Saturday afternoon at Wildcat Gym.

• Rebel QB highlights 2007 RRV Football Team
  Rivercrest’s Terrance Cannon has a name that fits his arm, and few can dispute that after the numbers the junior quarterback put up during the 2007 football season.

• Jan. 5 High school basketball scores 
  Every young team searches for those times when everything seems to come together. For Mesquite’s youthful girls basketball team, one of those moments occurred on Saturday, from a defensive perspective, at least.
  

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)