Sports

GRAFORD  – Coaches will tell you to stick with the game plan when things seem bleak.

Such was the case of Graford girls basketball coach Mike McHatridge Dec. 21, his squad down 14-5 after one quarter to visiting Petrolia. He told his players to stick with the game plan.

“This became a trust thing,” McHatridge said. “I told them trust your teammates to do what they do, you do what you do and to know and execute their roles.”

Visiting Wichita Falls City View jumped out to a 14-0 lead midway through the first half and made it stick in a 35-18 win over Jacksboro in both schools’ 7-3A girls basketball opener.

Neither team came with their offensive game showing, City View alone missing its first eight shots from the field before finding the basket with 3:35 left in the first. Kira Taylor and Emery Brandon closed the frame with baskets as the Lady Mustangs buried three of their final five attempts after the slow start.

POOLVILLE – There’s not a basketball coach in America that won’t accept their team shooting better than 50% from the floor.

Graford did just that in three of four quarters Tuesday, Dec. 7, ending up with a 55% shooting percentage on 21-38 from the field in a 57-17 win over the host Monarchs. The Jackrabbits go to 13-1 with the win.

A slow start for both teams, where neither team scored for the first four minutes thanks to a delayed offense by Poolville, kept things from being worse. Graford mentor Jeff Bell said he expected that.

Youthful enthusiasm is something Jacksboro’s boys basketball team has in droves. What it doesn’t have right now is a steady offensive flow.

Visiting Seymour took advantage of that Nov. 30, breaking open what was a four-point game in the second half and used 65 percent shooting in the final two quarters to post a 67-45 win before a sparse crowd at Tiger Gym.

SAINT JO – Bryson has wasted little time in hitting the hardwood after a successful volleyball season.

Coach Emily Chenault says her players have had just three practices, forcing many of the adjustments that would be done during workouts to get done in games. Such was the case Saturday as the Cowgirls continued to make adjustments on the fly in handling the hostesses 50-11.

BRYSON – Cowboy coach Slade Egan was a bit apprehensive heading into the Nov. 16 season opener against Vernon Northside, missing about half of his varsity team due to grades, illness and other maladies.

Bryson suited up just six varsity players, five freshman and one sophomore. None of them had stepped foot on a varsity court before.

The trial by fire worked as the hosts overcame some early troubles and pulled away in the second half of a 36-15 win over the Indians. Egan said switching defenses in the first quarter caused the visitors some issues.

MIDLOTHIAN – A tough way to end a great season.

Bryson ran into a buzzsaw known as top-ranked Blum Friday, Nov. 12 in the Region II-A volleyball semifinals. The Lady ‘Cats, which knocked Bryson from the postseason a year ago, were able to do the job again.

Despite a valiant effort from he Cowgirls, Blum, the Region II-A winner from a year ago, was able to find its spots and put the ball where Bryson wasn’t in a 25-8, 25-11, 25-13 win.

PERRIN – Bryson’s volleyballers have their eyes set on a State title.

After winning the District 9-A title last month, the Cowgirls got a break before taking on Bluff Dale in area competition Thursday night. The respite cost Bryson next to nothing as the squad needed just 49 minutes to take care of the Lady ‘Cats 25-8, 25-6, 25-8.

Bryson moved on to the regional quarterfinal round to face Prairie Valley in Windthorst Tuesday night (results not available as of press time). Bryson Coach Kim Hauger said the win will benefit the team down the road.