Sports

HENRIETTA – Anyone who believed it was cold outside Tuesday evening needed to take a step inside Bearcat Gym.

Jacksboro’s girls' basketballers had a very slow start against the Lady ‘Cats, which they beat 78-13 in the first meeting Dec. 12. The Tigerettes scored just two points and took three shots in the first three minutes, seeming out of sorts.

Jacksboro’s boys' basketballers led by nine at the half Jan. 12 vs. visiting Paradise, but the Panthers mounted a stiff comeback, using an outside barrage to post a 48-44 win over the host Tigers.

Jacksboro is now 1-4 in District 8-3A (6-9 overall) with Paradise going to 2-3 and 5-17.

Jacksboro Middle School’s eighth-grade girls' basketballers have had good luck in recent days, the ‘A’ team winning a tournament in Windthorst and getting a pair of district wins.

The girls faced Nocona Jan. 6, the ‘B’ team posting a 22-18 win. Jacksboro led 10-6 at the half. Anna Barker led the way with 12 points. Shayli Mitchell and Olivia Staley each added four with Cadynce Duncan adding two.

HENRIETTA – Playing four quarters of solid basketball, particularly on the road, is important to any team in a bind.

Jacksboro’s boys' basketballers opened District 8-3A play at 1-4, defensive lapses considered part of the reason for the slide. With the Tigers close to falling out of the postseason conversation, the squad played one of its better defensive games of the year but still needed an offensive explosion late to post a 54-46 win over the host Bearcats here Tuesday evening.

Jacksboro had its first home basketball night of the new year Friday, hosting Nocona.

The Tigerettes remained in a second-place tie with Paradise, which it hosts tonight, coming from behind to beat the visiting Lady Indians, 47-43. Jacksboro led 10-9 after one but the visitors outscored the Tigerettes 17-11 in the second to take a 26-21 lead at the half.

BOYD – Sometimes all it takes is a break to turn things around.

On the road Tuesday night, Jacksboro and the host Yellowjackets locked into a battle with the lead going back and forth, Boyd taking advantage of some cold shooting and defensive lapses to lead 23-21 at the half. In the final two quarters, Jacksboro got the hot hand offensively and clamped down defensively to pick up a 55-40 win over the hosts.

Both squads are now 1-3 in District 8-3A (Jacksboro 6-8 overall).

BOYD – After a disappointing last two games for the Tigerettes on both offense and defense, the players needed a pick me up to get back into the swing of things.

That came in the form of the host Lady ‘Jackets Tuesday evening, Jacksboro converting 45 percent of its shots, many baskets coming after aggressive offensive rebounding. The visitors’ defense held Boyd to just eight baskets and 19 percent shooting as well in a 57-20 victory.

Jacksboro’s girls and boys continue tournament play in Lubbock and Albany this weekend.

The girls posted two wins Thursday in the Caprock Classic in Lubbock, both by the same score of 42-30 over Morton and Lubbock Christian. In the opener Thursday morning vs. Morton, Jacksboro got out to a 15-12 lead with junior Jordan Nichols coming through with six points and Baylee Thompson five. Trinity Tisdale and Leah Plaster each had two points.

MINERAL WELLS – Bryson’s boys' basketball squad overcame the loss of two starters to finish 2nd in the Mineral Wells Community Christian Tournament Dec. 21-22.

In the opener, the squad used a big fourth quarter to overcome a deficit and post a 47-39 win over Flint. The Cowboys were behind 36-33 heading into the final frame but a sign of things to come came early as Braeden Houser buried the first of his two threes in the first 20 seconds to knot the game at 36. A pair of fellow senior Jon Alaniz free throws put Bryson up 38-36 with 6:50 left.