Sports

A knockdown, drag out battle ensued Tuesday afternoon between Bryson and Breckenridge as part of a three-team matchup in Jacksboro. The Cowgirls used solid front court work to eke out at 26-24, 25-22, 25-21 win over the Class 3A Lady Bucks.

It didn’t start out well for Chelsea Kincaid’s Cowgirls, who fell behind 10-1 in the opener. Nikki Goodman’s pair, including an ace, got things going offensively but Breckenridge went up 15-4 at one point before the Cowgirls determined enough was enough. Four straight from Kayleigh Pippin cut the deficit to 9-15.

With three starters missing from a year ago, Jacksboro volleyball fans were unsure as to what to expect as a young Tigerette volleyball squad hit the court for their season openers Tuesday afternoon.

Much like last year, Jacksboro opened strong, getting a pair of sweeps over visiting Bryson (25-10, 25-21. 25-15) and Breckenridge (25-22, 25-10, 25-23). Last year both matches went to five games before the Purple prevailed.

Jacksboro second-year Coach Rosana Barbosa was pleased with the opening wins but saw things that needed to be improved on.

PERRIN – Mention Perrin’s district foe Bryson to new Perrin Volleyball Coach Savannah House and watch her grit her teeth.

It’s nothing personal, mind you.

House, who coached at Savoy for the past two years, remembers the Cowgirls defeating her Cardinals to knock them out of the playoffs two seasons ago at St. Jo.

“It just seemed like the whole town was there and rooting those kids on,” House said. “I later found out they had a football game there that night which helped.”

She hopes to instill that kind of enthusiasm into Pirate volleyball.

PERRIN – After 32 years of coaching in Oklahoma, Scott Pace decided he needed a change.

The veteran coach had retired up in Oklahoma but the lure to coaching continued to be too strong, so he came across the Red River to become Perrin’s new girls' basketball coach.

He is no stranger to small school coaching, having spent most of his career doing just that.

“I like (small schools) better because you get to know the kids better,” Pace said.

He graduated from Langston University where he ran track.

PERRIN – Communication in coaching is paramount to success. In the case of new Perrin Boys Basketball Coach Max Hefner, that shouldn’t be an issue.

Hefner has been involved in debate and speech since his high school days at Stinnett, about an hour north of Amarillo. He has competed and won several UIL events in both speech and debate but opted for a sports exercise and science degree from West Texas A&M.

PERRIN – To get to the prize, it helps to have someone who has been there and done that.

Such is the case of new Perrin Baseball Coach Hayden Elrod, who has tasted success in the form of a State Championship when he threw at Kennedale. It was the first sign of success for Elrod, who was named MVP of the State Tournament that year and closed out his four-year high school career on a high note.

Season tickets for JHS football games will go on sale Monday, Aug. 21. Season ticket holders that purchased tickets last year will have one week to purchase their tickets. Only those individuals can purchase tickets Aug. 21-25 at the JHS office, 1400 N. Main.

Beginning Monday, Aug. 28 through Friday, Sept. 1 all remaining seats will go on sale to the public. Hours for ticket sales will be 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Sometimes it pays to listen to a former mentor.

Alex Rodriguez had a good relationship with his coach at Crosbyton, Brannon Rodgers, so when his former mentor asked him to come take a look at Jacksboro, he did what he was asked.

Not without some trepidation, however.

“I was getting ready to be the top assistant basketball coach at Lamesa, so I was pretty happy,” Rodriguez offered. “Coach Rodgers asked me a number of times just to come check things out here, so out of respect for him I did.”

Despite being young in age, Alex Veitenheimer is extremely old school.

Veitenheimer, 25, admits to being a very goal- oriented person and knows that hard work is the key to success on any level in life. Veitenheimer likes goals and structure as it’s what actually got her into coaching to begin with.

“I know the structure and atmosphere of sports in an athlete’s life is so beneficial,” Veitenheimer said. “As an adult, I stay active by running in 5K, 10K, 12K and half marathons.”

BRYSON – It’s a homecoming of sorts for new Bryson Softball Coach James Williams.

Williams, who has 23 years of high school coaching and four years of junior college coaching experience, has coached with Bryson Superintendent David Stout and Principal Eric Wilson when they were on the staff at Boyd together. He has also worked with present Bryson AD Jason Briles and assistant coach Hunter Hayes while at Graham, where he spent six years as an assistant coach before coming to Bryson.