The Palestine boys’ basketball team built up a 12-point halftime lead and never looked back Friday, opening up play in District 19-3A with a 58-50 win on the road against Groesbeck.
The Wildcats led 30-18 at halftime and then 47-31 after three quarters, withstanding a small Groesbeck rally in the fourth.
Shumauri Scott had 16 points to lead Palestine in scoring, while Tony Butler joined him in double-figures with 13.
Sheldon Watson had eight in the victory, while both Marquis Clark and Dakedrick McMorris had seven.
Palestine (8-12, 1-0) hosts Mexia today in district action. Games begin at 5 p.m.
WESTWOOD 57, Garrison 33
After giving up 15 points in the first quarter, the Westwood boys’ basketball team gave up only 18 in the final three frames of a 57-33 rout of Garrison in Garrison Friday.
In the final three quarters, the 17th-ranked Panthers outscored Garrison 38-18 after leading 19-15 after the first.
L.J. Hutchison had 15 to lead Westwood in the victory, which puts the Panthers one win away from completing the first round of district play unbeaten.
Dra Ross added 13 while Jacobee Newton had nine and J.J. Turner eight in the win for Westwood.
The Panthers (15-7, 5-0) host Woden Friday to wrap-up the first round. Games begin at 5 p.m.
H.S. GIRLS BASKETBALL
WESTWOOD 46, Garrison 19
The Westwood girls’ basketball team got 14 points from Marialle Boles and 13 more from Mi’Kayla Benson as the Lady Panthers snapped a two-game skid with a 46-19 win over Garrison Friday.
The win moves Westwood back to .500 in district play and puts them squarely back into the hunt for one of the District 19-2A’s three playoff spots halfway through the district schedule.
Benson added a team-high nine rebounds to her 13 points, while Boles pulled down four rebounds of her own.
Brittany Smith had six points and four rebounds in the win, while Shavon Nauls added five points and Alexis Hatten had eight rebounds.
Natali Muniz played well on the perimeter for Westwood, handing out six assists and tallying five steals.
Westwood (12-13, 3-3) returns to action Friday when the Lady Panthers host Woden to begin the second-leg of district play. Westwood lost its district opener in Woden, 46-38, and the Lady Panthers trail Woden by one game for third-place in the district.
Games begin at 5 p.m.
Groesbeck 57, PALESTINE 55
Despite big scoring nights from Dana Whitehead and Paradyse Page, Groesbeck proved to be too much down-low for the Palestine girls’ basketball team.
The Lady Goats topped visiting Palestine 57-55 Friday, dropping the Ladycats back to .500 in district play.
Whitehead led Palestine with 23 points in the loss, while Page added 17 for the Ladycats who, according to coach Joseph Baker, were simply outplayed down low in the game.
Palestine will look to get back to its winning ways today, but it won’t be easy. The Ladycats welcome sixth-ranked Mexia to town, with games beginning at 5 p.m.
Local Sports
H.S. Basketball: Palestine opens 19-3A play with road win
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H.S. Athletics: Holden named new Cayuga ISD athletic director
It took just over a month for Cayuga ISD to find their new athletic director.
In a school board meeting Monday, the Cayuga school board hired current CHS assistant coach Russell Holden as its new athletic director and head football coach.
Holden, who has been on the staff at Cayuga for five years, will replace Greg Jenkins, who after three years at the helm is leaving for Tenaha. -
Middle School Athletics: Palestine selects March, April 'Character Athletes'
The Palestine Junior High girls athletic program released their Character Athletes of the Month for both March and April recently.
Eighth graders Annalise Meyers (March) and Josie Soehnge (April), and seventh graders Madison Oliva (March) and Ashley Middleton were honored with the awards, which go to student athletes that lead not only on the field or court, but also in the classroom. -
H.S. Softball Playoffs: Grapeland scores early and often in semifinal clincher
Just like in game one, the Grapeland Sandiettes jumped out to a big lead during Saturday's decisive Game 3 against the Joaquin.
The only difference is this time the Sandiettes never let off the gas on their way to a dominant 12-2 win over the Lady Rams in the do-or-die regional semifinal game.
With the win, Grapeland moves on to its third regional final in four years, where they will take on Beckville. It’s the third-straight year the teams will meet in the postseason. -
H.S. Baseball Playoffs: Elkhart eases past Warren in Game 2
After needing three games to end its first two playoff series this postseason, the Elkhart baseball team made sure it didn’t happen a third time.
The Elks — who are seeking a second-straight trip to the state tournament — rolled past Warren Saturday, 6-0, at Lufkin’s Morris Franks Park. The win came a night after Elkhart topped the Warriors, 5-1, to open the series on Friday. -
H.S. Softball Playoffs: Grapeland, Joaquin split games Friday
It was a tale of two games during Friday's Regional Semifinal between the Grapeland Sandiettes and Joaquin Lady Rams. The Sandiettes and Lady Rams combined for 22 runs in the Sandiettes 12-10 win in Game 1.
Game 2 was a much different as the teams wouldn't combine for 20 hits, or even 10 runs as the Lady Rams picked up a 4-2 win.
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H.S. Football: Palestine's Owens leads strong class of area recruits
Palestine junior Jarrell Owens hasn’t ever played a significant down in a game for the Wildcats at linebacker in his football career.
Yet, the position is obviously where his future lies.
Owens is one of a handful of area juniors drawing significant college interest, and the Palestine running back/linebacker already holds an official offer from Texas Tech University. -
H.S. Baseball Playoffs: Harleton shuts down Cayuga in regional quarterfinal
In an as-expected pitcher’s duel, it took only one off inning to cost Cayuga and ace Chantz Holland.
Holland gave up four hits and hit a batter in the top of the third inning, and Harleton turned that into four runs — the only runs of the game — as Harleton topped Cayuga, 4-0, here at the Lindale ISD Baseball and Softball Complex in regional quarterfinal action. -
H.S. Baseball: Patchwork lineup still working for Cayuga
The Cayuga baseball team that will take the field tonight against Harleton in the regional quarterfinals doesn’t look a lot like the Cayuga team that rolled through district play earlier this season.
Injuries have hampered the look of the Wildcat lineup, but Cayuga still finds itself into the playoffs’ third round for yet another season. -
H.S. Softball: Grapeland going strong into regional semifinals
It’s been relatively easy-going so far in the state softball playoffs for the Grapeland softball team.
The Sandiettes have lost only once so far in the playoffs, and that came thanks a forfeit in the area round against Avery, when Grapeland decided not to play rather than play without missing members at the state golf tournament. -
Local Roundup: Cayuga's Hughes named 19-A MVP
After a stellar regular season that saw them capture a district title, then a solid playoff run that ended with a regional quarterfinal loss to Grapeland, the Cayuga softball team showed well on the District 19-A all-district teams.
Cayuga star freshman pitcher Kimberly Hughes capped her stellar year by earning the district’s Most Valuable Player award. Joining Hughes in earning superlative honors was her battery-mate Maci Poland, who was named the league’s Defensive MVP. - More Local Sports Headlines
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