The Palestine boys’ basketball team lost their second-straight district game last Friday, setting up a potentially huge game Friday in Rusk.
The Wildcats fell to No. 25 Fairfield, 58-46, Friday, as the Eagles built up a 28-16 halftime lead and never looked back.
Gee Clark led Palestine with 11 points, while Ben Luckett also finished in double-figures with 10. Vay Davis, Jarrell Owens and Sheldon Watson each added six.
That loss comes on the heels of Palestine’s home defeat to Mexia Tuesday, moving the Wildcats to 1-2 in district play. After a bye today, the Wildcats travel to Rusk Friday.
That game becomes huge for the Wildcats who, with a win, can even their district record at 2-2 through the first round and, more importantly, have wins over the Eagles and Groesbeck, giving them the edge for 19-3A’s third-and-final playoff spot.
Games begin Friday in Rusk at 5 p.m.
Crockett 85, ELKHART 78
The Elkhart boys’ basketball team fell short Friday in a high-scoring battle for 19-2A’s second-place spot.
The Elks gave up 51 points over the second and third quarters to Crockett in a 85-78 loss, which dropped Elkhart to 4-2 in district play after the first round. The win propelled Crockett to 5-1.
Westwood currently leads the district with a 6-0 mark.
Jeffrey Wilson had 18 points for Elkhart in the loss, one of five Elks in double-figures. Jacob Cheatham added 16 and Cole Bridges had 15.
Both Brian Johnson and Luke Hollingsworth added 10 in the defeat.
Elkhart (10-11, 4-2) travels to Garrison today, with games beginning at 4 p.m. Friday, the Elks welcome in county-rival and district leader Westwood.
GRAPELAND 75, SLOCUM 55
Behind 33 points from star Patrick Walker, the third-ranked Grapeland boys’ basketball team topped Slocum Friday, 75-55.
Trevelon Hart had 11 for the Sandies in the win, while both Jacolby Simpson and Jacques Faulk had eight.
Slocum got 14 points from both Jason Neal and Connor Dickson in the loss, while Spence McDonald added 13 and Nathan Edwards had eight.
H.S. GIRLS BASKETBALL
Wortham 57, CAYUGA 51
The Cayuga girls’ basketball team dropped a crucial game Friday, falling to Wortham, 57-51, and falling into a three-way tie for second-place in District 18-A, Division I.
Madison Spears had 15 points and Madyson Gunnels had 12 in the loss, which dropped Cayuga to 14-9 overall and 3-2 in district play. The win moved Wortham to 15-4 and 3-2, while Hubbard’s win over Cross Roads also gave the Lady Jags a 3-2 district mark.
Danielle Anderson had 10 points for Cayuga, while both Kylee Cross and Molly Griffey had six. Shawnta Knox had only two points, but pulled down a team-high 13 rebounds.
Cayuga hosts a crucial game today, when they welcome in third-ranked Kerens (20-4, 5-0) to open the second round of district play. Kerens defeated Cayuga 64-51 earlier this month.
Fairfield 65, PALESTINE 37
The Palestine girls’ basketball team fell to the newly-minted No. 1-ranked Fairfield girls’ basketball team Friday, 65-37.
PHS coach Joseph Baker said the difference in the game was “way too many turnovers” by the Ladycats.
The loss drops Palestine to 1-3 in district play, and the Ladycats face a must-win game Friday in Rusk if they hope to make a run at the postseason.
Games begin at 5 p.m.
SLOCUM 68, GRAPELAND 52
The ninth-ranked Slocum girls’ basketball team continued to protect its home court Friday, topping rival Grapeland, 68-52.
The Lady Mustangs, who improved to 11-0 at the Slocum High School gym, got 56 points from the duo of Valerie Larkin and Brice Sizemore.
Larkin scored 36 while Sizemore added 20 for the Lady Mustangs, who host Latexo Tuesday. Games begin at 4 p.m.
Local Sports
H.S. Basketball Roundup: Palestine boys fall to Fairfield
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H.S. Football: Elkhart's Wilson picks up 2nd offer
Elkhart running back Jeffrey Wilson isn’t even into his senior year yet, and already there are some major decisions on his plate.
The Elks star picked up his second college offer Thursday, this one from the University of North Texas. The Mean Green joins the University of Louisiana-Monroe (ULM) on the list of suitors for Wilson. -
H.S. Baseball: Holland named 19-A MVP
After edging Kerens for the District 19-A baseball title, the Cayuga baseball team was well-represented on the 19-A all-district team released this week.
Star pitcher Chantz Holland was named the district’s MVP after yet another standout season. The Vernon College-bound Holland was the team’s ace pitcher and also its most reliable hitter. -
H.S. Baseball Playoffs: Elkhart relying on experience during playoff run
After being pushed to the brink of elimination in each of its first two playoff series, the Elkhart baseball team took care of business with ease in the regional quarterfinals.
The Elks defeated Warren in the best-of-three series, 2-0, by a combined score of 11-1.
But, ironically, EHS coach John Adair credited being pushed to the brink in the first round with the team’s ability to pull it all together as the Elks’ playoff run keeps going. -
H.S. Baseball Playoffs: Elkhart's Cheatham sets national triples record
Earlier in the postseason, Elkhart star third baseman Jacob Cheatham legged out his 17th triple of the 2013 season.
It was an important one.
With the hit, Cheatham passed Steve Kopepasah and Alex Ortiz for the national record for triples in a season, according to the National Federation of High School associations. -
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. - More Local Sports Headlines
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