Sports Update

Boyd tries to tame Tigers

Richard Greene — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 15:22:37 +0000

By Clay Corbett
It did not take long for the Boyd Yellowjackets to face their first adversity of the season. Defensive leader Garrett Ragsdale was lost in the Lindsay scrimmage with a foot injury and will be out at least till the district opener.
The setback hits the biggest concern the Yellowjackets have this young season — depth.
“We found out it was broke, so he will be out until district,” Boyd head coach Brandon Hopkins said. “We are always one or two guys getting hurt from being in trouble.”
Boyd will be forced to get through the early part of a tough schedule without their starting middle linebacker.
That difficult stretch begins Friday as Boyd travels to Gunter for a 7:30 kickoff.
With everything else going on, Hopkins also begins his tenure as head coach Friday night, but he has not had too much time to reflect on it.
“I’ve been doing this long enough, that even though I wasn’t the head guy I got into a routine,” Hopkins said. “I haven’t thought about it much [first game as head coach], I just want to have them prepared and ready to play.”
The match-up with Gunter has been a regular start to the season for Boyd the past few seasons and Hopkins looks forward to it.
“It has been a big physical game the past few years,” Hopkins said. “They will come right at you and try to run it down your throat.”
The Tigers will be young after losing a lot of kids to graduation off their 10-3, regional finalist team.
“They are still physical up front, but not as much size as in the past,” Hopkins said. “We have to limit their yards and get stops.”
When the Boyd offense gets their hands on the ball, they will look to go to their leader.
“We’ve got to get the ball to Fino Cardona,” Hopkins explained. “He will get a lot of touches and we have to protect Blake [McDonald] up front.”

Decatur boys ranked No. 1

Richard Greene — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 00:05:34 +0000

After a pair of trips to the state meet and with their top seven runners returning, the Decatur Eagles begin the season ranked No. 1 in Class 3A.
The Eagles were picked atop the Cross Country Coaches Association of Texas poll released this week.
The Eagles’ new District 9-3A rival Sanger was third.
In the Class 3A girls poll, Decatur was third, and Sanger fourth.
The Alvord girls were ranked ninth in Class 2A. The Northwest girls were 10th in 5A.

Bulls cancel scrimmage

Richard Greene — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 00:18:30 +0000

Inclement weather forced Bridgeport to cancel their intersquad scrimmage Tuesday.

Bridgeport tops Chico

Richard Greene — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 23:36:37 +0000

The Bridgeport Sissies topped the Chico Lady Dragons in four games Tuesday.

Decatur wins openers

Richard Greene — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 23:35:08 +0000

Decatur volleyball scored a pair of wins to open the season Tuesday. The Lady Eagles beat Azle and Joshua in four games.

Boyd goes 1-2 in pool at state

Richard Greene — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 20:36:35 +0000

The Boyd Yellowjackets held off Comanche Thursday 33-32 to win their opener at the state 7-on-7 tournament in College Station.
Boyd fell in game two to LaVilla 48-21.
The Yellowjackets dropped their final pool game 28-7 to Navasota.

Brown leaves as Decatur hoops coach

Richard Greene — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 18:17:21 +0000

By Richard Greene
After five seasons and four trips to the playoffs, Roger Brown is leaving as the Decatur Eagles basketball coach.
Brown tendered his resignation Sunday. He is leaving the coaching ranks after nearly two decades to take a job with Edward Jones.
“It was a really hard decision, but it was one for the future,” Brown said. “I’ve been doing this for 19 years.
“I do feel it’s the right decision.”
Brown came to Decatur after five years as an assistant coach at Texas A&M-Commerce. His team went 12-18 his first season and then followed up with four straight trips to the postseason. The Eagles were a combined 49-15 the past two seasons, including 23-10 in 2011-12.
Decatur beat Glen Rose in the bi-district round of the playoffs this year before falling to state-ranked Wichita Falls Hirschi.
“We got a lot done,” Brown said. “I thought our coaching staff got the most out of our team.”
From middle school through the varsity, Decatur boys basketball teams went 102-39 this year.
In leaving the profession, Brown said he will miss the competition and also the preparation.
“It’s not just the games,” he said. “I loved practice and preparing for the game. I like watching teams grow. It’s a difficult job, but when it comes together it’s great.”
Decatur Athletic Director Kyle Story praised Brown’s work.
“He did a great job with the basketball program and kept improving each year,” Story said. “I liked his intensity and work ethic.”
Story said Monday he was getting calls about the opening and expects to bring in several candidates for interviews.
“We’ll see who all is interested and will try to find the best candidate,” Story said.

Taylor ends with bronze in 5A 1,600

Richard Greene — Sun, 13 May 2012 01:39:25 +0000

By Richard Greene
In the final race of his high-school track career Saturday, Troy Taylor was determined not to go home empty-handed.
Taylor made a charge in the final 50 meters to pass Humble Kingwood’s Justin Brinkley to earn the bronze medal in the Class 5A 1,600 race at the University Interscholastic League track and field championships at Mike Myers Stadium in Austin.
It was Taylor’s second medal of the day. He earned a silver medal in the 3,200 Saturday morning.
“It’s the greatest feeling ever to get two medals down here at state in my first year,” Taylor said.
Just like in the 3,200, the Northwest senior smashed his previous-best time. He finished the 1,600 in 4:10.5. His best time before the race was 4:13.
“I just tried to go all out,” Taylor said. “It was my last race. There’s nothing to lose.
“I was hoping to go under 4:10. But I still got a medal at state.”
Cypress Woods’ Craig Nowak won the 1,600 in 4:06.65. He also won the 3,200.
Brigham Hedges of The Woodlands finished second in 4:10.07.
Nowak set the pace early, leading the pack of runners through the first lap in 1:06. Taylor stayed in the top three for most of the race, a few steps in back of Nowak and Brinkley.
“It felt pretty relaxed in the beginning just like any race that I’ve been in,” Taylor said. “I was OK. I could definitely feel [the pace] pick up each lap. I was ready for it and hung in there just like I did in the two-mile.”
Nowak took the bell at 3:11 with Taylor a second behind him.
Taylor stayed in third until the final 100 meters when Hedges passed him. Taylor found one last kick to get back onto the medal stand.
“I was sitting in third and I was like I’m good and I’ve got a medal,” Taylor said. “I was trying hard. Then that one kid blew by me. I said I didn’t run 1,500 meters to finish fourth. I went with him and we went around Justin Brinkley.”

Freier captures gold medal in 5A pole vault

Richard Greene — Sat, 12 May 2012 21:40:32 +0000

By Richard Greene
As a freshman, Northwest’s Desiree Freier brought home a silver medal from the state meet.
Saturday, the sophomore rose to the top of the medal stand at Mike Myers Stadium in Austin.
Freier cleared 12-9 on her first attempt to capture the Class 5A pole vault crown at the University Interscholastic League track and field meet.
“I gave it my all and did what I wanted,” Freier said about the gold medal. “I didn’t get the height, but I got first place. That’s good enough for me.”
Freier’s 12-9 was three inches better than Tomball’s Brittany Wooten, who took second and the silver medal.
Freier finished second in 2011, clearing 12-3.
“I was six inches better than last year,” Freier said. “Hopefully next year I’ll get six inches or a foot better.”
Freier did not enter the competition until 12 feet. She sailed over that height. She also cleared 12-6 and 12-9 on her first attempts.
“One of my goals was to get all of them on my first attempt,” Freier said.
After clearing 12-9, Freier made three attempts at 13. She got her feet over the bar on her final attempt but clipped the bar with her upper body.
“I was close. I almost had it,” Freier said. “Next year.”

Vidal finishes eighth in Class A 800

Richard Greene — Sat, 12 May 2012 18:51:42 +0000

By Richard Greene
A stomach bug bit Chico’s Zach Vidal at most inopportune time Friday — the eve of his chance to run in the University Interscholastic League’s track and field championships.
Vidal fought through the illness to finish eighth in the Class A 800 finals, running 2:04.48 at Mike Myers Stadium in Austin.

“I was not feeling well,” Vidal said. “I think it was something I ate.”
Chico coach Jason Sanders said Vidal was ill most of the Friday evening.
A determined Vidal wanted to run. He fell back to the rear of the field early in the race and couldn’t make a move.
He finished his first lap in 58.99 — two seconds back of the leader.
“I could feel it after the first lap,” Vidal said. “I was just drained. I tried to kick, and it wasn’t happening.”
William Robertson won the race in a conference record 1:55.24. San Perlita’s Andres Watson took second in 1:56.99. Jarrett Lujan of Marfa finished third in 1:57.23.