PONDER — Following Game 3 of Ponder’s Class 2A Region II area baseball series against Pottsboro, head coach Mark Low leaned over the railing and looked into the dugout as his team looked back at him. The team chided their head coach when it appeared he might shed a couple tears as he spoke to the senior-laden team.
When the baseball and softball playoffs resume today after a week-long hiatus, several area teams will continue their journeys to the state tournament.
MANSFIELD — Ponder had a sweep in sight Saturday in a Class 2A bi-district playoff series at Mansfield Lake Ridge, but Whitney scored four runs in the seventh to win 8-7. With the series tied at a game apiece, the Lions recovered for a 20-1 victory and advanced to an area-round matchup with Pottsboro.
Skylar Cagle took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and finished with 13 strikeouts to lead Pilot Point to a 5-0 victory Friday night over Ponder in a Class 2A area round game at Bronco Field.
Due to possible inclement weather in store for Thursday, the Guyer softball team will open the week’s playoff schedule today when the Lady Wildcats travel to Aledo to open a best-of-three Class 4A area-round series at 7:30 p.m.
SPRINGTOWN — The tension was high in a Class 2A bi-district playoff matchup Saturday as the Ponder Lady Lions’ offense showed just enough consistency while fending off a furious charge by Godley to claim a 8-7 victory to move on to the area round.
The Argyle boys won the Class 3A Region II tournament in Pottsboro after entering the second day in second place to claim the school’s first regional crown and its second consecutive state berth.
With two days to earn a trip to the UIL state golf tournament in two weeks, several area athletes are vying for berths in the state tournament at this week’s regional tournaments. The Guyer boys are in second place in the Class 4A Region I tournament while the Ponder girls are in a tie for fourth in the Class 2A Region II tournament . The Argyle boys find themselves in second in the Class 3A Region II tournament heading into the second round.
Stepping into the gyms at Krum and Ponder, it’s almost impossible to ignore the basketball heritage that has graced the hardwood for decades. This year, both schools enhanced that legacy with deep postseason runs behind the area’s top players. Rachel Wallace of Krum and Clay Morgan of Ponder exhibited on-court prowess that made them the clear choices as the MVPs of this year’s Denton Record-Chronicle All-Area Basketball Team.
The Ponder Lady Lions, led by the play of Elizabeth Chilson, captured the District 9-2A championship Wednesday when the tournament’s second round was canceled.
This weekend, four area schools and the rest of Texas will descend on Abilene for the boys powerlifting state meets with hopes of lifting enough weight off their shoulders and chests to come away with the top marks.
The Pilot Point powerlifting team claimed the Region 6 Division 3 championship on Saturday, while the Ponder Lions got a record-breaking performance from Brennan Sooter to finish third in the 23-team event at Ponder High School.
In what was a historic year for the Guyer program, and the best one in recent memory for Denton, the District 5-4A all-district team had plenty of representation from both teams following successful 2012-13 campaigns.
The Krum Lady Cats were well-represented on the 9-3A all-district team after making their second state tournament appearance in school history.
VAN ALSTYNE — Argyle improved to 12-2 after defeating Whitesboro 10-1 in the Van Alstyne tournament Saturday.
STEPHENVILLE — In the third and final meeting of the season between District 9-2A co-champions Brock and Ponder, the Lions showed resilience while recovering from large deficits, as they had several times during their playoff run.
STEPHENVILLE — Down double digits in the Class 2A Region II semifinals at Tarleton State’s Wisdom Gym on Friday, the Ponder Lions looked as if their season was going to end on a sour note. However, the Ponder defense showed second-half grit and determination en route to a thrilling 40-38 victory over Red Oak Life to set up the Lions’ third showdown of the season with district rival Brock.
PONDER — In the Ponder High School gym, the four large outlines of the state of Texas representing four boys’ basketball state championships serve as daily reminders to this seasons’ squad of the allure that comes with winning.
DECATUR — After Thursday’s double-overtime victory over Sunnyvale, Ponder entered Tuesday’s Class 2A regional quarterfinals against Peaster with a fighter’s mind-set.
The Ponder boys will face Peaster at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in a Class 2A Region II quarterfinal at Decatur.
Ryan improved to 9-3 on the season after defeating Saginaw Boswell 8-0 at the Tina Minke Tournament.
PROSPER — When three consecutive 3-point baskets wiped out their 7-0 lead, the Ponder Lions knew they were in for a tough game against Sunnyvale on Thursday night. What they couldn’t have guessed was that the Raiders would extend the Class 2A area-round playoff game by two four-minute overtime periods before Ponder prevailed 59-53 at Prosper High School.
After a first-round bye in the Class 2A boys basketball playoffs, the Ponder Lions will begin its postseason trek tonight.
On a couple of mornings each week, hours after a group of high schoolers finish their basketball game and hours before grown men fly over the Middle East, Air Force Lt. Col. Richard Peterson gets out of bed to watch his son play basketball.
Following the first round of the playoffs, three area girls teams maintain hopes of reaching the UIL state tournament in Austin, while the boys start their playoff treks next week.
WICHITA FALLS — The Guyer Wildcats clinched a share of the District 5-4A title with a 66-35 victory against Wichita Falls on Friday night.
LEWISVILLE — Ryan remained winless in District 5-5A after losing to Hebron 59-31 on Friday night.
Ryan boys basketball coach Bryce Overstreet was suspended for the Raiders’ next three District 5-5A games and placed on probation for three years, the University Interscholastic League ruled Wednesday.
FORT WORTH — Justin Griffin scored a game high of 20 points for the Guyer Wildcats, who improved to 6-1 in District 5-4A after defeating Fort Worth Brewer 37-34 on Friday night.
The Ponder Lions powerlifting team opened the season Saturday by taking third at the Wichita Falls Rider Invitational. Graham won the event followed by Burkburnett.
AUBREY — Despite the loss of his father Friday, Javion Williams decided to play for Aubrey to honor his father’s memory. Williams scored 35 points on the night, intentionally missing two free throws to end his scoring with his father’s age and leading the Chaparrals to a very memorable 73-60 victory over Celina.
The Ponder Lions won their second District 9-2A game with a 66-21 victory over Paradise on Saturday.
THE COLONY — The Ryan Raiders fell 60-25 to Pearland in The Colony tournament Saturday night.
FORT WORTH — Despite a 13-point effort from Alex Partridge, the Guyer Wildcats fell to Keller Fossil Ridge 53-52 on Friday in the Fort Worth school district’s Coca-Cola Classic.
FORT WORTH — Guyer opened the Fort Worth school district’s Coca-Cola Classic with a 69-45 loss to Arlington Bowie on Thursday.
Guyer’s state championship was cemented by star quarterback Jerrod Heard, and the All-District 5-4A roster reflects the junior’s efforts throughout the season. Heard and the Wildcats were well represented when the all-district team was released.
EULESS — Miles Crawford had a 17-point effort to lead Guyer to a 44-39 victory over Euless Trinity.
KRUM — You maybe couldn’t tell it at halftime when the visitors led by 11. The final margin of 11 points might be confusing, too.
ARGYLE — Delaney Sain was money on the block and she and her Argyle teammates shut down Ponder’s shooters as Argyle earned a 47-37 nondistrict win over the Lady Lions on Friday.
HALTOM CITY — After a disappointing loss to Hurst L.D. Bell on Tuesday night, the Guyer Wildcats recovered Wednesday and started the Northeast Lions Club Tournament with a 51-41 win over Fort Worth O.D. Wyatt.
Zack Duncan scored 18 points, but Guyer came up short in a 65-59 loss to Hurst L.D. Bell on Tuesday night.
PONDER — The Ponder Lions ended their season in disappointing fashion as they let a halftime lead slip away in a 30-27 loss to the Paradise Panthers.
BOYD — Boyd’s talented offensive repertoire was on full display Friday night as junior running back Fino Cardona and senior quarterback Blake McDonald gashed Ponder en route to a 48-28 victory at Yellow Jacket Stadium. The Yellow Jackets stymied Ponder’s stagnant offense early in the first quarter, forcing three straight three-and-outs on Ponder’s first three possessions.
PONDER — In heartbreaking fashion, the Ponder Lions fell to Callisburg 43-41 in double overtime Friday night. “We knew it was going to be a dogfight against a good team,” Ponder head coach Russ Phillips said. “We’ll never quit on our kids and they will never quit either.” Reid Sanders had a big game, accumulating 329 passing yards and four total touchdowns for the Lions. Nick King and Tanner Yeager had seven receptions apiece in the loss.
PILOT POINT — Quarterback Travis Garrett ran for one score and passed for another and teammate Tristen Jurecka ran for two more as Pilot Point powered past Ponder for a 26-7 homecoming victory Friday night. The Bearcats improved to 5-2 overall, 2-1 in District 5-2A play, while the Lions slipped to 2-5, 0-3.
PONDER — An ineffective offense plagued the Ponder Lions as they were blanked by the Bowie Jackrabbits 28-0 on Friday night.
WHITESBORO — Running back Collin Kilcrease rushed for 270 yards and five touchdowns as the Whitesboro Bearcats rolled to a 49-19 win over the Ponder Lions in the District 5-2A opener for both teams Friday night at Bearcat Stadium.
