Wildcats Win Two Thursday
Clutch Free Throws Help Wildcats Basketball Take Late Game as They Win Two Games Thursday
With the #3 ranked Wildcats Basketball Team trailing by one point to Rockwall Heath Thursday night (December 12), Wildcat senior Day Day Hall was fouled with just 1.7 seconds in the fourth quarter. Hall sank both free throws. A desperation heave toward the basket by Heath fell well short and the Wildcats had a frantic, 52-51 win over the never say die Hawks. The win wrapped up the first day of the 2019 9th Annual Forney ISD Winter Classic that saw the Wildcats win both of their pool games at Forney. Earlier the Wildcats bested Ennis, 80-55 featuring a record breaking effort by Wildcats senior Grayson McClure. McClure hit a school record 10 three-point baskets as he scored 34 points against the Lions. The Wildcats got off to a slow start against Ennis trailing 17-11 after the first quarter. A 30 point second quarter put the Wildcats ahead at the half 41-27. Ennis trimmed the lead to 12 points after three quarters as the Wildcats led 55-43. A 25 point fourth quarter allowed the Wildcats to put the game away, 80-55. McClure’s 10 three-pointers bested the previous school record of 8 by Keaston Willis, now at the University of The Incarnate Word in San Antonio. Also for the Wildcats against Ennis, Day Day Hall had 14 points including one three-pointer. Boo Wilkerson scored 8 points. Cameron Kahn had 7 points. Jatavion Hall hit two long rangers for 6 points. Lamodrick Johnson added 5 points. Justin Haire scored 4 points. Justin Brock had 2 points. Against Rockwall Heath, the Wildcats played some of their best basketball of the season and some of their worst. The Wildcats came out red hot, destroyed the Hawks full court pressure and hit just about all of their shots. The Wildcats led 23-9 after the first quarter and 39-22 at halftime. The Hawks began to play much better in the second half and the Wildcats struggled mightily on offense. Heath outscored the Wildcats 14-6 in the third quarter to trim the Wildcats lead to 45-36. Rockwall Heath continued their comeback in the fourth quarter and took their first lead since early in the ballgame going up 51-50 with just 34 seconds left to play. The Wildcats had enough time to get the ball into Day Day Hall who was hammered as he attempted to shoot. Then came the clutch free throws. Hall led the Wildcats with 19 points. Cameron Kahn scored 12. Boo Wilkerson and Grayson McClure scored 6 points each. McClure had two more three-pointers. Lamodrick Johnson had 5 points. Justin Haire and Justin Brock scored 2 points each. With the two wins, the Wildcats improved their season record to 10-3. The Wildcats won their pool and now move into the Gold Bracket against three other undefeated pool winners. The Wildcats now play Wylie Friday at 6 p.m. in the Forney High School Gym. Wylie defeated Keller Fossil Ridge, 71-55 and Forney, 64-42 Thursday. Wylie defeated the Wildcats in this tournament last season, 54-41.
Meal a Day Gets Donation from Four Heroes, VFW
Karon Weatherman, Director of the Sulphur Springs Seniors Center, had four American heroes stop by the Senior Citizens Center to give Meal A Day a donation this week They are from Hopkins County VFW Post 8560.
Left to Right:
Philip Gabbert, Travis Estes, Art Romanat, Karon Templeton Weatherman and Joe Robinson. It is organizations like this that keep Meal A Day funded.
Former Wildcat Football Player And Defensive Coordinator Has Paul Pewitt In State Semifinal Game
Former Wildcat football standout and Wildcat assistant coach and defensive coordinator Triston Abron is in his second year as Head Football Coach for the Paul Pewitt Brahmas.
It will be Brahmas versus Brahmas Friday night, Dec. 13, at 7:30 p.m., as Paul Pewitt plays East Bernard at Waco ISD Stadium in a State Semifinal Game in Class 3A, Division II.
In a radio interview by phone with Coach Abron Thursday morning, he credits big buy-in from his players. He is also hoping to keep on proving some doubters wrong.
Paul Pewitt was picked by some experts to finish fourth in their district. They ended up with just a single loss in district play, to Daingerfield, and tied for first place.
Coach Abron still does not believe Paul Pewitt is getting the respect they deserve as a 13-1 team. He says the Brahmas are big up front which makes their running game go. The former defensive coordinator says Paul Pewitt has played decent defense. He adds he still can’t stand to give up touchdowns; he wants to shut out every team.
Coach Abron says beating Daingerfield in a playoff rematch last week was fun. He says it was Pewitt’s first win over Daingerfield since either 2005 or 1998. Coach Abron feels the Brahmas should have defeated Daingerfield the first time. They led them at home at halftime, before giving up the lead.
Last week, in the rematch, the Brahmas trailed at halftime. He says he challenged his team at halftime and they responded.
Concerning East Bernard, Coach Abron sees more similarities with Paul Pewitt than just the same mascot. He calls the teams clones of each other and has cast the game as Rocky versus Apollo.
Coach Abron discussed some coaches that have inspired him and mentored him. He tells his Brahmas every game something he heard about from James Cameron: Be humble in victory and give God the glory. He says wins don’t come easy and he says they take a lot of work to achieve.
Other coaches who have influenced him include Chuck King, Dwayne McMeans, Greg Owens, Brad Turner, Steve Hale, Matt Young, Rodney Bartholemus and Dean Lassiter; also Chris Owens, Coach Chris Valdovinos, Bruce Silman, Cameron Warren and Kurt McCain. He says he appreciates all the support he gets from Sulphur Springs.
Saltillo Lady Lions Basketball Team Overcomes Slow Start To Get Win Tuesday
The #16 ranked Saltillo Lady Lions Basketball Team overcame a very slow start and then did enough in the second half to defeat Lone Oak, 43-35 at home Tuesday night, Dec. 10. The Lady Lions improved their season record to 12-6.
The Lady Lions trailed 13-8 at halftime. Anna Reeder led Saltillo with 15 points. Chandler Bain scored 11 points. Kristina Wade scored 9 points. Julianna Giles had 5 points. Brittney Peeples added 2 points. Maddy Smith scored 1 point.
Lady Lions Coach Bill Giles said the Lady Lions did a good job hanging in there after a terrible first half. He added the Lady Lions did enough good things to win it. The Lady Lions play at Union Grove Friday evening.
The NETBIO Cattle Sale Was Held Wednesday
Sulphur Springs Livestock Commission
Public Information Services
Producers sold 5,062 head of pre-conditioned cattle at the December Northeast Texas Beef Improvement Organization’s (NETBIO) Pre-conditioned Calf and Yearling Sale held Wednesday (Dec. 11) at the Sulphur Springs Livestock Commission. A total of 208 producer/members consigned cattle to sell in the sale, and despite the chilly weather, a good crowd of buyers, sellers and visitors showed up for the sale.
“The cattle held up very good through the colder weather — mainly because they were all pre-conditioned and in excellent health,” said David Fowler, co-owner of the livestock commission and a NETBIO director.
“The buyers who come to the NETBIO sales look for quality cattle, and it was again evident that our producers offered the quality cattle they were looking for,” Fowler said. “We even had a good amount of bidding and buying activity over the Internet.”
Fowler said most of the cattle in the sale were destined for the feed yards in the Panhandle. He added that there were some new buyers who took a lot of interest in the pre-conditioned cattle.
When the sale was over, a total of 28 buyers had paid an average of $733.15 per head for the nearly 5,100 head of cattle.
The NETBIO Pre-Conditioned Stocker and Feeder Calf Sale gives producers a market to offer their pre-conditioned calves and yearlings in load lot quantities. NETBIO holds six pre-conditioned calf sales per year, which is the marketing arm for members of the organization.
The next sale will be held at the Sulphur Springs Livestock Commission on Wednesday, January 15, 2020. The weaning deadline for the cattle selling in this sale will be Dec. 1 and the boosting shot deadline is Dec. 16.
Auctioneer Joe Don Pogue calls for bids on this pen of cattle at the December NETBIO sale held Wednesday (Dec. 11) at the Sulphur Springs Livestock Commission. Producers sold 5,062 head of pre-conditioned cattle at the sale.
Como In Pre-Construction Process For Sewer Plant Improvement Project
The City of Como is one step closer to officially reopening its police department, according to city staff.
The city has been working since summer to obtain an official Texas Commission On Law Enforcement number, which is required to reestablish a police department and officially operate as a recognized law enforcement agency.
TCOLE has reviewed the application, and the city officials anticipate receiving their official notification letter allowing them to operate as a recognized department in early 2020, according to the city secretary.
The TCOLE approval will allow Andy Lowen, a retired code enforcement officer, to begin enforcing city codes and other related police matters within the scope of his duties as public safety director. A car is reportedly being detailed for Lowen to use in his work two days a week.
In addition to police work, Lowen as public safety director will continue to oversee Como Volunteer Fire Department as well.
An update regarding the city’s police department was made Tuesday night, during what was scheduled as a regular City Council meeting, according to Como City Secretary Mary Doss.
No decisions requiring a council vote could be taken at the Dec. 10 meeting, however, due to a lack of a quorum. One council member was not in attendance due to an illness and another due to a crash prior to the meeting.
The council was scheduled to discuss and consider taking action regarding a sewer grant. Signing and or approval of documents related to the grant was delayed due to the lack of quorum, according to Doss.
The city has been awarded a $275,000 grant to help fund improvements at the sewer plant, which has reportedly had any significant updates in decades. City officials and staff, representatives from Grant Works, a contractor and engineers from Freeman-Millican Inc. of Dallas met recently to go over and revise the sewer improvement plan, part of the pre-construction process, according to the city secretary.
The council members are expected to sign the updated documents at a later time. Once the project begins, the contractor will have 180 days to complete the project.
On Thursday Game Day, Wildcats Basketball In Tourney, Lady Cats Soccer Has Home Scrimmage
There are basketball and soccer games scheduled on this Thursday, Dec. 12, game day.
The #3 ranked Wildcats Basketball Team opens play Thursday in the three-day 2019 Forney ISD Winter Classic with a pair of pool play games. The Wildcats play Ennis at 4:30 p.m. and then meet Rockwall-Heath at 7:30 p.m. Both games will be at Forney High School.
Wildcats Coach Clark Cipoletta says Ennis is athletic and will play a zone defense that the Wildcats don’t see often. He says Rockwall-Heath loves to shoot the ball and they are encouraged to do so. He adds they are a well coached team that runs a lot of sets. Coach Cipoletta also says during tournaments, he and his coaching staff have to prepare for their opponents very quickly, often right before games.
Based on pool play, teams will be assigned to either Gold, Silver or Bronze Brackets for play Friday and Saturday, either at Forney or North Forney High School.
The Wildcats come in with 8-3 record after their loss at Dallas Woodrow Wilson Tuesday night.
Meanwhile the Lady Cats Soccer Team has the first scrimmage of the season on this Thursday game day.
The Lady Cats will scrimmage Kilgore at Gerald Prim Stadium. The Lady Cats JV will play the Lady Bulldogs JV at 5 p.m. The Lady Cats Varsity and Kilgore will scrimmage at around 7:15 p.m.
The Lady Cats are coached by first year head coach Javier Aguayo, who replaces longtime Lady Cats Soccer Coach Joel Bailey.
Sheriff: 8 Kilograms Of Methamphetamine Found During I-30 Traffic Stop In Brashear
A traffic stop on Interstate 30 in Brashear, TX early Thursday morning reportedly resulted in seizure of 8 kilograms of a suspected controlled substance by interdiction officers.
A traffic stop was made near mile marker 116 on I-30 east at approximately 12:45 a.m. December 12th, 2019 by sheriff’s deputies. Officers from the Cumby Police Department assisted in the stop. Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputy Jason Lavender deployed his canine partner to conduct a sniff search; the dog gave a positive alert at about 1:20 a.m., according to sheriff’s and dispatch reports.
Officials located a large quantity of contraband, approximately 8 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine. The material was seized, according to Hopkins County Sheriff Lewis Tatum.
Two individuals were reportedly taken into custody. No additional details regarding the pair or the traffic stop are available at this time.
