Sports

Head Coach Keith Howard has released the schedule for spring tennis and once again his Ennis team is favored to win the district and advance into the state playoffs. Along with assistants Wyatt Johnson and Heather Doslich, they coach and develop player from the junior high ranks through varsity.

Fans are welcome to attend home matches at the high school outdoor courts (2301 Ensign Rd) as well as at the Lions Tennis Center (2104 W. Ennis Ave.). There are nine courts, four of them indoors, bleachers, a pro shop and snack bar. Admission is free at both locations.

It wasn’t the encore they preferred, though following an 11-1 season, the best-ever for Class 1A Avalon, the team overcame a miserable start to somehow qualify for the playoffs. It didn’t last long, but it did point the Eagles toward an optimistic future.

Flying out of the blocks, Ennis jumped to an early 12-point lead and held off any comeback attempt by Corsicana in a 70-56 triumph on the road on Tuesday. The Lions improved their record to 3-1 and a tie with Waco University for second place in District 14-5A.

In the other two league games, first place Midlothian (4-1) blew out winless Cleburne, 50-21, and University edged Joshua, 52-48, in Waco. Red Oak had a bye.

Class 5A, Division II football entered Week 5 of the six-week odyssey known as the playoffs. It’s not easy to reach the final, though Ennis done in five times in 32 years of making the playoffs. This year’s Lions, ranked No. 1 all season, were considered one of, if not the best ever to don the maroon helmets.

As explosive as Ennis was, they won their nine games by an average of 42.5 points per game, they were the first ranked team to lose, and it came after just one postseason win. It is no wonder the sting of coming up short has been so hard to bear.