Sports

Another productive volleyball season at Avalon saw the Eagles finish second in District 15-2A to state finalist, Blum (36-13), and qualified for the playoffs.

Fourth-year HC Melanie Barnes led a young Palmer varsity through a tough 11-19 season. It did not lack for progress and promise, especially considering the core that will return next season.

Credit patience and time for the success Tony Hernandez has enjoyed at small-town Avalon.

A costly turnover inside the five-yard line cost No. 12 Italy (10-3) a tying touchdown in the closing minutes of a 20-13 third round loss to No. 4 Crawford (13-0) in Alvarado.

Ennis (7-2) bounced back from a 70-66 setback to Waco LaVega on Thursday with a huge rally to stun Nacadoches (4-1), 75-71, at a tournament hosted at Midlothian Heritage.

High-flying Lion, Grant Gilmore, a 6’0, 180-pound junior guard continues to shine. The top-scorer and a distributor in the passing game, he has sparked Ennis to a best-in-years, 7-2 start.

Senior guard Riley Pace returned to the lineup and made a huge impact Tuesday in an Ennis road victory, 62-58, over Class 6A Grand Prairie.

Rolling to their sixth consecutive dubya in the win column, Ennis snuffed out Seagoville, 78-58, on Tuesday at the Ensign Gym.

Unranked Mansfield Timberview has Ennis’ number. Friday at Lumpkins Stadium the Wolves dominated the Lions in a 42-21 rout that ended any dream of a deep playoff run for the locals and sent Timberview to the third round where they’ll meet No.