Sports

After last year’s coronavirus-shortened 10-6 season, third year Ennis Head Coach Karah Kinder is fielding a softball team that is both young and experienced in key positions that could translate into a playoff contender in District 14-5A.

Coaches like things as orderly as rows of corn. The past week has seen the weather mess up the best made plans, enough to wipe out games through Friday, Feb. 19. The University Interscholastic League stepped in to buy a few days, though it only serves as putting a lid on a blender.

In a season finale that witnessed four early lead changes before Corsicana went on a scoring spree to control the lead, it was Ennis who snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in the closing seconds.

Senior Shooting Guard Ryan Zaidle poured in 19 points during a 71-43 rout of Rice and then tossed in a pair of threes, grabbed four rebounds and made two steals as Palmer ended the season with a 56-27 pasting of Kemp.

Sophomore Grant Gilmore led Ennis to an 88-49 blowout of Cleburne last week. The 5’11 guard poured in a team-high 16 points, nine in the second half, as the Lions finished third in the district with a 7-5 record.

District 14-5A girls basketball went 1-3 in first round playoffs, with District 13 quickly sending three teams home. No. 18 ranked Midlothian (19-5) and No. 19 Red Oak (22-5) tied for first with 11-1 league marks, only to see the Panthers upset by Royse City (14-9), 42-38, in bi-district.

Upcoming Tennis Dates

Delivering under pressure makes diamonds the hardest natural substance known. Others are just rocks. The difference between winning and losing is often determined by who comes through in the clutch.

Redwater ISD, 15 miles southwest of Texarkana, announced the hiring of Brandon Layne, former Ferris High School football head coach and athletic director.