Sports

Stunned as if a good boxer had just been caught with a startling left hook and a stultifying right, Red Oak a local basketball power for years, was stunned by Ennis, 61-56, on Friday, Jan. 8.

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.

Jason Bachtel, 40, was hired on Jan. 7 as the new head coach at NCAA Division III Howard Payne University. A 2003 alumnus at HPU, he was introduced at a press conference in Brownwood (170 miles SW of Ennis) the following day.

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.

An early 2-0 start in District 11-4A has boosted Ferris (9-6) and first year HC Joshua McGee out front in what is expected to be another tough boys basketball race this season. The Yellow Jackets, 23- 11 last winter, struggled to finish 3-7. They hope to learn from the experience.

Ted Shurtleff and Palmer have built a 9-4 record by winning six of nine games away. His team returns to play four of their next five in the friendly confines on West Jefferson. They will need a measure of success to recover from 2-4 start in District 18-3A.

A young team consumed with speed and energy has two games slated this week, Tuesday and Friday, where Ennis can make a move for a playoff berth is in sight. The Lady Lions, 4-10, are at Corsicana (1-5) on Jan.

Palmer completed the 2020 volleyball season with the best record among the Big 5 teams in Eastern Ellis County. HC Melanie Barnes led the Lady Bulldogs to a 14-10 mark, going 8-6 in District 18-3A. The team was upended by No.

Left-to-right, Damon Herrera (79), Ben Lancon (78), Eddie Vargas (70), Jhonny Arreola (54), Aaron Roberts (77) and Jett Maxwell (67), the road graders flattened Edgewood last week for 416 yards on 46 carries. Palmer won, 30-6, to improve their record to 6-1. Next week, Oct. 23, they travel to Blooming Grove (3-3). The OL Coach is Blake Bost. Courtesy Photo