Sports

Area varsity basketball teams are currently in post-season playoff mode after five of the ten Big 5 teams punched their ticket by finishing in the top four in their respective districts.

Former Ennis baseball standout, Taylor Daniell, having started two years at the University of Central Arkansas after one at Hill College (Tx), will play his senior season as a graduate student at NCAA Division I Tarleton State.

In what could be a first-round doozie, I-45 neighbors Ferris (17-18) will play host to Wilmer-Hutchins (19- 11) on Tuesday, Feb. 22, at 7pm. HC Josh McGee won a coin-toss with the Eagles HC T.J. Billups for the right to have the game at home.

It’s been since 2014 that Ennis was a state finalist in softball. The following season they were stateranked and made noise again. Their district winning streak reached 55 games in 2016. Restoring the glory years will require a talented roster of committed players, though having All-Staters like Julia Hollingsworth and Michaela Cochran would be a great help.

After leading by 10-to-15 points through three quarters, Ennis held off Corsicana, 63-58, on Tuesday to even their overall record at 14-14 and improve their District 14-5A ledger to 4-6.

Avalon boys basketball has enjoyed quite the turnaround this winter, converting a 7-10 mark a year ago into a 15-8 record heading into Friday night’s (Feb. 11) home clash with Hubbard (14-8). The Eagles were 8-3 and holding onto third place, while the Jaguars were 8-2 and had the edge after thumping Avalon in their first meeting.

As a stream without rocks has no song, so is the tough basketball squad at Ferris. HC Mandie West overcame a short bench and a lack of experience to guide the Lady Jackets to a 14-20 overall finish and, at 6-6 in league action, earned fourth in District 11-4A.

Ennis baseball defeated Class 6A Cedar Hill, 14-9, in a preseason scrimmage on Tuesday. The exhibition was not as close as the score indicated, and one of several players stood out to observers... shortstop Jeremiah Sanchez.

Monday, Feb. 14th 6pm Whitney - vs - Malakoff (26-6)