Sandy Anderberg

The Broncos continued their dominance of District 3-1A last week as they rolled to a 6-0 record in District play.

Last Wednesday the Broncos took down Wheeler 60-39 on the road. Seniors Johnny Gaines and Brayden Phillips teamed up and accounted for 44 of the Broncos’ total points.

The Broncos pulled ahead by 10 early in the game and held their point-spread until the final quarter of play. Their defense held the Mustangs to only seven points while they put in 18.

“We shot the ball well,” head coach Brandt Lockhart said. “We did a good job of causing turnovers that gave us easy baskets.”

Senior Johnny Gaines accounted for 30 of Clarendon’s points, and Brayden Phillips also finished in double figures with 14.

Also scoring: Mike Crump 6, Cole Ward 4, Justin Shillings 2, Daniel West 2, and Chris Crump 2.

On Friday, the Broncos wiped out another foe when they defeated Wellington at home 57-46. The Broncos jumped out to the lead in the first half of play, but the Rockets would not give up. Clarendon gained a little ground in the fourth period to seal the win. Gaines and M. Crump finished in double figures with 25 and 11 points.

“We got a lot of offensive rebounds, which helped us get more chances to score,” Lockhart said.

Also scoring: Shillings 7, Phillips 5, Ward 5, and C. Crump 4.

The Broncos will play Memphis at home February 11 and travel to Quanah February 15 to end their regular season. Games will begin at 7:30 p.m.

The Bronco varsity basketball team continues to roll opponent after opponent adding two more teams to the list. The Broncos skinned Memphis on the road last Tuesday night at 61-24 and defeated Quanah by more than twenty at points at 58-32 at home Friday night.

The Cyclones never gave the Broncos any competition as they used their defensive pressure to make easy baskets. Up by thirty points in the third quarter, the Broncos were able to coast to the win.

“We played well defensively,” coach Brandt Lockhart said. “They couldn’t handle our pressure; and in the third quarter, our defensive pressure caused several turnovers and were got the easy baskets.”

Scoring: Johnny Gaines 17, Brayden Phillips 10, Chris Crump 10, Justin Shillings 6, Adam Topper 6, Mike Crump 4, Daniel West 4, Cody Wood 2, and Cole Ward 2.

The Broncos held the Indians to only three fourth quarter points, which proved to be the game sealer for the Broncos in their romp over Quanah at home Friday night. The Broncos jumped on them early and stayed strong offensively to get the big win. Quanah tried to answer in the third quarter of play, but the Bronco defense was too tough to get anything going.

Gaines and Phillips connected on 20 and 18 points to lead the Broncos on the scoreboard, and C. Crump added nine for the win.

“We continue to play good defense, and I was proud of everyone’s effort,” Lockhart said.

Also scoring: Topper 4, West 3, Shillings 2, and Ward 2.

The Broncos will play Wellington at home Friday, February 4 and play Memphis at home February 11. They will play Quanah February 15 on the road.

The Clarendon Broncos began the Greenbelt Tournament last week in a huge way when they defeated Silverton 103-23, but then they fell short against Dalhart. The Paducah Dragons went on to win the 12-team tournament over the Dalhart Golden Wolves.
Things clicked offensively for the Broncos as they routed Silverton, and six players finished in double figures.

Scoring: Johnny Gaines 23, Cole Ward 20, Chris Crump 14, Adam Topper 11, Mike Crump 10, Bradley Watson 10, Brayden Phillips 7, Justin Shillings 4, and Wesley Williams 4.

The Broncos took on Highland Park in the next round and breezed to a 54-31 win. After a slow half, the Broncos turned on their offense in the third quarter to go up by 17 points. The Hornets could not answer and felt the defensive pressure from the Broncos.
Scoring: Gaines 23, Phillips 7, C. Crump 6, Topper 6, Shillings 4, M. Crump 4, Watson 2, and Ward 2.

Dalhart handed the Broncos their first loss of the tournament in the next round at 52-65. Missed shots plagued the Broncos who could not find a rhythm offensively.

Scoring: Phillips 17, Gaines 14, C. Crump 7, M. Crump 7, Shillings 3, Ward 2, and Topper 2.

The Broncos recovered nicely in the next round to earn third place with a big 55-51 win over Childress. Clarendon got their offense moving in the right direction early on but let the Bobcats back into the game at the break.

Clarendon held a slight lead after three but made the go-ahead points to finish the game in the final quarter.

“Overall we played well,” coach Brandt Lockhart said. “We did not have a good game against Dalhart but came back with a good game against a good Childress team.”

Scoring: Gaines 16, Phillips 13, Ward 10, Shillings 9, Daniel West 2, C. Crump 2 Williams 2, and M. Crump 1.

Earlier in the week, the Broncos hosted Perryton at home and defeated them, 66-59. Good solid play was key in the victory.

Scoring: Gaines 31, Shillings 9, Phillips 9, C. Crump 6, Watson 5, Topper 4, West 2, and M. Crump 1.

No other words fit so well in describing the Broncos’ 7-14 loss to Seymour on Saturday in Lubbock than “heartbreaking.” No one would have guessed the “Boys of Fall” would not still be playing football this week.

The Broncos’ stellar season came to abrupt halt in the Area round of the playoffs ending a year that was one for the record books. It was the first time since 1981 that the Broncos were named District Champs and a win would have been the first time since 1972 that the Broncos made it past the second round. But it wasn’t their day.

The Panthers may have won on the scoreboard, but the Broncos reestablished their position in 1A football as a team to not be taken lightly. Game after game this season the Broncos proved they could play with the best of them after posting only two losses overall.

“Our expectations were high for this game,” head coach Gary Jack said. “We felt we were ready and had a great week of practice. We expected a tough game, and that’s exactly what it was. I’m still trying to figure it out.”

Jack felt the Broncos were not as sharp as they had been. Several things could have
played a part in the loss, but Jack is not making excuses. There was a lot of emotion running through the team and things just really did not click the way they had been, Jack said.

Defensively, the Broncos played outstanding, but offensively they could not get things going like they had in the past.

“It was a good defensive game,” Jack said. “But offensively, the things we had been doing that worked were not working for us. We could never get into a flow. The defense definitely dictated both sides of the ball. One or two plays either way could have changed the outcome of the game.”

Jack gave Seymour credit.

“They are a good team, and they played well,” Jack said. “We didn’t think anybody would slow us down and they did.”

The Broncos’ only score came on a four-yard run by senior Chris Crump with Johnny Gaines kicking the extra point. Clarendon racked up 249 total yards and was virtually even with Seymour in the stats book. With less than 30 seconds left in the game, the Broncos were moving the ball down the field and had a chance to tie the game at 14 all. But the Panthers intercepted a Gaines pass on the nine-yard line and ran the clock out.

Despite the loss, the Broncos had a great year and Coach Jack is extremely proud of them.

“I will miss the seniors,” Jack said. “They played hard and were great leaders. I’ll have good memories of the entire team and the seniors. What a run these kids had this season.”

Jack knows there is good talent coming up.

“We have a bunch of kids returning, and they have big shoes to fill.”

The Bronco underclassmen will be ready come fall; ready to rewrite the record books once again.

The senior Broncos are Johnny Gaines, Mike Crump, Chris Crump, David Roberts, Bradley Watson, Brayden Phillips, R.J. Nino, John Levario, Daniel West, Coby Braughton, Trent White, Clayton Shields, and Monty Holland.

She set her sights on something big early on, and for one Lady Bronco athlete those goals became reality.

Audrey Shelton has worked hard for the reward and the payback came this past weekend in Round Rock. Shelton went through every obstacle she could to get there and not surprisingly ran in the State Cross-Country Meet Saturday, November 13 against 103 other runners.

Her time of 12:46 for the two-mile course was good enough for 25th place. Not bad for the sophomore’s first trip to state.

Shelton was among really good runners and against a course she had never faced before. She ran hard and gave it all she had and even though the results were not what she had in mind, the participation was a first for Clarendon’s cross-country
runners.

Shelton did not begin her training when school started this fall. She was dedicated throughout the summer and made it her goal to not only make it to the Regional meet, but advance to the top meet in the state. She practiced alone, with friends, and with her coaches and every ounce of fortitude and drive came from within. A great testimony to what someone can accomplish with the right determination.

“Audrey is one of the best high school athletes I have ever coached when it comes to determination, attitude, and work ethic,” coach Molly Weatherred said. “She is a great leader. She has worked extremely hard. Not only did Shelton run all of the scheduled practices, but she also ran on her own. Even through the weekends. She never took a day off from running. I am very proud of her.”

Shelton led her team in the District and Regional meet this season. The Lady Bronco team competed at the Regional meet and placed 7th overall. But Shelton is not finished running yet. She will be a very experienced presence in the spring when track season rolls around and then gear up for another cross-country season next fall as a junior.

You can bet that if there is a race to be run, Audrey Shelton will be the first in line to practice whenever and wherever she can. It’s in her blood.