Sports

By Sandy Anderberg

The Clarendon Broncos closed out a stellar season Saturday, finishing as the Class 2A Runners-Up at the State Tournament, defeating Thorndale in the semi-finals Friday before losing to Muenster in the championship game.

The squad, led by four outstanding seniors, was a team made up of very unselfish players who all year looked down the road to San Antonio. The state championship was in their sight the entire season and they, along with the coaching staff, played every game with intensity and determination.

It was Clarendon’s first semi-final appearance since 2011, and the Broncos first time to play in the championship game since 1970.

In the post-championship game press conference Saturday, senior Bryce Grahn talked about the family relationship the team had and the absence of friend and teammate Riley Shadle, who suffered a severe spinal cord injury during a 2015 football game.

“We were very, very blessed. We put in a lot of hard work and a lot of hours – nights and mornings – that people don’t see,” Grahn said. “We’re thankful that our bodies are healthy and that God gave us an opportunity to do this. We have a friend at home who isn’t able to do this. Basketball is just a small piece of life. There’s a lot more after this. We were all very blessed to be here and have the community behind us.”

Coach Brandt Lockhart also said this Bronco team was unique for its closeness and having been together for many years.

“We’ve played 250 games probably since sixth grade,” Lockhart said. “This is a great group of kids. It’s a dream come true to get to come down here and play. All these guys brought us here.”

The semi-final game in San Antonio’s Alamodome on Friday, March 10, was exceptional in every way for the Broncos. Facing off against Thorndale, who was ranked 25th in the standings, the Broncos were on fire on both ends of the court.

Thorndale kept it close in the first quarter and even led by one early on. But the Broncos exploded in the second quarter and put the game out of reach for Thorndale. They led 39-16 at the half and never looked back and went on to win 59-35. They shot 43 percent from the field, 50 percent from the three-point line, and 38 percent from the free throw line.

At the buzzer, three players were in double figures and Bear Smith finished with a double double putting in 17 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Marshal Johnson led with 18 points and eight rebounds, while Chance Lockhart helped with 10 points. Colt Wood six, Damarjae Cortez five, Bryce Grahn 2, and Caton Grahn one. Grahn added five rebounds, Wood and Lockhart each added four, Keandre Cortez had two, and D. Cortez grabbed one.

The Broncos went into the championship game very confident after their huge win. Muenster was ranked number one for most of the season, but the Broncos were determined. However, cold shooting plagued the Broncos and they fell short at 45-73.

Muenster jumped out to the early lead and led by 10 at the break. Despite struggling, the Broncos were still in the game. Colt Wood hit five three-pointers to help the Broncos stay close. The scoring in the second quarter was basically even and they were 80 percent from the three-point range. The Broncos were hoping for a momentum change in the second half, but they could not get anything rolling. Muenster’s height got the best of the Broncos and hindered their shots.

Despite the loss, the Broncos are an excellent team and they have had great successes this season. They were named District and Bi-District champs, Area and Regional champs, and State Runner-Up. It has been a great year. And their fellow Bronco Riley Shadle has not been far from their minds. Several of the Broncos noted that Riley has been a big part of their success and they credited him during the game at state.

Coach Lockhart knew he had a winning team. He stated that his kids have worked hard in the gym during practice and off times as well. According to Lockhart, the Broncos were dedicated and they wanted to win. They finished at 31-3 on the year and those losses came during the Bridgeport Tournament and the state championship game.

“It was a great year!” Lockhart said. “To be able to finish the year on the last day you can play… I have always wanted to coach on Championship Saturday. The players were awesome all year long, and I am so proud of them.”

Lockhart was also proud of the effort Alton Gaines gave during the season.

“Coach Gaines did an outstanding job assisting with the varsity as always,” he said. “The four seniors, Keandre Cortez, Chance Lockhart, Marshal Johnson, and Bryce Grahn did an outstanding job leading this team, and of course, Riley Shadle inspired us all. The whole team worked hard all season long. I am so proud to be State Runner-up.”

Scoring in the championship game: Wood 18, Johnson 11, Grahn five, Lockhart five, Smith four, and K. Cortez two.

The Clarendon College Lady Bulldogs softball team won three out of four games on the road late last week in Kansas.

Clarendon College watched the game slip away early and couldn’t recover in a 10-2 loss to Seward Community College in Liberal on Friday. Although the Lady Bulldogs took an early lead in the first inning, SCC hit their way right back into the game taking the lead in the bottom of the first and keeping it.

Holguin took the loss for the Bulldogs, allowing four runs, four hits, and walking zero. Loren Hoffman also made an appearance on the mound during the contest helping Holguin get out of a bases loaded threat.

Although Monica Lara’s offensive efforts did not prevail for the Bulldogs, she went 2 for 2 at the plate while Sierra Atchley and Jenna Perez each drove in one run during the game for the Bulldogs.

CC then defeated Seward 8-7 in the second game Friday. Both offenses were strong at the plate as the Lady Bulldogs and Saints collected ten hits each.

Both the Lady Bulldogs and Saints exchanged game leads throughout 6 full innings before Clarendon took the lead in the top of the seventh with a stand up triple by Kasmir Perez, a base hit single by Natalie DeLaRosa, an infield single by Esmeralda Holguin, and a walk given to both Heather Villarreal and Emily Benitez.

Villarreal earned the win for Clarendon College Softball as she tossed seven innings, allowing seven runs, 11 hits, and striking out six.

DeLaRosa and Jenna Perez each collected multiple hits for CC. DeLaRosa went 3-for-3 at the plate as she led the team with two runs batted in.

Clarendon College and Garden City Community College traded the lead back-and-forth on Saturday, but eventually Clarendon prevailed 12-7.

The Lady Bulldogs took the lead for good in the fourth inning scoring 6 runs. The inning got started with multiple hit singles by Kayla Hill, Glorianna Eddy, Kasmir Perez, Natalie DeLaRosa, and Danae Villarreal. Haley Rodriguez and Jenna Perez busted the game open with line drive doubles down the third base line scoring multiple runners. Clarendon collected 16 hits in the high-scoring affair. J.Perez, Rodriguez, K.Perez, Hill, and Eddy each collected multiple hits in the game.

Heather Villarreal earned the win for CC as she tossed seven innings, surrendering seven runs, 14 hits, and striking out four. Akers took the loss for Garden City Community College as she went seven innings, giving up 12 runs, 16 hits, striking out four, and walking one.

The Lady Bulldogs then defeated Garden City 11-4 in the second game of the double header. Clarendon captured the lead in the first inning with a single by Kayla Hill and Glorianna Eddy, then a stand-up double by Kasmir Perez driving in the first run of the game, followed by another single by Natalie DeLaRosa, driving in the second run of the inning.

CC then blew things open in the sixth inning with a four run rally. Danae Villarreal was the offensive spark the Bulldogs needed to get things going with her solo, pinch-hit homerun. Jenna Perez, Kayla Hill, Glorianna Eddy, Kasmir Perez, and Natalie DeLaRosa all produced base hit singles during that inning. Haley Rodriguez was also credited a sac-fly, RBI, scoring an additional insurance run for the Lady Bulldogs.

Clarendon collected 18 hits overall, while J. Perez, K. Perez, Eddy, Rodriguez, DeLaRosa, and Hill each collected multiple hits.

Esmeralda Holguin earned the win for the Lady Bulldogs as she went seven innings, allowing four runs, four hits, and striking out four. Shepard took the loss for Garden City Community College as she threw seven innings, allowing 11 runs, 18 hits, and striking out two.

Lady Bulldog sports coverage is powered by Narrative Science and GameChanger Media. Copyright 2017. All rights reserved.

By Sandy Anderberg

The 2017 Clarendon Broncos are flying high as they enter into the State Tournament in San Antonio this Friday, March 10.

The Broncos’ determination and ‘never quit’ strategy paid off in the Regional tournament, and they are hoping for the same in the state tournament.

Clarendon will take on Thorndale in the first round that will be played Friday, March 10, at 10:00 a.m. in the Alamodome in San Antonio.  The

Broncos are going in 30-2 and Thorndale is posting a 27-9 season record.  The Championship game will be played at 1:30 pm on Saturday, March 11.

This is the Broncos’ first return to the state tournament since 2011, and they earned the right to the tournament by owning the court against two very tough teams at the Regional Tournament in Levelland this past weekend.

They defeated second ranked Anthony on Friday in the first round and knocked off New Deal in the Championship game.  The Broncos struck early against both teams and commanded the momentum in each game.  Earlier in the week, they were able to punch their ticket to the Regional tournament by defeating a good Panhandle team for the third time this season.

On Tuesday, the Broncos got by the Panthers by the score of 51-44.  The Broncos jumped on them early and took an 18-5 lead after the first quarter of play.  At one point in the second quarter, the Broncos were up 25-5, but a momentum change allowed Panhandle to begin to get back into the game.  The Broncos held a 32-20 lead at the break, but the Panthers closed the gap to seven after the third period.  The Broncos were determined, however, and held on to get the seven-point win.

The Panther defense was all over Marshal Johnson, but he still managed 12 points from his post position.  Colt Wood put in 11 and Chance Lockhart added 10.  Bryce Grahn helped with nine, Bear Smith had six, and Keandre Cortez put in three.

That win took the Broncos to the Regional Tournament where they faced off against number two-ranked Anthony in the first round.  They were determined and sent the Wildcats packing at 68-64.

The Broncos would not succumb to playing the underdog and quickly set a precedent in the first quarter of play against Anthony.  They were able to take a 17-11 lead, which left the Wildcats struggling to get any offense going.   Anthony was able to close the gap somewhat in the second half, but all game long, the Broncos picked away at the Wildcats’ offense with their stellar defense to shut them down.  The Broncos did suffer from too many fouls and too many missed free throws, but they were able to overcome those adversities and get the win.

“We were able to get enough stops to win the game,” coach Brandt Lockhart said.  “We had two players foul out and the rest of the team stepped up.”

After defeating Anthony, the Broncos had the confidence they needed and were determined not to lose their momentum in the tournament.  They went out and demolished New Deal 75-56.

Offensively, things were rolling the Broncos way as they took an early 25-12 lead after the first eight minutes.  In that time period, the three-ball was flowing with six three-pointers made by Smith, Grahn, Wood, and Lockhart.  That scoring frenzy left the Lions helpless as they tried to get something going on their offensive end.  But once again, the Bronco defense was on fire and New Deal could do little to get the Broncos out of their rhythm.

Clarendon was also able to limit their fouls against the Lions and in turn shot 67 percent from the bonus line.  Their scoring stats were impressive as well.  Five Broncos finished in double figures.  That is just one more example of the dominance the Broncos executed on the court against the Lions.  “We shot the ball really well,” Lockhart said.  “We made 11 three pointers for the game.  We did a good job of moving the basketball.  I was very proud of the way we played and effort.”

Lockhart led the way with 21 and Wood put in 14.  Smith added 13, and Grahn and Johnson each had 12.  Jacob Jeffers went three for four from the line to add three points and K. Cortez was perfect from the charity stripe at two for two.

Check ClarendonLive.com and facebook.com/TheEnterprise for breaking news on the Broncos’ state tournament appearance.

By Sandy Anderberg

The Bronco baseball team took on River Road last Monday at home and finished the game tied with the Wildcats 10-10.

The Broncos held an early advantage when Kade Hunsaker’s hit scored one run.

The game swung back and forth until the third when RR scored three runs.  But the Broncos held their own and never let their opponent out of their sight.  Andy Davis and Payton Havens each drove in two runs for the Broncos to help keep the game close.

The Broncos will be at home Thursday, March 16 against San Jacinto beginning at 1:00 p.m. and will travel to Kress on Friday, March 17.

Defense was the name of the game in the Broncos’ Area matchup with Farwell last Friday night.  The Broncos

grabbed a 46-36 win over the Steers at Tascosa High School and earned the right to continue their post-season play.

The Broncos took control of the game early on and held a five-point lead after one.  But the Steers made up a little ground by halftime to get within three. Clarendon’s defense stayed solid, however, and they were able to stand their ground.  The Broncos’ turned up their defensive heat in the second half of play and were able to shut down the Steers.  A huge fourth quarter for the maroon and white gave them the 12-point win.   Marshal Johnson was solid once again and finished with a double-double.  The senior post made good on 18 points and 14 rebounds.

“We did a great job of playing defense and getting offensive rebounds,” head coach Brandt Lockhart said.  “The kids did a great job of executing our defensive game plan.”

Colt Wood also finished in double figures with 11, which included two three-pointers and five for six from the free throw line.  He also had one deflection.  Chance Lockhart had one three-pointer and finished with seven points.  Bryce Grahn put in five points and added 11 rebounds, four assists, one deflection, and three steals and Bear Smith had three points with three assists.  Keandre Cortez had two points in the game.

Earlier that week, the Broncos stopped Vega in the Bi-District round with a 56-48 win.  The Broncos began the game slowly as cold shooting plagued them through the first half of play.  They found their rhythm in the second half and were able to out play their opponent after tying the game at 40 all one minute into the third period.  From there, the Broncos were able to do what they do best; play solid defense to get the win.  They were able to handle Vega’s 6’8” post player with great defense.  “We did a good job playing defense, especially in the fourth quarter” Lockhart said.  “We were able to get stops in the fourth quarter and turn them into easy baskets.”

Johnson and Grahn led the scoring with 12 each and Wood followed closely with 11.  Johnson also grabbed seven rebounds and Grahn had six rebounds, three assists, and six steals.  Wood had three deflections in the game.  Smith put in nine points with six rebounds, four steals, and two points, while Lockhart had six points with six rebounds and three assists.  Damarjae Cortez had two points and Jacob Jeffers finished with two.

Clarendon baseball is underway and the Broncos earned a huge win over Borger last week by 8-5. The game was tied at five all until the top of the fourth when the Broncos scored two runs on an error by the Bulldogs.

Borger jumped out with the early momentum in the first inning and was able to score one run. But the Broncos were able to answer right back in the second with four big runs.

Andy Davis singled after a Borger error and Clay Koetting earned a walk. The Broncos had seven hits in the game and Josh Cobb and Kade Hunsaker each had several hits. Koetting was on the mound for three innings. He allowed three hits, five runs, and struck out one. Hunsaker came in for the save and allowed seven hits while striking out nine batters.

The Broncos will be in action again this weekend in a tournament in Childress on Friday and Saturday. They will travel to Claude for their District opener on Tuesday, March 7 beginning at 4:30 pm and go to Valley March 10.

By Sandy Anderberg

The Clarendon Broncos have had a stellar season and they are not finished yet.

They took on Wheeler in their last regular season game and defeated them, 60-47.

The Broncos were strong out of the gate against the Mustangs as they shot the ball well and put in 21 points to only 9 for Wheeler in the first quarter of play.  Defensively, the Broncos stayed focused and were able to keep their opponent in check for entire game.  The Mustangs outscored the Broncos in the third quarter, but Clarendon had the game in control.

Chance Lockhart was on fire and put in 16 and Colt Wood helped with 11.  Lockhart also had two assists and two steals in the game.  Wood was strong on defense with three deflections.  Keandre went seven out of eight from the bonus line and finished with nine points, and Bear Smith added eight.  Smith also had seven rebounds and one deflection.

Marshal Johnson worked hard inside and had eight points and led the Broncos with 10 rebounds.  Bryce Grahn had six points, two assists, and three steals and Damarjae Cortez helped with two points.

“We did a good job of playing defense and getting offensive rebounds,” coach Brandt Lockhart said.  “I am very proud of the players.  It is hard to go undefeated in district.”

The Broncos will continue with post-season play and are looking to go deep in the playoffs.

By Sandy Anderberg

The Lady Broncos went up against Gruver in the Bi-District round of post-season play last Monday night, and despite playing hard, they were defeated, 35-42.

The Lady Broncos will lose five seniors: Brianna Butler, Shaelyn Owiti, Jensen Hatley, Berkeley Alexander, and Briley Chadwick.

The Lady Broncos led for most of the game, but the Lady Hounds rallied their way back to get the lead with just minutes on the clock.

A cold-shooting fourth quarter silenced the Lady Broncos and Gruver grabbed the momentum. Clarendon finished their season at 20-11 with a third place in District play.

Coach Korey Conkin knew her team could have defeated Gruver but felt their defense was not as strong as it could have been.

“It is so sad and frustrating to have the season come to an end too early,” she said. “We did not play the defense we needed to in order to come out victorious. Briana Butler was amazing in this game, scoring at will and netting 26 of our 35 points.

“It is so unfortunate that we are done playing and so heartbreaking for our senior class. The girls surpassed all expectations and worked their tails off since last May to brining 20 wins this season. I have been very blessed to be able to come home and coach such a fun and talented group of girls. We will truly miss our five seniors. This group has instilled in the younger girls a desire to be dedicated to their sport and team. The next group will be hungry for more of the same. Thank you, seniors!”

Senior Brianna Butler stepped up her game and had a game-high 27 points to lead the Lady Broncos on the scoreboard. Fellow senior Shaelyn Owiti added nine.

By Sandy Anderberg

All season long, the Clarendon Broncos have dominated the other five district teams in every match up. Their solid play has paid off and the Broncos are the district champs this season. They have had a stellar season and are currently 24-2 and 9-0 in District.

The Broncos played two games last week and earned two big wins over Claude and Memphis. They easily defeated Claude at home at 90-27 and squeaked by Memphis on the road with a 43-41 final.

The Mustangs were never able to give the Broncos any competition, which allowed the Broncos to breeze to the win. Marshal Johnson finished with 18 points and Bear Smith added 11. Damarjae Cortez had six, Chance Lockhart added four, and Colt Wood and Bryce Grahn each put in two.

“We did a good job of moving the basketball and we shot the ball well,” coach Brandt Lockhart said. “We were able to cause turnovers and get easy points.” Five Broncos finished in double figures and the team hit seven three pointers and went five for seven from the bonus line.

Marshal Johnson was strong inside and finished with 21 points, and Damarjae Cortez helped with 19 hitting five big threes. Chance Lockhart had 18 total points, which included two three-pointers, and Bear Smith and Jacob Jeffers each added 10. Colt Wood put in eight and Keandre Cortez added four.

Lockhart also grabbed eight rebounds and had three steals. Johnson had eight rebounds, and Grahn helped with 11 assists and had four steals. Keandre Cortez had seven assists, three steals, and three deflections. Wood had three steals and three deflections, while D. Cortez had three steals and five deflections.

The game with Memphis was closer, but the Broncos came home with the big two-point win. The Broncos jumped out to the early, dominating lead, but the Cyclones worked their way back to only trail by one at the break. A slower shooting third quarter plagued the Broncos and the Cyclones were able to take advantage and take a two-point lead. But Clarendon was able to regroup in the final period of play and get the win.

“We played good defense, but had too many turnovers,” Lockhart said. “We did a good job of securing the win. We are district champions with the win and I am very proud of the hard work this team has put in all year.”

Johnson finished with 18 points, and Smith added 11. D. Cortez had six, Lockhart added four, and Wood and Grahn each put in two. Smith had seven rebounds, three assists and three deflections, while Johnson had six rebounds. Grahn had five steals and three deflections, and Lockhart had two assists.

The Broncos will be entering post-season play at a time to be announced.

By Sandy Anderberg

The Lady Broncos finished their regular season with a trip to the playoffs in third place, but fell short to Claude in their last regular season game at 30-56.

The Lady Broncos had a strong first quarter of play and only trailed by three, but they struggled with cold shooting in the second eight minutes to trail by 14 at the break. The Lady Broncos struggled from the bonus line as well as they only converted 15 of 30 free throws. They could never recover against the state-ranked team and were defeated.

Shaelyn Owiti put in 14 points and Brianna Butler had seven. Berkeley Alexander had six, Emily Johnson put in two, and Briley Chadwick had one.

The Lady Broncos played Gruver Monday and lost. See next week’s issue for game details.