Sports

By Sandy Anderberg
Things did not go as the Broncos planned against Claude at home last Friday night and they were defeated 31-48 after getting a win against them in the first half of district.
The first half of play was fairly even with Claude only holding a three-point lead at the break.  The Broncos were right where they needed to be, but a slow-shooting third quarter was devastating for the Broncos as the Mustangs increased their lead to ten.  Fouls worked against the Broncos as Claude went to the line numerous times while the Broncos only went thirteen times and made good on only four of those.
“We did not shoot the ball well for the entire game,” head coach Brandt Lockhart said.  “We could not buy one inside or outside in the second half.  It was a tough loss.”
Scoring:  JoJo Cartwright 10, Cedrick McCampbell 6, Charles Mason 6, Taylon Knorpp 4, Chance McAnear 3, and Ashton Smith 2.
The Broncos will host White Deer at home Friday, January 31, and travel to Panhandle on Tuesday, February 4, beginning at 8:00 p.m.

By Sandy Anderberg

The Lady Broncos pulled off a great win over their biggest threat in their five-team District last Friday night at home. The Lady Broncos survived all attempts by the Pantherettes to stop them and earned a 52-40 win to go 4-0 in the first half of District play.

The Lady Broncos actually trailed by one point after the first quarter, but put together a solid second quarter to take a commanding lead into the break. They were able to explode their offense in the second half and put together a great defense that stopped Panhandle from finding a rhythm.

Several Lady Broncos stepped up in the game and added points to the board at crucial times and three finished in double figures. Taylor Gaines led the ladies with 16, Deborah Howard had 12, and Taylor DeGrate helped with 11. Ryann Starnes had seven, and Phara Berry, Camra Smith, and Skyler White added two.

Earlier in the week, the Lady Broncos stomped White Deer on the road 63-40. They jumped out to an early lead and opened a twenty-seven-point lead at the break. White Deer cold do nothing to stop them and the Lady Broncos breezed to the win.

Scoring: Gaines 17, Smith 10, DeGrate 10, White 10, Berry 5, and Brittney Braim 2.

The Lady Broncos will begin their second half of District play at home Friday, January 24, against Claude beginning at 6:00 p.m.

By Sandy Anderberg

The Clarendon Broncos traveled to White Deer Tuesday night and earned their third district win over the Bucks by a huge 73-30. They finished the first half of District at 3-1.

The Broncos began the game in control of their opponent and remained in power throughout the game. They took an early seven-point lead after one quarter and turned it into a spread of seventeen points by the break. The Broncos were unstoppable and the Bucks were powerless to stop the Broncos’ offense. Cedrick McCampbell put in twenty and JoJo Cartwright had ten to lead the Broncos on the scoreboard.

“We did a good job of passing the ball and getting good shots,” coach Brandt Lockhart said. “We were also to get turnovers for easy points.”

Also scoring: Chesson Sims 9, Chance McAnear 8, Bryce Hatley 8, Ashton Smith 6, Taylon Knorpp 6, and Charles Mason 6.

On Friday, the Broncos hosted a tough Panhandle team and after fighting hard, fell short at 48-70.

The Broncos took the tipoff and McAnear put in a huge three-pointer to get the game going. They stayed determined in the first half against Panhandle, but could never get the jump on the Panthers they needed. They had a four-point deficit after the break, but a slow-scoring third quarter cost the Broncos and they were unable to overtake their opponent.

“We played a good first half in a very physical game,” Lockhart said. “In the second half we were unable to score in the third quarter and get stops in the second half.”

Scoring: Mason 15, Cartwright 13, Smith 8, Hatley 5, McAnear 3, McCampbell 2, and Sims 2.

By Sandy Anderberg

The Clarendon Broncos had a great week on the court as they nabbed two big wins over Claude and Vega to start their District season with two wins.

The Broncos traveled to Claude Tuesday night and defeated the Mustangs, 57-43. The Broncos began the game one behind the Mustangs after the first quarter, but turned things around before the break to teak a three-point lead. Hard work and determination in the second half sealed the win for Clarendon. Chance McAnear finished with seventeen, Charles Mason had fourteen, and JoJo Cartwright helped with 10.

Head coach Brandt Lockhart was pleased with his team’s good start.

“We were able to get some turnovers in the second half and turn them into easy points,” Lockhart said. “We did a good job of executing the game plan. It was a big win to start district.”

Also scoring: Ashton Smith 8, Taylon Knorpp 4, and Jr. Ceniceros 4.

The Broncos were able to pick up Friday night right where they left off earning a huge 59-52 win over Vega. The teams battled hard and each team took advantage of momentum swings throughout the game. But the Broncos persevered and capitalized on Vega’s mistakes. They also shot 77 percent from the bonus line, which turned out to be key for the Broncos. Mason finished with twenty and Cartwright added thirteen.

“We did a good job of rebounding the basketball and pushing the ball up the court for easy baskets,” Lockhart said. “We did a good job of making our free throws in the fourth quarter.”

Also scoring: McAnear 9, Smith 9, and Cedrick McCampbell 8.

The Broncos will play Panhandle at home on Friday, January 17, at 8:00 p.m. and have an open day on January 21. They will host Claude on Friday, January 24.

By Sandy Anderberg

Starting their District season at 2-0, the Lady Broncos are riding high and playing solid basketball at a crucial time in their season. Earlier in the week, the ladies stopped Claude, 46-34. The ladies played a good

first half, but turned up the heat in the second half of play to shut the door on the Lady Mustangs. Claude was unable to stop the Lady Broncos as Camra Smith and Taylor DeGrate led Clarendon on the scoreboard with sixteen and fourteen points. Each of the duo hit two three-pointers in the game.

“I was very proud of the girls,” head coach Molly Weatherred said. “I felt completely different mentally with them going into this game. There was a sense of urgency. I had some girls off the bench step up and do an amazing job for us, which was needed.”

Also scoring: Taylor Gaines 6, Ryann Starnes 6, and Brittney Braim 2.

On Friday, the Lady Broncos hosted Vega in their first home game of t

he District season and stole a 50-38 win over the Lady Longhorns. Three-point shots and free throws proved to be the difference in the game. The Lady Broncos began the game slowly, but worked their way back to lead by three at the end of the first quarter of play. The back and forth contest finally ended with the ladies grabbing a huge win.

Taylor Gaines hit five out of nine free throws in the first quarter and Ryann Starnes connected on three three-pointers on the offensive ends. The ladies shot six three-pointers in all and went fifteen for twenty-one from the bonus line.

“This was a very tough and physical game,” Weatherred said. “They are a very good team. I thought we stepped up to a big challenge on Friday night. Again, I had great play from some girls that came off the bench. I feel that overall, we are becoming a more well-rounded team.”

Also scoring: DeGrate 9, Phara Berry 7, Gaines 7, and Deborah Howard 2.

The Lady Broncos will play Panhandle at home on Friday, January 17, at 6:30 p.m. They will be open on January 21 and play Claude at home on January 24.

By Sandy Anderberg

The Broncos outhustled and outplayed a good Ascension Academy team last Thursday night at home defeating them, 69-55. Senior Chance McAnear hit five three-point shots and hit six out of seven from the bonus line to lead the Broncos in the win.

Clarendon never trailed in the game as they took the early lead. Solid offense aided the Broncos in their win as their defense also overpowered their opponent. “We moved the ball well on offense and rebounded well,” head coach Brandt Lockhart said. “We were able to push the ball and get some easy baskets.”

Also scoring: Ashton Smith 8, Cedrick McCampbell 4, Charles Mason 4, Taylon Knorpp 4, Bryce Hatley 3, JoJo Cartwright 2, and Zach Cornell 1.

On Wednesday, the Broncos traveled to Memphis and were defeated 33-52. The Broncos were able to keep it close in the first half, but a slow-shooting third quarter gave the Cyclones the upper hand. “We came out and played well against a state ranked team,” Lockhart said. “We moved the ball well and were active on defense.”

Scoring: Cartwright 8, McCampbell 4, Mason 4, McAnear 4, and Knorpp 3.

The Broncos’ final game was at Childress and they were defeated 39-71. The Broncos could never get anything going against the good Childress team and struggled somewhat offensively. “We found out why Childress is state ranked in 2A,” Lockhart said. “They were able to get turnovers and turn them into easy baskets.”

Scoring: McCampbell 10, Cartwright 7, Mason 6, McAnear 6, Smith 6, Cornell 2, and Knorpp 2.

The Broncos will play Vega at home Friday, January 10 beginning at 8:00 pm and will travel to White Deer Tuesday, January 14.

By Sandy Anderberg

The Lady Broncos squared off against San Jacinto at home last Thursday night and after four quarters, the ladies came up with a 48-32 win. The Lady Broncos led throughout and shot sixty-seven percent from the free throw line to help them to the win.

Clarendon held the Lady Patriots at bay in the first three quarters of play, but dominated the final eight minutes of play to get the win. The ladies played solid basketball and worked hard to put points on the board. Ryann Starnes led with eighteen points, but Taylor Gaines and Taylor DeGrate finished with fourteen and twelve points. Deborah Howard helped with four points.

The Lady Broncos also traveled to Memphis over the break and handily defeated them, 54-21. The ladies took a commanding lead at the tip off and stayed strong until the final buzzer.

The Lady Cyclones were never able to do anything to stop Clarendon’s offensive surge. Gaines and Starnes finished in double figures with thirteen and twelve points. Camra Smith had eight, Phara Berry helped with seven, and DeGrate added six. Brittney Braim put in five and Skyler White accounted for three points. The Lady Broncos shot just under fifty percent from the free throw line.

They will play Vega at home on Friday, January 10, beginning at 6:30 p.m. and travel to White Deer on Tuesday, January 14.

By Sandy Anderberg

The Lady Broncos participated in the Canadian Basketball Tournament over the holidays and took on three very strong teams according to head coach Molly Weatherred. The ladies came home with one win and two losses.

They took on Dumas in the first round and despite playing a tough game, narrowly lost 39-46. After a close first quarter of play, the Demonettes pulled away from the Lady Broncos in the second quarter. The Lady Broncos were able to close the gap somewhat in the final period of play, but ran out of time. Taylor DeGrate was on fire and finished with 16 points to lead the Lady Broncos.

Also scoring: Taylor Gaines 7, Phara Berry 6, Deborah Howard 4, Camra Smith 3, and Ryann Starnes 3.

The Lady Broncos took on a strong Dalhart team in the second round and were defeated 66-77. Clarendon trailed early and was down as much as 17 at the break. They worked their way back into the game in the final quarter, but could never make up the deficit. Four Lady Broncos finished in double figures in the high-scoring game with Gaines leading the pack with 23. DeGrate helped with 16, Berry had 11, and Starnes added 10. Haley Ferguson and Brittney Braim each added two and Howard and Skyler White helped with one each.

The Lady Broncos went up against Wheeler in the final game of the tournament and won big at 60-43. Clarendon took a commanding lead early on and controlled the tempo and momentum of the game until the final buzzer.

Weatherred noted the ladies will benefit from the games against strong teams down the road. “It was nice to get back in the gym,” Weatherred said. “We were able to play some tough, competitive games. We played some teams that were bigger and stronger than us and it is just what we need to prepare us for district.”

The trio of Gaines, Starnes, and DeGrate led their team to the win with 18, 14, and 12 points. Howard put in five and Braim had four. Berry finished with three points and Ferguson and Smith each helped with two.

The Lady Broncos will play San Jacinto at home on Friday, January 3, at 6:30 p.m.

By Sandy Anderberg

The Lady Broncos lost an opportunity to take out Valley at home Tuesday night when they forfeited the lead with just a little time left on the clock. The Lady Patriots took control and earned the 53-45 win over the Lady Broncos.

A cold shooting first half hindered Clarendon, while Valley turned every shot into gold. Despite that fact, the Lady Broncos only trailed by two points at the break and turned things around in the third quarter of play to take the lead by four.

But Valley regrouped to retake the lead for good over the Lady Broncos in their final possessions of the game. Foul trouble put the Lady Broncos in trouble, which allowed Valley to hit the charity stripe several times.

Scoring: Ryann Starnes 14, Taylor Gaines 11, Taylor Degrate 8, Phara Berry 8, Deborah Howard 2, and Camra Smith 2.

The Lady Broncos will participate in the Canadian Tournament December 27 and go to Memphis December 31.

By Sandy Anderberg

The Broncos competed in the Canadian Basketball Tournament over the holidays and finished with one win and two losses.

The Broncos’ win came against Wheeler in the second round of the tourney winning 58-47. JoJo Cartwright led the Broncos with 17 points in the win.

Clarendon trailed by nine points after the first quarter of play, but they made their way back before the break posting a three-point lead over the Mustangs. The Broncos extended their lead and sealed their win in the fourth quarter when they took over offensively and opened up the scoring. Cedrick McCampbell and Ashton Smith joined Cartwright with double figures scoring ten points each.

Also scoring: Chance McAnear 7, Charles Mason 5, Taylon Knorpp 4, Chance Lockhart 3, and Bryce Hatley 2.

The Broncos opened the tournament against a good Stratford team and were defeated 58-80. The Elks took control of the game on both ends of the court, which left the Broncos struggling to get anything going. Cartwright, once again, led the Broncos on the board with 19 and Mason helped with 14. Also scoring: Hatley 6, Smith 5, McCampbell 4, Knorpp 4, Jr. Ceniceros 3, McAnear 3, and Lockhart 3.

In round three, the Broncos were stopped by Dalhart 40-80. They seemed to struggle throughout and could never find a rhythm against their opponent. Mason pumped in 10 points to lead the Broncos on the score board. Also scoring: McCampbell 8, Hatley 6, Chesson Sims 4, Ceniceros 4, and McAnear 1.

The Broncos will play Ascension Academy at home Thursday, January 2, at 7:30 p.m. and travel to Childress January 3.