Sports

By Fred Gray

Lady Bulldogs start their season 

The Lady Bulldogs of Clarendon College have started the 2013-2014 season off strongly, currently sporting a record of 4-3. In early November they beat Western Oklahoma College 95-69, then beat Trinidad State Junior College 79-58, and lost to Redlands College twice, 55-95, and 75-83. The Lady Bulldogs beat the Southwestern Christian University JV 93-58, and beat Ranger College 93-90 in overtime.

The Lady Bulldogs return home on the 22^nd and 23^rd of November, for games against Southwest Texas JC and Ranger.

By Sandy Anderberg

She runs because she loves it. “It’s my passion,” cross-country runner Audrey Shelton claims. 2013 Clarendon graduate Audrey Shelton now runs for the Tarleton State University TexAnns in Stephenville, Texas, where she is a Kinesiology Major and has already made a huge impact on the program.

Shelton, along with her teammates, has qualified for the NCAA Division II National Cross Country Championship in Spokane, Washington to be held on November 23. They earned that honor by finishing sixth at the NCAA South Central Regional Cross Country Meet where Shelton finished 34th with a time of 22:36. Shelton’s coach Pat Ponder noted that this is the first time in school history that a cross-country team has qualified to compete in the national championships. “I have taken individuals in the past, but it is special when a team qualifies,” he said. “I hope to use this as a building block for the future.” Shelton will join six other girls as they make history for TSU. Already the team has posted many honors in their event. Shelton was named the Lone Star Conference Freshman of the Year in her first year at TSU. Two of her fellow runners also claimed awards, which are the New Comer of the Year and Conference Champions. Coach Pat Ponder was also named Coach of the Year for the Lone Star Conference. Ponder had nothing but praise for Shelton. “Audrey is an outstanding young lady!” Ponder said. “She has been a consistent top three runner for our team all season. She is a leader. She leads by example, hard work, discipline, and commitment!”

Shelton is familiar with participating in post-season meets and had many successes in cross-country and track while at CHS. She qualified for the state CC meet three out of four years and finished sixth in the state as a senior. She has adjusted well to running at the collegiate level where the race has lengthened from two miles to running a 6K, which is about four miles. She runs 45-50 miles a week in preparation. “I didn’t want my running to be over (after high school),” Shelton said. “I love competing and staying healthy. I also love being a part of the team. I just have a great love for running and I feel like I am pretty good at it.”

Shelton chose Tarleton because she really liked the program and the coach. After college she is interested in going into the Physical Therapy field to work in pediatrics or sports medicine, but for right now, Shelton wants to give TSU her all. “I want to improve a lot more,” Shelton said. “And I would like to be one of their top runners to help them out a lot more.” She gives a lot of credit to her high school coaches. “I really didn’t realize I could run until my eighth grade year,” Shelton said. “My high school coaches have definitely prepared me for this and without them I wouldn’t have been as ready. I am thankful for my parents’ support, too. I am very blessed to be a part of all of this.”

Clarendon head coach Molly Weatherred had nothing but praise for what Shelton did in her four years at CHS. “Audrey is such a special athlete and person,” Weatherred said. “She had a huge impact on the Lady Bronco athletic program. She was one of the hardest workers I have ever known and the commitment and dedication Audrey had for our program was undeniable. She set a standard and an expectation for our program. Everything that Audrey accomplished in her high school career was a direct result of how much heart she had. She is a true example of a winner.”

Shelton has a very good concept of life in general that is partly due to her dedication and determination in her running. “If you find the passion in something, pursue it and give it your all. It can pay off even if it’s hard. Give it your all, all of the time.”

After the Christmas break, she will begin training for the track season. Yes, Audrey will run some more, because it’s her passion, and in her own words, “I just can’t stop.”

By Fred Gray

Last week, the Lady Owls of Hedley, travelled to Miami and Matador, for two away games. Miami defeated the Lady Owls 75-30, last Tuesday. Hedley then travelled to Matador on Saturday, the 16^th, and defeated the Motley County Lady Matadors 45-32.

Against Motley County, Kati Adams led the Lady Owls with 10 points, 15 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals. Bailey Wood added 7 points, Kortney Burton scored 9 points, while Becca Butler scored 7 points. Leslie Leal scored 6 points, and Salem Shelp netted 6 points.

By Sandy Anderberg

The Lady Broncos played hard, but came up short in only their second game of the season Tuesday night at Canadian. The Lady Broncos lost that match up 40-67.

The Lady Broncos only trailed by five points after the first quarter of play, but fell off the pace before the break. The ladies will continue to work hard in practice to work out the kinks and get back on track.

“The game was definitely another sloppy game,” head coach Molly Weatherred said. “We have a lot to clean up, but it is early in the year and turnovers are expected. We definitely have to cut down on our turnovers and do a much better job of taking care of the ball.”

Taylor Degrate led the ladies on the board with 18 points. She was also perfect from the free throw line going eight for eight. Taylor Gaines finished with five points and Deborah Howard and Camra Smith each had four. Ryann Starnes and Haley Ferguson added three a piece and Brittney Braim helped with two.

The Lady Bronco junior varsity also ran into a snag against the Lady Wildcats losing 30-68. It was a slow go at the start and the Lady Broncos struggled in the opening half.

Offensively, they could not find a rhythm and fought to execute. Defensively, they could not contain the quickness of their opponent.

“We saw some things we need to improve on,” coach Kasey Bell said. “We had some mistakes, but know we can fix them.”

Briley Chadwick led the ladies with 11 points and Jensen Hatley added six. Hatley finished at 86 percent from the bonus line. Sterling Kind added five and Hannah Howard and Berkeley Alexander each helped with four points. The Lady Bronco varsity will participate in the Tulia Tournament on November 21 while the JV will not play until they play at home against Quanah on November 26 at 4:00 p.m.

By Sandy Anderberg

Dealing with the hard facts that their numbers are the lowest in the state and their roster consists of just a few upperclassmen, the Broncos fought hard against a great New Deal team in the first round of the playoffs, but fell short in their attempt to upset the seventh ranked team. The final was 21-56.

According to head coach Gary Jack; the Broncos’ game was tough against the New Deal Lions who have only one loss on the season.

“I am proud of our kids,” Jack said. “It was a tough game against a really good team. But we kept fighting.”

Senior quarterback Chance McAnear has been a fighter all year for the Broncos and put them on the board first when he scored on a 51-yard run in the first quarter. Marshal Johnson added the kick. The Broncos did not score again until the third quarter when Charles Mason took it in from one yard out and Johnson added another bonus kick. McAnear finished with 99 yards rushing and Mason racked up 175 yards in the game. The final Bronco score came in the fourth quarter when Tres Hommel found the end zone on a two-yard run with Johnson adding the extra point. The Broncos put up 355 total yards and McAnear was seven for twenty-three passing.

In the second quarter of the game, the Broncos trailed 7-21 when the refs called off what appeared to be a touchdown.

“A call went against us late in the second quarter that really hurt us,” Jack said. “It turned everything around. A score there would have kept us going.”

Jack said it appeared on film that the Broncos scored, but the referees said the Broncos did not have control of the ball.

“We continued to play hard,” Jack said. “But it really took the air out of us.”

Despite the call, the Broncos never quit and Jack was pleased with his player’s dedication to finish strong. He also thought the underclassmen did a great job for the Broncos.

“I was pleased with how our young kids played,” Jack said. “We had several freshmen in the game and they gained some valuable experience. We finished our season well and we have something to build on with our younger kids.”

By Fred Gray

The Clarendon College Bulldogs’ basketball team start season strong, with three victories in four games. The Bulldogs’ beat Onpoint Prepatory College 118-81, then defeated Character Prepatory 111 – 79. They then beat Ranger College 90 – 80, before falling to Northwest Kansas Tech 55-67.

The Bulldogs then dropped a game to Pratt Community College, 80-86, and lost a heart-breaker to Dodge City Community College, 95-96, in the Dodge City Classic. They now stand at 3-3 on the season.

The Bulldogs return home on November 29 and 30, for games against Murray State College, Weatherford College, and Carl Albert State College.

By Fred Gray

This year’s version of the Clarendon College Bulldogs brings excitement and a lot aerial acrobatics to the game and their fans. These guys can play, mostly above the rim. Even so, they are not a one-dimensional offensive show. They play gritty, aggressive, in-your-face defense when they are not soaring above the rim.

This week, the Bulldogs hosted the Lawrence Overcast Classic in Clarendon, and proceeded to run through, over, and around Ranger College for a 90 to 80 victory. These Bulldogs can be characterized more as pit bulls than the English variety that is pictured on their logo.

In the 2nd game of the Classic, the Bulldogs were a bit out of sorts, and did not play well, in a loss to Northwest Tech 55-67. They played as hard in their previous game, just not as unified. Even so, the Bulldogs are the best local show I’ve seen in a good, long while.

In a small town like Clarendon good entertainment opportunities can be as scarce as hen’s teeth. If you want to be highly entertained, find as many opportunities as possible to go see the Bulldogs play.

Coach Tony Starnes has put together an excellent roster of players, many of whom hail from the Washington, D.C., area, and points east – as far east as the Congo.

By Fred Gray

Last week, the Lady Owls defeated Holy Cross of Amarillo, 54-24, and were defeated by the Stratford Lady Elks, 38-53, in their season opener. The Lady Owls played the Stratford Lady Elks on November, 5, giving a good account of themselves early before fading late because they only have 9 players on the team, and ran out of gas.

Line for Hedley: Kati Adams had 13 points, 9 rebounds, and was 7-11 in free throws; Kylie Wood added 4 points, with 1 rebound; Bailey Wood scored 8 points, added 7 rebounds, and was 2-7 in free throws; Salem Shelp had 2 points and 4 rebounds; Kortney Burton scored 11 points, with 5 rebounds.

The Lady Owls then rebounded with a nice victory over Holy Cross of Amarillo, on November 9.

Stats for Hedley: Becca Burke – 3 points – 1 def. rebounds- 1 -4 free throws; Kati Adams – 15 points – 5 def. rebounds – 6-10 free throws; Leslie Leal – 5 points – 2 def. rebounds – 1 – 2 free throws; Kylie Wood  –  5 points – 1 off. 6 def. rebounds – 3-9 free throws; Bailey Wood – 15 points – 1 off. 2 def. rebounds – 3-6 free throws; Salem Shelp – 7 points – 1 def. rebound – 1-2 free throws; Kortney Burton – 4 points – 9 def. rebounds. Irene Marinelli and Baeleigh Allen also played well for the Lady Owls and contributed to their victory.

The Lady Owls travel to Miami on Tuesday, November 12, then travel to Patton Springs for a game on Friday, November 15. They then close out the week at Motley County on Saturday, November 16. Next week, Hedley travels to Shamrock on Tuesday, November 19, before returning home to host the Hedley tournament on Thursday November 21, through Saturday, November 23.

By Fred Gray

The Hedley Owls wrapped up a difficult season with an emphatic home victory over the Silverton Owls last Friday night, November 8. The Owls of Hedley soared about and around their aerial counterparts, the Owls of Silverton, for a 42-6 victory.

The Owls’ defense, long known for their aggressive, swarming play, shined one again. They held the Silverton offense to 135 yards rushing on 31 carries; and allowed only 2 completions in 5 attempts, for 65 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception.

The Hedley offense, on the other hand, rushed the pigskin 27 times for 225 yards and 5 touchdowns. The Owl passing game contributed 71 yards and a touchdown to the victory, on 3 completions and 8 attempts.

Rooster Moore continued to run the ball well, rushing for 125 yards and 2 touchdowns on 16 carries. Moore also completed 3 passes for 71 yards and another touchdown. One of his passes was caught by Denver Chamness, who carried the ball for a 26 yard gain. Kyle Lindsey had 2 catches for 45 yards and a touchdown. Seth Ruthardt bulled his way for 100 yards and rumbled for 3 touchdowns on 11 carries.

On defense, gang tackling was again the order of the day. Lane Cabler had 5 assists, while Kyle Lindsey sparkled, with 2 solo tackles and 7 assists. Rooster Moore was all over the field, with 12 assists. Big Seth Ruthardt was again a beast, with 4 solo tackles, 6 assists, and 1 interception. Denver Chamness added 3 assists and Jake Owens was busy, adding 2 assists. Arden Haught made his presence felt with 3 assists.

Head Coach Jack Shely and assistant coach Garrett Bains did a great job with the team this year. Everyone associated with Hedley Football has plenty to be proud of, with many unexpected accomplishments in a season that began with no small amount of uncertainty.

The Silverton game was a good way to end the season on a positive note, and the players should be proud of their season and their team.

By Sandy Anderberg

They dreamt of it and they worked for it and now the Broncos’ dream of a playoff spot is real life because of a strong surge in the final two games of the season.

The Broncos had to win their last two District games to have a chance at post-season play and they achieved their goal against two very tough teams. Friday night in Bronco Stadium, the Broncos defeated a long-time foe 34-20 in front of their hometown fans. The team finished at 4-5 overall and 3-2 in District play for third place behind Stratford and Panhandle; two teams that the Broncos played tough in regular season play.

The win was overwhelming for all involved.

“I am so proud of our kids for finishing like they did,” head coach Gary Jack said. “We battled against two very tough teams to get the wins. It is crazy how the season ended, but we are playing some of our best football right now.”

The Broncos struck first when Charles Mason scored on a 12-yard run and JoJo Cartwright added the kick to go up by seven. Mason scored two more times in the second quarter on a huge 71-yard run and a three-yard run. Zack Laroe added a two-point run for a bonus.

“Charles had a big night for us,” Jack said.

Mason carried the ball 23 times and racked up 201 yards and three touchdowns.

“Chance McAnear also had a solid game and Cedrick McCampbell and Zack Laroe made some big catches,” Jack said.

Caleb Cobb and McCampbell finished out the scoring for the Broncos.

“Our line blocked well, too.” Offensively, the Broncos were on target with 399 total yards, but defensively, the Broncos stood their ground. “Our kids made things happen on defense,” Jack said. “We came up with three interceptions and caused a fumble. We stopped them when we needed to.”

Jack noted that the Broncos’ district was one of the toughest around.

“We had to battle every week,” Jack said. “Our district is so tough. But we gave ourselves a shot and we have a chance. Making the play offs is a bonus and now we have to play week to week. It is a great way to end our regular season and I am very pleased with the players and coaches. We are a young team and we have fought numbers and injuries, but we finished on a high note. It’s been a challenging year; up and down, but our kids responded well.”

The Broncos will take on New Deal at Highland Park in Amarillo on Friday, November 15, at 7:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on 105.3 FM KLSR.

“New Deal were ranked number six in the state last week, and they had their first loss of the season on Friday, so they will be tough,” Jack said. “They will be favored to win, but we have a good shot. Our tough district has made us better.”

The Broncos have gotten tougher, and they are up for the challenge Friday night.