Published: November 18, 2009 12:18 am      

State-ranked Bland boys open with win

High school basketball roundup

MERIT — No. 9 state-ranked Bland opened the 2009-10 season with a 47-45 victory on Tuesday over a Whitewright team that reached the regional finals last season in Class 2A.

Bland outscored the visiting Tigers 11-3 during the fourth quarter to seal the victory for coach Joe Moore, who coached from a wheelchair after he was injured in an accident on his farm in the offseason.

Bland was clinging to a 46-45 lead and was working on the clock when Dylan Groves was fouled with 40.3 seconds remaining. Groves missed the front end of the one-and-one free throw and Whitewright rebounded. Whitewright’s Hamilton Luper tried to put his team up but missed a short jumper. His teammate Jordan Williams rebounded the miss but the Tigers lost a turnover with 10.3 seconds left.

Whitewright had to foule and sent Cory Shinn to the line for a one-and-one opportunity with 6.6 seconds left. Shinn missed the front end but teammate Roman Manikowski rebounded the miss and was fouled with 4.1 left. Manikowki made the first free throw to put Bland up 47-45 but missed the second attempt. Bryant Threadgill rebounded Manikowki’s miss and Whitewright called a timeout with 3.1 seconds.

Whitewright was unable to get a shot in the final time as Bland held on for the victory.

Kaleb Welborn, who nailed three 3-pointers, led Bland with 18 points. Manikowski added 11 and Shinn pitched in 10.

Threadgill topped Whitewright with 17 points.

Varsity boys

Whitewright 17 18 7 3 —45

Bland 11 18 7 11 —47

W: Tyrone Swoopes 4, Jordan Williams 9, Warren Schultz 3, Jordan Brumett 1, Hunter Hames 3, Hamilton Luper 8, Bryant Threadill 17.

B: Kaleb Welborn 18, Dylan Groves 7, Cory Shinn 10, Ross Johnson 1, Roman Manikowski 11.

Records: B 1-0, W 0-1.

Next game: Bland vs. Ector, 5 p.m. Thursday, Campbell tournament.



Canyon Creek 40,

Bland (girls) 35

MERIT — Canyon Creek of Richardson rallied from a 13-5 deficit in the first quarter to overtake the Bland Lady Tigers, 40-35 on Tuesday night.

Canyon Creek outscored Bland 16-12, 7-4 and 12-6 in the last three quarters.

Haley led the victors with 25 points.

Morgan McNatt topped Bland with 14 points. Cheyenne Phipps, Melea Rainey and Hannah Black all pitched in five points for Bland and Black pulled down 15 rebounds.

Bland, now 0-2 for the season, opens the Campbell tournament at 3:30 p.m. Thursday against Ector.

Varsity girls

Canyon Creek 5 16 7 12 —40

Bland 13 12 4 6 —35

CC: Haley 25, Tore 13, Kaylyn 2.

B: Cheyenne Phipps 5, Michelle Estrada 4, Kailee Warren 2, Melea Rainey 5, Morgan McNatt 14, Hannah Black 5.

Record: B 0-2.

Next game: Bland vs. Ector, 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Campbell tournament.



Miller Grove 48,

Yantis 47

MILLER GROVE — Miller Grove outscored Yantis 32-26 in the second half to open the basketball season with a 48-47 victory over the Owls.

Aaron Baylus topped the victors with 19 points and Seth Roberts added 10.

Tony Garcia led Yantis with 15 points.

Varsity boys

Yantis 11 10 18 8—47

Miller Grove 9 7 22 10 —48

Y: Tony Garcia 15, Ty Davis 14, Alan Rose 12.

MG: Aaron Baylus 19, Seth Roberts 10, Tim Heijligers 9, Andrew Steele 8, Cayle Watson 2.

Record: MG 1-0.

Next game: Miller Grove at Martin’s Mill, 7:30 p.m. Saturday.



Leonard 65,

Blue Ridge 26

LEONARD — Leonard’s Tigers opened their 2009-10 season under new head coach Jeff Smith with a 65-26 pasting of Blue Ridge on Tuesday night.

Aaron Moreland paced the Tigers with 17 points while Brad Hartline and James Arnold both added 10.

Blacketer led Blue Ridge with seven points.

Varsity boys

Blue Ridge 8 9 4 5 —26

Leonard 25 15 12 13 —65

BR: Blacketer 7, Price 6.

L: Aaron Moreland 17, Brad Hartline 10, James Arnold 10, Nick Gonzales 8, Matt Williams 8, Christian Lyday 6, Brad Moulder 6.

Record: L 1-0, BR 0-1.

Next game: Leonard at Anna, Monday.

Junior varsity boys

Blue Ridge 6 8 7 0 —21

Leonard 14 25 10 11 —60

BR: Braley Williams 6.

L: Tyler Turner 17, Michael Morgan 9.



Campbell (girls) 54,

Dodd City 16

CAMPBELL — Campbell limited Dodd City to single digits in each quarter on the way to 54-16 win over the Lady Hornets on Tuesday.

Katie Seale led Campbell, banking in 12 points, Cassie Duplechan chipped in 11 points and Jeanette Williams added 10.

Varsity girls

Dodd City 4 5 3 4 — 16

Campbell 14 19 8 13 —54

DC: Hillard 8.

C: Katie Seale 12, Cassie Duplechan 11, Jeanette Williams 10, Raedeena Skrepenski 8, Lacie McClure 4, Sarah Ingle 4, Jessica Jaco 4, Jordan Jaco 1.

Record: C 2-0.

Next game: Blue Ridge at Campbell, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Glen Fields Invitational Tournament.



Celeste (girls) 56,

Fannindel 38

CELESTE — Hayley Shelton banked in 21 points to help the Celeste Lady Devils to a 56-38 victory over Fannindel on Tuesday night.

Bailey Frasier also dropped in nine points for Celeste, now 2-1 for the season.

Rosalynn McGee topped Fannindel with 12 points.

Varsity girls

Fannindel 7 11 7 13 —38

Celeste 8 14 15 19 —56

F: Rosalynn McGee 12, Sayvon Brown 9, Lisa Sims 8, Renesia McGee 7, Jalisisa Bennett 2.

C: Hayley Shelton 21, Bailey Frasier 9, Morgan Lewis 7, Brooke Burden 6, Ashlee Williford 4, Shelby Fitzgerald 4, Haley Trentham 3, Courtney Daniel 2.

Record: C 2-1

Next game: Celeste vs. Cooper, 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Quinlan Ford tournament.



Dodd City 71

Campbell 57

CAMPBELL — Dodd City spoiled Campbell’s season basketball opener, handing the Indians a 71-57 loss on Tuesday night.

Moore led Dodd City and all scorers with 23 points.

Christian Romero topped Campbell with 10 points and Jose Romero chipped in nine.

Varsity boys

Dodd City 14 23 21 13 —71

Campbell 13 10 18 16 —57

DC: Moore 23, Roberts 9.

C: Christian Romero 10, Jose Romero 9, Colin Sell 5, Dustin Fackler 4, Taylor Thompson 3, Austin Hoover 2, Dakota Dawson 2, W. Hung 2.

Record: C 0-1.

Next game: Campbell at Glen Fields Tournament, Thursday in Campbell.