Hawks tough out five-set win
Two local district champions collided head-on Friday in a warmup volleyball match at Hawk Gym, with host Pleasant Grove escaping with a hard-fought, five-set victory over Texas High.
The Lady Hawks won 25-17, 22-25, 25-18, 21-25, 15-12.
Both teams won district crowns outright, with the Hawks (22-14) taking the 15-4A title and the Lady Tigers (24-11) clinching the 15-5A championship.
Pleasant Grove had several leaders against Texas High. Macey Adams paced the hosts with 16 kills and 10 digs, Kaylee Kelley had 13 set assists and 13 digs, Ella Nichols 15 digs, Macy Young 16 set assists, and Natalie Hale and Harleigh O’Neal five blocks each.
Pacing the Tigers were Treyaunna Rush with 19 kills, 18 points, 15 assists and four blocks, Kaitlyn Cross 13 points, 12 kills and six blocks, Vicki Willis 26 digs and 19 points, and Mia Wilson 22 points.
Both teams open the bi-district round of the state playoffs Tuesday. Texas High faces John Tyler (23-13), fourth in District 16-5A, at 7 p.m. at Marshall’s gymnasium. Pleasant Grove collides with Henderson (13-23), fourth from 16-4A, at 6 p.m. at Hughes Springs gym.
Liberty-Eylau also has a bi-district match on Tuesday, with the Lady Leopards (15-12), fourth in 15-4A, clashing with 16-4A champ Bullard (27-10) at 6 p.m. at Longview’s Lobo Coliseum.
Area teams in playoffs
Several Northeast Texas also will play bi-district volleyball matches next week.
One match has been scheduled for Monday, featuring 14-3A champ New Boston (23-6) colliding with Paris Chisum at 7:30 p.m. at Mount Pleasant’s gymnasium.
Other 3A-II bi-district matches pit Redwater (21-8) vs. Mount Vernon (20-12); Atlanta (15-10) vs. Pattonville Prairiville (25-5); and Queen City (20-14) vs. Commerce (25-9).
In 2A-III, Maud (14-20) takes on Quinlan Boles (19-19); and Linden Kildare (6-14) faces Timpson.
Basketball
Trinity Christian 64, Taylor 31
Host Trinity Christian used a strong middle quarters to maul the Taylor Tigers in varsity boys basketball.
The outcome was never really in doubt after the Warriors raced out to a 14-5 first-quarter lead before exploding for 47 points over the next two quarters while holding the Tigers to 24.
Shawn Brown paced Trinity Christian with 24 points and Alex Cobb chipped in 12. Chase Harris scored 19 for Taylor.