The Tolar Lady Rattlers (30-9) continued their torrid play with a 3-1 Class 3A Division II bidistrict victory against Henrietta (22-7) in Graham Tuesday, Nov. 5. It was their 23rd win in 24 matches and extended their team record for victories in a season.
Tolar first-year head coach Amber Terrell praised the leadership of her seniors in the victory, Lily DeWitt, Allyson Dobbs (six kills, five blocks), Senne Imel (16 kills, 12 digs, two aces), Kenzi McQuain (five kills, two blocks), Abbie Soileau (42 assists, six digs, five kills, two blocks, two aces) and Sophia Walters (10 digs, three aces).
This is the seventh straight season for the Lady Rattlers to reach the postseason and the third straight to advance. They were playing Comfort (22-15) at press time, with the winner moving on to face Childress (19-14) or Alpine (22-18) early next week.
GRANBURY FOOTBALL
The Pirates (1-8, 0-7 in District 3-5A Division I at press time) were ending their season at home against White Settlement Brewer (3-6, 3-4 at press time). They fell 37-21 at Denton (2-7, 1-6) Nov. 1.
Offensive leaders vs. Denton: Hayden Meyer 4-of-12, 120 yards, TD passing; Jackson Arnett three catches, 132 yards, 60-yard TD catch; Anthony DeBello 11 carries, 38 yards, TD.
Defensive leaders vs. Denton: Chase Cantrell 16 tackles, one for loss; Bryson Hager 12 tackles, one for loss; Cooper Sandness 10 tackles, two for loss, sack; Elijah Johnston nine tackles, one for loss; Aiden Ford nine tackles.
Special teams standout vs. Denton: E. Johnston 67-yard kickoff return for TD.
TOLAR FOOTBALL
Led by the running of Peyton Brown, the Rattlers (8-1, 4-0 in District 5-3A Division II at press time) defeated Brady (7-2, 3-1) 42-21 at home Nov. 1, a game that gave the Rattlers sole possession of first place in the league and the top seed entering the postseason. It was also Tolar’s 16th straight district victory dating to 2021.
Offensive leaders vs. Brady: Peyton Brown 20 carries, three TD, one catch, 30 yards; Briton Rice 7-of-15, 112 yards, three TD passing; Noah Yanish three catches, 22 yards, two TD; Drake Owens 34-yard TD catch.
Defensive leaders vs. Brady: Owens 16 tackles, one for loss, sack; Anson Laminick 10 tackles; Ty McClure 10 tackles; Cayden Abrego nine tackles; Brooks Stone eight tackles, sack; Kelvin Murray sack, tackles for loss; Yanish interception.
Brown has 938 yards and a dozen touchdowns this season.
Tolar was ending the regular season at Eastland (4-5, 1-3) at press time. The Rattlers will begin the postseason against the No. 4 seed from District 6-3A Division II late next week.
GRANBURY VOLLEYBALL
The Lady Pirates (25-22) saw their season come to an end with a 3-0 loss to Colleyville Heritage (33-6), No. 4 in the state, in their Class 5A Division I playoff match at Arlington Athletics Complex Nov. 4.
Leaders
Kills: Blakely Bleeker 4
Digs: Allyson McCabe 9, Lillyan McCall 8, Audrey Greinert 7
Assists: McCabe 10
Receptions: Mattie Weaver 16, McCall 14, Greinert 12
The Lady Pirates posted the program’s most victories since 2019. They also reached the postseason for the 15th time in 16 seasons.
GRANBURY VOLLEYBALL HONORS
Seven members of the Lady Pirates were named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association fourth annual Best and Brightest Award winners list.
To be eligible, an athlete must be a senior, have a grade point average of at least 3.5 unweighted/4.0 weighted, or the equivalent if using a different GPA scale during their year, and they must play in 50% of their varsity teams sets during their senior season.
Lady Pirates honored were:
First team — Sienna Watts, Lily McCall, Blakely Bleeker, Audrey Greinert, Addi Cowling and Allyson McCabe.
Third team — Megan James.
GRACE CLASSICAL FOOTBALL
The Gryphons (2-7) ended the regular season with a 32-28 victory at Temple Centex Home School Nov. 1. They were playing Round Rock Ignite in the opening round of the Texas Association of Independent Athletic Organizations playoffs at press time.
The Gryphons are the defending TAIAO Division III state champions. The winner of their game with Ignite will advance to face 2023 state runner-up Hill County or Mineral Wells Community Christian in Round 2 next week.
Offensive leaders vs. Centex: Jones Bryce 3-of-4, 50 yards, two TD, interception passing, nine carries, 100 yards rushing; Keith Wyatt 19 carries, 225 yards, two TD; Tyce Robishaw two catches, 20 yards, two TD.
Defensive leaders vs. Centex: Wyatt 16 tackles; Jones Bryce 13 tackles; Thomas Pierce 10 tackles, fumble recovery for TD; Ray Drew interception; Thomas Henry interception.
GRANBURY TENNIS
Several members of the Lady Pirates/Pirates were named to the All-District 5-5A Team by the league’s coaches:
Newcomer of the Year: Albane Combres
Freshman of the Year: Atleigh Young
First team mixed doubles: Sullivan Williamson/Mandi Labelle
Second team boys singles: Tyler St. Don
Second team girls singles: Combres, Young, Lili Vaughn
Honorable mention boys singles: Roland Krause, Colten Whitefield, Oakley Boyd, Braxton Bailey, Chase Bohney
Honorable mention boys doubles: Krause/Boyd, Whitefield/St. Don, Bailey/Bohney
Honorable mention girls doubles: Allie Kazmier/Young
Academic all-district: Girls — Labelle, Combres, Young, Vaughn, Kazmier, Ellie Weeks, Paloma Sandoval, Ava Hamrick. Boys — Krause, Whitefield, St. Don, Boyd, Bailey, Bohney, Williamson, Hayden Garcia, Kallen Graves.
GRANBURY GIRLS
BASKETBALL
The Lady Pirates (1-1) began the season with a 44-31 win at home against Keller Central Nov. 1. They followed with a 42-35 loss at home against North Crowley.
Leaders vs. Central: Jolie Hayes 15 points, Kate Hamlin 13 points.
Leaders vs. North Crowley: Hamlin 17 points, Jillian Williams 6 points.
In subvarsity action, Granbury junior varsity defeated Central 36-11 and North Crowley 40-27. The freshmen won 37-20 over Central, followed by a 36-26 victory against North Crowley.
Granbury was playing at Joshua at press time and travels to Burleson Nov. 12 at 6:30 p.m. The Lady Pirates are in the Crandall Tournament next weekend.
GRANBURY BOYS GOLF
The Pirates junior varsity golf team finished fourth in the Buzzy Open at Cross Timbers Golf Course in Azle recently, posting a team score of 363. They were led by Ashton Heimer and Maxx Litts, each shooting 89.
Also, Jeff Bowerman shot 92, Mason McPherson posted a 93 and Grayson Opperman finished with a 103.
The four lowest individual scores comprise the team score.
The Pirates JV was ending the fall season in the Burleson Classic at Hidden Creek Golf Course at press time.
GRANBURY CORNERSTONE CROSS COUNTRY
The Cornerstone boys placed fifth at the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools Class 1A State Meet Oct. 28 at Waco’s Cottonwood Park.
They were led by Carson Jones, who placed 14th individually with a time of 19:41.18 over the 5K course. Carter Jones was 15th in 19:41.29.
Also, Cale Davis, 24th, 20:32.19; Noble Carter, 61st, 22:45.39; Wyatt Kirk, 73rd, 23:14.45; Abashai Peterson, 119th, 26:35, 78; Parker Kirk, 123rd, 27:25.82.
Competing for the Cornerstone girls was Reese Porter, who was 48th over 2 miles with a clocking of 18:08.33.
GRANBURY SWIMMING
The Lady Pirates and Pirates hosted their fall meet at the Hood County YMCA recently. The Granbury boys won their division, scoring 63 points to runner-up Aledo with 50. The Lady Pirates scored 70 to finish second to Aledo’s 77.
Top Granbury swimmers were (distance in yards):
Girls
200 Freestyle: 2. Autum Stuart, Bailey Stone, 5. Kaitlynn Porter
200 IM: 2. Bailey McDermott, 3. Remi Chastain
50 Freestyle: 2. Avery Young, 3. Madison Erezo
100 Butterfly: 1. Young, 4. Carmen Citzler, 5. Jina Kim
100 Freestyle: 2. Ma. Erezo, 4. Stone
500 Freestyle: 1. McDermott
100 Backstroke: 4. Citzler, 5. Stuart
100 Breaststroke: 2. Kim, 4. Ella Redwine, 5. Valentina Castillo
200 Medley Relay: 2. Citzler, Kim, Young, Ma. Erezo; 3. Stuart, Redwine, Stone, Castillo
200 Freestyle Relay: 1. Citzler, Kim, Ma. Erezo, McDermott; 3. Chastain, Redwine, Porter, Witman
400 Freestyle Relay: 2. Young, Stuart, Chastain, McDermott; 3. Castillo, Porter, Stone, Witman
Boys
200 Freestyle: 1. Jett McFerrin
200 IM: 1. Cameron Ward
50 Freestyle: 3. Mason Ward, 4. Luke Jernigan
100 Fly: 1. McFerrin, 4. Finnegan Renard
100 Freestyle: 2. Michael Kracy, 4. Sean Kim
500 Freestyle: 1. McFerrin
100 Backstroke: 3. Michael Kracy, 4. M. Ward
100 Breaststroke: 3. Kim
200 Medley Relay: 1. Kracy, C. Ward, McFerrin, M. Ward
200 Freestyle Relay: 1. C. Ward, Kracy, McFerrin, Kim
400 Freestyle: 3. Kim, M. Ward, Jernigan, Renard
Granbury was swimming in Mansfield at press time and will compete in the North Texas TISCA (Texas Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association) Meet in Frisco Nov. 15-16.