Thursday, December 5, 2024
The Tolar Lady Rattlers (27-9, 11-1 in District 8-3A) are closing in on their first district championship since 2021 — or at least a share. It would also be their first title at the Class 3A level.
The Lady Rattlers won 3-0 at Eastland Oct. 18 before returning home to win one of the biggest regular season matches in program history, topping perennial power Peaster 3-2 to move into a tie for the district lead.
It’s the second thrilling match this season against the Lady Greyhounds, ranked 18th in the state in Class 3A by the Texas Girls Coaches Association. Tolar fell 3-2 in Peaster Sept. 27.
“It was such a good match,” first-year Tolar coach Amber Terrell said.
The Lady Rattlers overcame an 8-2 deficit in Game 5 to win 17-15. Tolar also rallied to win Game 4 by a 25-21 score to force a fifth game.
Tolar won the first game 25-22 before Peaster took the next two 28-26 and 25-20.
Standout against Eastland was Sophia Walters with seven aces and 11 digs.
Standouts against Peaster were seniors Walters, Abbie Soileau, Senne Imel, Allyson Dobbs and Kenzi McQuain.
The Lady Rattlers have two matches remaining in the regular season before starting the playoffs. They travel to Early Oct. 26 at noon and host Comanche Oct. 29 at 5:30 p.m.
Tolar is closing in on the program record of 28 wins in a season, previously reached in 2014, 2015 and 2019. Last season’s team enjoyed the deepest playoff in program history, reaching the regional finals in 2A.
It had not been decided at press time, should Tolar and Peaster finish tied for the district championship, if the teams will play a third time or flip a coin. Either way, Terrell said Peaster will enter the playoffs as the top seed from the league for Division I (large 3A) and Tolar will be the top seed for Division II (small 3A).
GRANBURY VOLLEYBALL
The Lady Pirates (24-19, 7-3 in District 5-5A), having wrapped up a playoff berth, had a bye Oct. 18 and defeated visiting Saginaw 3-0 Oct. 22. Now they are positioning themselves for playoff seeding as the regular season winds down.
Following Tuesday, Granbury and Chisholm Trail were tied for second place in district behind league champion Aledo and a game ahead of fourth-place Azle. The Lady Pirates were hosting Azle at press time and finish the regular season at Brewer Oct. 29 at 6 p.m.
Leaders vs. Saginaw
Kills: Sienna Watts 10, Masyn Noe 9, Blakely Bleeker 7
Aces: Lilyan McCall 3
Digs: McCall 20
Assists: Allyson McCabe 34
Receptions: McAll 10, Megan James 8
TOLAR FOOTBALL
The Tolar Rattlers (6-1, 2-0 in District 5-3A Division II) ran their league winning streak to 14 games dating to 2021 with a 56-14 win at home over Dublin Oct. 18. They were playing at Clifton (5-2, 2-0) at press time and host Brady (6-1, 20 at press time) Nov. 1 at 7 p.m., games that will decide the district championship.
Brady and Clifton end the regular season against each other Nov. 8 in Brady.
Offensive leaders vs. Dublin: Briton Rice 13-of-17, 233 yards, four TD, no interceptions; Peyton Brown 13 carries, 72 yards, TD; Dacen Watkins three catches, 108 yards, two TD; Zane Terrell 20-yard TD catch; Brylen Feist three catches, 31 yards, TD.
Defensive leaders vs. Dublin: Caden Pate seven tackles; Cutter Cain six tackles; Noah Boulanger six tackles; Cash Clark four tackles, fumble recovery.
Special teams standouts vs. Dublin: Clark blocked punt, Brooks Stone 8-for-8 on extra points kicked.
Brady offensive players to watch: Sean Jacoby 533 yards, 10 TD, four interceptions passing, 287 yards, three TD rushing; Johnny Menefield 807 yards, 12 TD rushing, two TD receiving; Ashton Taylor 780 yards, seven TD rushing.
Brady defensive players to watch: Menefield 85 tackles, 14 for loss, two sacks, two fumble recoveries; DeMarcus Reed 51 tackles, six for loss, two sacks.
This is the first meeting between the Rattlers and the Bulldogs. Brady, after taking a step back in 2023, is returning to the form of 2022 when the Bulldogs went 8-4 and reached the second round of the playoffs.
Tolar improved to 43-7 over its past 50 games.
GRANBURY FOOTBALL
The Pirates (1-6, 0-5 in District 3-5A Division I at press time) were hosting Azle (6-1, 4-1 at press time), hoping to play spoiler as the Hornets chase a playoff berth. They travel to Denton (1-6, 0-5 at press time) Nov. 1 at 7 p.m.
The Pirates fell 51-14 at Richland Oct. 18, while the Broncos dropped a thrilling 42-40 contest at home to Fossil Ridge and were playing at crosstown rival Denton Ryan at press time.
Offensive leaders vs. Richland: Spencer Taylor 14 carries, 65 yards, TD; Gage Archer 2-yard TD run.
Defensive leaders vs. Richland: Chase Cantrell 13 tackles, two for loss; Bryson Hager seven tackles; Cooper Cumba seven tackles; Anthony DeBello three tackles, one for loss, sack, fumble recovery.
Denton offensive player to watch: Terrance Lopez 691 yards, three TD, two interceptions, 171 yards, two TD rushing.
Denton defensive player to watch: Brian Michaud 57 tackles, six for loss, two sacks, interception.
The Broncos are taking a step back this season after reaching the postseason a year ago. They lead the all-time series with the Pirates 3-0, including a 42-13 win in their last meeting in 2015.
GRACE CLASSICAL FOOTBALL
The Gryphons (1-6 at press time) are hoping for another late-season surge following a 77-53 home loss to Azle Christian Oct. 18. They were hosting Brownsville Harvest Christian (2-4 at press time) and travel to Temple Centex Homeschool (1-5 at press time) Nov. 1 at 7:30 p.m.
Last season the Gryphons started 2-4 before winning four straight to capture the Texas Association of Independent Athletics Organization Division III state championship.
Last season was the inaugural year for Grace Classical football. Centex won its matchup in a thriller, 26-25.
GRANBURY CROSS COUNTRY
The Pirates and Lady Pirates competed in the Class 5A Region I Meet at Mae Simmons Park in Lubbock Oct. 22. Leading the Pirates was Gannon Dolan, who was 20th over the 5K course with a time of 16:48. The Lady Pirates were led by Aidalyn Hollis, who was 68th with a clocking of 21:51.
Also for the Pirates: Aiden Lemens, 71st, 17:55; Brendan Thorne, 78th, 18:00; Jacob Wolfe, 116th, 18:48; Nolan Segars, 157th, 20:04; and Sam Valadez, 160th, 20:09.
Also for the Lady Pirates: Kambry Zschiesche, 83rd, 22:20; Josa Berry, 93rd, 22:36; Ava Stein, 122nd, 23:19; Alexie Patrick, 132nd, 23:46; Ziva Sedgwick, 140th, 24:27; and Kina Berry, 141st, 24:28.
The Pirates and Lady Pirates each qualified their entire team by finishing third in the District 5-5A Meet.
LIPAN CROSS COUNTRY
Court Gaylor and Wyatt Yates of the Indians competed in the Class 2A Region II Meet at Grand Prairie Oct. 21. Gaylor finished 44th with a time of 19:08.70 over the 5K course and Yates was 56th in 19:42.28.
They qualified by finishing fifth and seventh, respectively in the District 11-A Meet.
GRANBURY BOYS GOLF
The Pirates hosted the Granbury Fall Classic this past weekend at DeCordova Bend Friday, Oct. 18 and Harbor Lakes on Saturday, Oct. 19.
“The courses were in great shape and we appreciate the pros and members for letting us host this event,” Pirates coach Steve Ward said.
The Pirates played three teams in the event and finished in fourth, eighth, and 10th place.
Individually, the pirates were led by Henry Ballew with a 152 (72-80), fifth place individually. Also for Granbury:
Lincoln Sherill 80-74 = 154, seventh place
Parker Jones 78-78 = 156, 12th place
Jacob Reagan 82-79 = 161
Carter Martin 81-80 = 161
Quinn Bradley 84-80 = 164
Kamden Aparicio 83-85 = 168
Caden Davis 84-85 = 169
Briar rouse 86-88 = 174
Drew Haynes 88-89 = 177
Brayden Thackerson 85-93 = 178
Braxton Pugh 88-92 = 180
Will Webb 94-91 = 185
Aiden matherne 93-101 = 194
Hunter white 85-withdrew.
GRANBURY GIRLS GOLF
The Lady Pirates hosted the Lady Pirate Invitational at Harbor Lakes Golf Club and DeCordova Bend Country Club Oct. 18-19. They finished fifth with a team score of 698 (353-345).
Halle Carr led Granbury with a 168 (89-79), followed by Clair Jordan at 171 (86-85). Also, Rylee Rainosek posted a 174 (87-87), Ariel Jimenez came in with a 185 (91-94) and Ava Redwine shot 222 (117-105).
The four lowest individual scores in each round comprise the team score.
The Lady Pirates and Pirates were playing in the District 5-5A Preview at Cross Timbers Golf Course in Azle at press time.
LIPAN BOYS GOLF
The Indians finished second in the Battle of the Creek at Squaw Creek Golf Course in Willow Park recently. They posted a team score of 334.
Jack Smith of Lipan won the individual title, shooting a 2-over-par 73. His teammate, Tucker Tims, tied for fourth with a 79.
Also for Lipan, Darius Steed and Rabe Bolton each shot a 91. Colby Link came in with a 92.
The four lowest individual scores comprise the team score.
LIPAN GIRLS GOLF
Three-time state qualifier Hanna Gaylor competed in the Battle of the Creek. She tied for seventh with a score of 86.
