Rattlers advance to face Crawford in biggest test so far

SPORTS ROUNDUP

TOLAR FOOTBALL

The Tolar Rattlers have made themselves right at home in the Crowley Multi-Purpose Stadium the past couple of weeks. For a second consecutive game the Rattlers made short work of a playoff opponent in that venue as they improved to 13-0 this football season with a 63-7 thumping of Hamilton (7-6) in their Class 2A Division I third-round playoff game on Friday, Nov. 25.

The loss ended Hamilton’s Cinderella run, while giving the Rattlers what is believed to be the most victories in school history. They are advancing to face Crawford (13-0) Friday, and while not in the same stadium, it is just a few miles down the road at Elk Stadium in Burleson, 7 p.m. kickoff.

Crawford advanced with a 41-3 victory over Riesel. The Pirates were third in the state and Tolar was seventh in the final regular-season Class 2A Division I rankings.

The game will pit Tolar’s offense, which is averaging 51.8 points per game, against Crawford’s defense, which surrenders just 4.8. Tolar has 10 games with 50 or more points this season, including four straight in which the Rattlers have topped 60. Crawford has 11 games in which they’ve held opponents to a touchdown or less, including six shutouts.

Of course, it’s not like the Rattlers aren’t strong on defense and the Pirates aren’t good on offense. Tolar gives up 7.3 points per outing with four shutouts and nine games with a touchdown or less. Crawford averages 44.4 points and has scored 50 or more four times.

In dominating Hamilton again (Tolar won 56-7 at home in the regular season), the Rattlers got 150 yards rushing and four touchdowns from running back Peyton Brown, along with four touchdown passes from Jackson LeCluyse. The Rattlers quarterback was 10-of-14 passing for 172 yards with a pair of TDs to Wyatt Jones, along with one to Talan Culberson and another to Matthew Behrens.

Also against Hamilton, Grant Sherley rushed for 46 yards and a TD and Garrison Nation had 25 yards rushing. Jones caught five passes for 93 yards and was 7-of-8 kicking extra points.

Isaac Blessing led the defense with 16 tackles, while Brock Owens and Mason Berry each had seven, Cash Clark had six and Clayton Stembridge had five. Luke Willmon registered his fifth sack of the season.

“Sometimes playing a team that you have previously beaten pretty well can worry you as a coach on how your guys will approach them the next time. This group continues to prove to be one of the more mature groups we've had though in regards to taking things one day at a time and keeping the mindset of getting a little better each day,” Rattlers coach Jeremy Mullins said.

“Again, hats off to our community for showing up. We had a great crowd. It is a great accomplishment for this group to reach the regional final round and play December football, but now it's time to move on to the next one.

“Crawford is a good football team, we are a good football team ... it's really what you would expect once you get to this round of the playoffs. Our guys are excited for the opportunity to get to go play this game another week.”

BROWN MAKING STATE/NATIONAL NOISE

With his performance Friday, Tolar’s Peyton Brown leads the state in all classifications in points scored (290) and touchdowns (48). The sophomore is fifth in the state in all classifications and tops in 2A in rushing yardage with 2,579.

He is also fourth in the nation in touchdowns and sixth nationally in points scored.

GRANBURY BOYS BASKETBALL

The Pirates (3-1) bounced back from their first loss of the season against Kennedale by defeating Commerce 78-51 on Nov. 22 at home.

Dylan Couto and Kensington Colston each scored 21 to lead Granbury, while Ethan Swaim came off the bench to contribute eight points.

“The pace of play wore Commerce down, I think,” Pirates head coach David Breazeale said.

The junior varsity and freshmen also won against Commerce, 64-31 and 40-27, respectively.

The Pirates and Lady Pirates varsity are scheduled to host the Van Griffith Kia Tournament Thursday-Saturday.

TOLAR BOYS BASKETBALL

The Rattlers improved to 3-1 with a 48-43 home victory over Waco Robinson on Nov. 22 as Reis Brown scored 17 points. Merritt Imel added 11 points and Colton Gibson contributed 10.

The Rattlers and Lady Rattlers are slated to play in the Dublin Tournament this weekend.

LIPAN BOYS BASKETBALL

The Indians ran their record to 5-0 with a 66-55 win at Bowie on Nov. 21 and a 67-38 victory over Nacogdoches Central Heights in Martins Mill on Nov. 22

Lipan’s leaders versus Bowie were Garrett Smith, 23 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals; Tripp Phillips, 12 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 block; Reese Cook, 11 points.

Leaders against Central Heights were Phillips, 19 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists; Smith, 19 points (5 3-pointers), 5 rebounds, 4 assists; Korey Massie, 12 points, 2 steals.

Lipan boys and girls are scheduled to host the H.D. Howard Classic Thursday through Saturday.

GRANBURY GIRLS BASKETBALL

The Lady Pirates (6-3) had a five-game win streak ended with a 54-48 overtime road loss to Abilene Cooper on Nov. 21. That was followed by a 60-58 home loss to Godley the next day.

The Lady Pirates forced overtime by outscoring Cooper 16-8 in the fourth stanza. Cooper took control in the overtime, however, with a 9-3 burst.

The Lady Pirates put up a furious fourth-quarter rally against Godley with a 24-13 run that came up shy.

Leaders in the Cooper game were Ella Hamlin, 14 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists; Ella Garner, 13 points, 12 rebounds, 3 steals; Madison Black, 8 points, 3 assists; Kate Hamlin, 9 rebounds; Alexa Mueller, 4 steals.

Leaders against Godley were Garner, 34 points (six 3-point baskets), 6 rebounds; Hamlin, 16 points, 6 rebounds; Mueller, 4 assists, 4 steals; Black, 3 assists.

The Granbury freshmen defeated Cooper 45-10 and the JV won 41-22. The JV dropped a 29-26 contest to Godley and the freshmen also won again by that same score, 45-10.

TOLAR GIRLS BASKETBALL

The Lady Rattlers are now 1-3 after a thrilling 45-43 home victory over Dublin on Nov. 22.

Senne Imel led with 18 points and 14 rebounds, along with five steals. Maddie Rue scored 12 points and pulled down 10 rebounds.

Karley Richardson added eight points and five rebounds.

The Dublin JV topped Tolar 28-22.

LIPAN GIRLS BASKETBALL

The Lady Indians (8-2) played a pair of games at Martins Mill Nov. 21 and 22. They fell to Martins Mill 49-45, then had little trouble disposing of Winnsboro, 68-46.

In the victory, Trinity Benitez had a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds, while Hanna Gaylor led all scorers with 17 points. Chelsea Lott scored 13, Madison Harrison had nine points and Lynsey Little scored nine with four assists.

Martins Mill took a 37-20 lead into the final quarter before Lipan ended the game with a 25-12 run, falling four points short.

Little scored 11 points with five rebounds and three steals. Taylor Branson scored nine points, T. Benitez added seven points with nine rebounds.

GRANBURY VOLLEYBALL

Senior Sara Welch of the Lady Pirates was named the District 5-5A Setter of the Year by the league's coaches in their recent all-district voting. Welch led the league with 1,000 assists, as well as in aces served with 65. She also had 378 defensive digs.

Senior Kassidy Kirkpatrick (264 kills, 52 blocks) was named to the first team, while sophomore Sienna Watts (246 kills, 30 aces, 151 digs) and junior Rachel Poirer (254 kills, 16 aces, 157 digs) were picked for the second team.

Welch ended her Granbury career with 2,377 assists and has signed to play for John Brown University.

GRANBURY TENNIS

Nine members of the Granbury tennis team were named All-District 5-5A for fall team tennis. Mixed doubles: Carlee Carey/Caleb Hammond, second team.

Girls singles, Line 3: Carey, honorable mention.

Girls doubles, Line 2: Alyssa Krause/Molly Grossman, honorable mention.

Girls singles, line 5: Krause, second team.

Girls doubles, Line 3: Morgan King/Kenya Vielma-Moreno, honorable mention.

Girls singles, Line 6: King, second team.

Boys singles, Line 3: Roland Krause, honorable mention.

Boys singles, Line 5: Connor Townsend, honorable mention.

Granbury advanced to the second round of the Class 5A playoffs.