High School Notebook: news roundup for Sept. 22, 2011

Home: » Waco Sports » Waco High Schools

RSS

High School Notebook: news roundup for Sept. 22, 2011

Thursday September 22, 2011

Bonus notes

• Read about Robinson and Reicher football and Bosqueville and Moody volleyball on the High School Blog — click here

FOOTBALL

Midway’s Randolph commits to Ponies

Midway defensive back Shakiel Randolph made his college choice known Monday when he gave a verbal commitment to SMU.

The 6-foot-5, 190-pound safety is rated as a three-star recruit by rivals.com and said three key factors swayed his decision.

“What made the difference for SMU is that it’s close to home, it’s an up-and-coming team, and it’s a big school academically. Based off those three things, I made my decision.”

The Mustangs, also the name of Randolph’s peewee football team, have won 15 games over the last two seasons, finishing at or above .500 in both. That comes after a string of 20 years in which SMU claimed one winning season. Much of the credit for the turnaround goes to coach June Jones.

“He played a big role (in the recruitment),” Randolph said. “He’s a good guy, and he made me feel at home. You feel that he’s a caring coach, and that’s all you can ask for.”

— Jason Orts

University focuses on key district opener

For University, each nondistrict battle has been an important primer for District 8-4A.

The Trojans have already endured enough emotional swings to fill an entire season. The Trojans were blown out by Forney in Week Zero, lost a close one against Hutto and then won twice in a row to even their record at 2-2.

The Trojans’ need to get it together soon is magnified by the way their district schedule shakes out. First on the docket is Killeen on Oct. 7. Unless San Angelo Lake View wins its first district game in two years, the winner of the Killeen-University matchup at Waco ISD Stadium will likely qualify for the playoffs. No pressure.

“It helps us with our focus,” University coach Matt Carroll said. “From our first week our main goal is to keep getting better and get prepared for Killeen.”

The Trojans wrap up nondistrict Friday at La Vega.

— Will Parchman

China Spring wants to get offense on field

Judging only by scores, the China Spring defense has been lights out.

The Cougars are allowing just shy of 12 points per contest and have been the primary reason for the team’s 4-0 start.

China Spring has been particular stingy in the first half of games, having surrendered only three total points before halftime.

Still, the Cougars have allowed teams to move the ball between the 20s, and coach Mark Bell believes cutting opponents’ yardage would help China Spring’s offense begin to flourish.

“The offense definitely needs to step up,” Bell said. “On defense, we’ve given up yards, but not many points. Hopefully, we can start to get the defense off the field a little quicker. It’s a two-fold thing, but I’m proud of what the defense has been doing.”

— Orts

Marlin makes most of unscheduled bye

While many teams around the area had their games called because of weather last Friday, Marlin’s situation was unique in that it didn’t even get a chance to kick off against Grandview.

“Right after we finished pregame warm-ups, it just came a deluge,” Marlin coach Keith Willis said. “Then it started thundering and lightning, and we called it a night.”

While Willis was pleased that his Bulldogs (0-3) got a week off before district play to heal some injuries, he was disappointed they didn’t get another chance to get better under game pressure.

Practices going into Friday’s District 12-2A Division I opener against Florence have focused on what Willis preaches the most — alignment, assignment and execution.

“We’re starting to do those things in practice,” Willis said. “We’ve amplified those things, along with penalties and missed snaps and that kind of stuff. I think the kids understand the importance of those things, and I think we’ll be ready.”

— Orts

Red-zone struggles plaguing Leopards

Lorena came face to face with its red-zone troubles again last week.

The Leopards journeyed into the Kennedale red zone three times and failed to score each time in a 21-17 loss. They missed a field goal and turned it over on downs twice, and two of those drives sucked up at least 10 plays.

In a Week 2 loss to Lampasas, the Leopards also had three possessions die inside their opponent’s 20.

“We told them that you’ve either got to figure out how to score from outside the 30 or inside the 20,” Lorena coach Ray Biles said.

The result is that Lorena is 1-3 for the first time since 2006 when the Leopards went 1-9. Since then, the Leopards have had three winning seasons, back-to-back 10-win seasons and two district titles.

The Leopards may not be used to losing, but Biles is hopeful that the locker room has the experience to overcome the team’s struggles in time for a wide-open District 19-3A slate where seemingly everybody is in play for a title.

It starts this week with Groesbeck before Lorena enters an off week in preparation for district.

“They’re trying hard, we just haven’t been able to make it happen yet,” Biles said. “We’re not down. We’re still swinging away.”

— Parchman

McGregor readies for ‘2nd season’

McGregor coach Tim Seward breaks down the season into three categories: nondistrict, district and the postseason.

The first season is already in the Bulldogs’ rearview. The second one cranks up Friday when McGregor travels to Academy to open up District 12-2A Division I action. With two straight losses after starting the season 2-0, McGregor is looking forward to digging into a district ripe for the taking.

“This is how you get into that third season,” Seward said. “What we talk to our kids about is this is the most important season, because if you don’t do well in this season, you don’t get to that next level.”

McGregor opened the first season with a pair of blowouts before losing 13-12 to Reicher and 21-12 to China Spring.

Both were difficult opponents, but the offense was hampered by increased defensive scrutiny on playmaker Keith Reineke.

Seward called 18 plays to Reineke against China Spring and he finished with 36 rushing yards and just one 15-yard catch. McGregor would prefer using him directly, but they can make do if he’s schemed out of the game.

“He was a very good decoy in a lot of things,” Seward said. “That definitely helped us. Also, he opens up our running game just by coming in motion.”

— Parchman

Injuries stunt growth for young Axtell team

An undersized offensive line, injuries and overall youth have been Axtell’s troubles in its first two losses this year.

All three reared their heads in Friday’s 41-19 loss to Bosqueville.

“Right now, I’m getting two back (from injury) but losing another, that’s how it’s going,” Axtell coach Mike Cadell said. “Up front, we’re getting better, but we’re not there.”

Michael Milburn and Mykel King returned, but Jacob Kubitza, who has battled a shoulder injury all season, came out in the second half.

With that on the forefront of Cadell’s mind, he cannot wait until next week’s bye, but the veteran coach has to guide his young offensive line past Bremond (0-4) first.

“They know exactly what to do, but for some reason their synaptic responses aren’t there. We’ve got to get off the ball faster,” he said.

Axtell (2-2) starts District 11-2A Division II play Oct. 7 against Leon.

— Brian Bateman

VOLLEYBALL

Midway set to begin 8-4A on homecoming

With the District 8-4A race starting Friday, Midway volleyball coach Janet Angell hopes her team can keep its collective head on straight.

“Hopefully starting the district race with one of the best opponents in district (Stephenville) will get us fired up,” Angell said. “I also hope we’re not too distracted by homecoming, but that we get our minds in the right place.”

Compounding the issue for the Pantherettes is a lack of district experience despite eight seniors on the roster. But they have weapons and can be a dangerous team should all of them fire at once.

Some of that responsibility falls on the shoulders of sophomore setter Christy Carruth and her ability to get her hitters one-on-one chances.

“As a freshman last year, she saw limited playing time,” Angell said. “She’s grown a lot, but she still has some room to grown. She’s a vocal person, which is a great thing to be as a setter.”

— Orts

Gatesville confident going into district

The way Gatesville coach Rickey Phillips sees it, the No. 5 Lady Hornets volleyball team is perfectly ready to jump into District 19-3A against La Vega on Friday.

He couldn’t necessarily have said that two weeks ago. The Lady Hornets hit a rough patch of inconsistent play, but consecutive sweeps against Glen Rose on Friday and Brownwood on Tuesday have given Gatesville confidence right on the eve of district. Not bad timing.

“We looked like we needed to look headed into district,” Phillips said.

It’s a good thing, since Gatesville has a lofty streak to uphold once district rolls around. Gatesville is nursing a 29-game winning streak in district play that spans three straight district titles. Since the expectation is to be one of the best in the state every year, there have been very few specific discussions about either milestone.

“Our expectations here never change,” Phillips said. “We want to be the team to beat. We’ve been fortunate with that win streak, but along with that comes a big old bull’s-eye too. Our kids know the pressure is there, but they accept that challenge.”

— Parchman

Lorena ‘under radar’ no longer, ranked #7

The Lorena volleyball team burst onto the state scene this week. Unranked for the entire year, the Lady Leopards made their debut at No. 7 on the Texas Girls’ Coaches Association Class 3A top 25 poll that released on Tuesday.

“I kind of like flying under the radar,” Lorena coach Kari Sowders said. “I didn’t turn our scores into TGCA much. I was kind of glad to a point, but this kind of puts a target on our back. People are going to be gunning for us a little bit now ... It’s a motivator for the girls. They were pretty excited when they saw that.”

The ranking is state-level validation for a majestic nondistrict schedule during which Lorena went 26-2 and notched some big wins. The Lady Leopards won a 5A tournament at Saginaw, placed second at Belton’s tournament and third at a tournament in Leon.

Lorena, which opens District 19-3A Friday against Robinson, is now notably only two spots behind Gatesville, winner of the last three district titles. While that provides some motivation, there is still a salty district to deal with.

“It’s tough, but Robinson and China Spring and La Vega and Connally, they’ve all got athletic girls and girls that can compete,” Sowders said.

— Parchman

Connally looking for playoff spot in 19-3A

Playoffs spots are hard to come by in District 19-3A, but Connally hopes to earn one of them this season.

With coaching changes coming nearly every year in the past, this year’s consistency has led to better practices and playing hard on the court.

“We have came along way this year,” Connally coach Nicole Miles said. “We are a lot better now than we were at this point last year.”

The Lady Cadets open district with China Spring on Friday at home.

One of the reasons for rising confidence is middle blocker Paula Smith, a gifted athlete with 28-inch vertical that allows her to play well above the net. The senior has become the leader of the team with her play and attitude.

Miles said that the team may not possess the volleyball players that other schools have but are “a group of pure athletes that have stepped up to play and want to win.”

— David Ash