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Complete domination

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The team stops for a group shot after the game. The 2021-22 Big Sandy Lady Cats include (standing, left to right) Samantha White, Briana Miles, Lauren Hulin, Kalyssa Dickens, Savanna Poncho, Corynn Kaleh, Ryan Alec, (kneeling, left to right) Faith Geller, Alexis Thompson and Kamryn Mayer. Photos by Brian BeschThe team stops for a group shot after the game. The 2021-22 Big Sandy Lady Cats include (standing, left to right) Samantha White, Briana Miles, Lauren Hulin, Kalyssa Dickens, Savanna Poncho, Corynn Kaleh, Ryan Alec, (kneeling, left to right) Faith Geller, Alexis Thompson and Kamryn Mayer. Photos by Brian Besch

By Brian Besch
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Big Sandy dictated every aspect of Friday’s area playoff game in Lufkin, coasting to a 73-9 rout over Cushing. The Galkats were third-place finishers of District 22-2A, but provided little resistance in Big Sandy’s advancement to the regional quarterfinals.

To say that everything went right in the first quarter of Big Sandy’s game Friday night could be an understatement. The girls erupted for 26 points over the opening eight minutes, while holding Cushing scoreless. Once the second quarter began, the game was decided.

It would take another minute into the second quarter before Cushing secured its first field goal of the match. It would also be their only of the first half.

“We played really well in this game,” Big Sandy coach Ryan Alec said. “Credit to them, they are a well-coached team and did a great job defensively on us. The thing that got us started was playing well early. That kind of sets the tone for the rest of the game for us. We were knocking down shots and playing good defense. We held them to two points in the first half and zero in the first quarter, which our defense deserves a lot of credit for that. I was pretty happy with the outcome.

“We talked a lot about securing the ball and making sure we hold onto possessions. Turnover ratio is always big for us, and the past two games, our defense has stepped up big for us. Against San Augustine we had to make some changes and play a sagging man in the second half. Here, we came up a little bit more. I thought we adjusted well in both games and our defense was a big factor.”

A full-court press was too much for the Galkats to overcome. The few shots Cushing got off in the first and second quarters were not quality attempts.

Going into halftime, the Lady Cats had built the lead to 43-2.

Alec said when the team went into the locker room up 41 points, he told them they would be treating it as if a new game was beginning.

“We have played some good games this year. Every game is important, but of course this one has a lot of importance here,” Alec said. “I vthink our trajectory is going up, in my opinion. That is what you want to do. You want to be playing right at the right time. I think for us, it is yet to be seen, but I think we are clicking at the right time. We are going to have a tough matchup ahead of us in the next round whoever we face.”

Four different Ladycats outscored Cushing in the game. Savanna Poncho led all scores with 22 points, Faith Geller had 18, Alexis Thompson had 12 and Kalyssa Dickens added 10.

The next game will be the Woden versus Tenaha winner, to likely be played on Tuesday.

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Livingston girls end season at bi-district

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Jon’Toyrian McNeal puts up a shot between two defenders. Photos by Brian BeschJon’Toyrian McNeal puts up a shot between two defenders. Photos by Brian Besch

By Brian Besch

Lady Lions basketball saw their season end Monday night in Winnie, falling 61-30 to Little Cypress-Mauriceville in the bi-district round of the playoffs. 

Livingston held a slim lead for a short amount of time after the tip at East Chambers High. It would be all Lady Bears after they took the lead at 5-4. 

“They just didn’t come to play,” Livingston coach Brittany Jefferson said. “The LC-M girls were fast and quick, and our girls just shut down when they saw a lot of speed. The last two games we had before this, they played. Tonight, they just shut down.”

Jefferson commended her group for playing team ball in defeating Hamshire Fannett and Liberty to obtain third place in the district last week.

The offense Monday was limited, as many possessions were interrupted by steals. Livingston reached double figures in just one period, with 11 in the second quarter.

Little Cypress-Mauriceville used a half-court trap on defense and attacked the bucket on offense to much success. 

Jon’Toyrian McNeal changed and blocked many shots in the lane, but a large portion of the LC-M offense came after turnovers. Livingston’s lack of ball control was exposed early and was the Lady Bears’ biggest advantage. 

“They saw that those girls were really quick and could handle the ball well,” Jefferson said. “We haven’t seen that all year besides Hardin-Jefferson.”

McNeal was also the only consistent offense for the Lady Lions. She scored 18 in her final game for Livingston, while Mia Poncho had five. Asia Robinson of LC-M led all scores with 26, while teammates Keylie Washburn had 18 and Aniyah Robinson had a dozen.

“Overall, when we started the season, it was pretty rough,” the Lady Lion coach said of 2021-22. “As district came on, we kind of picked it up at the beginning until the second round and that didn’t go as well, other than those two games we played for the tie breaker. The season was OK, but it wasn’t what I expected it was going to be.” 

Livingston loses just one senior to graduation, but it is a significant loss. McNeal has been a standout player in both volleyball and basketball over her four years, and will continue her playing career at Southwestern Christian College in Terrell, Texas.

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Moving on in state brackets

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Lauren Hulin collects two points in the first half. Photos by Brian BeschLauren Hulin collects two points in the first half. Photos by Brian Besch

By Brian Besch

The Big Sandy Lady Cats secured their first playoff victory in two years, beating San Augustine 47-26 Tuesday night in the bi-district round.

The defense from Dallardsville was the story of the contest at Wells High School, shutting down a powerful San Augustine attack for three quarters of the game.

The game was a tight one for an entire half. Both teams made mistakes and both teams missed opportunities for additional offense.

Big Sandy led the entire game except for a minute in the second period.

After a 13-6 first quarter, the Lady Wolves began a comeback and took their only lead 15-14 at 5:42 in the second quarter. About 40 seconds later, Big Sandy was back in front and remained there.

A long bucket separated the two teams during halftime at 20-17.

However, Big Sandy distanced themselves with three 3-pointers from Corynn Kaleh before the Lady Wolves could answer.

Big Sandy coach Ryan Alec said rebounding was a point of emphasis in the locker room at the half. He thought the opponents tested his team's physicality and that the Lady Cats were able to hold up well.

“We left some points on the floor in the first half and I thought they did too,” the coach said. “In a game like this, those points are very important. We bounced back and knocked down some big shots in the third quarter and Corynn Kaleh stepped up for us. I think that was probably the turning point in the game for us, with her knocking down those shots. She got a little confidence in her and made some big plays for us.”

The defense also made an impact in the second half. San Augustine could muster only nine points over the final two quarters, allowing the fans in purple the chance to enjoy the game’s final five minutes without worry.

“That was a tough task for us,” Alec said. “Holding that team to nine points with their athleticism and quickness and guards that can just get by us, we had to make some adjustments in the second half.

Typically, we are a team that likes to get out and press a little bit and we like to go up and down. That really wasn't working for us inthe first half. We were fouling a little bit too much because they were more athletic than we were.

“At halftime, we came in and we talked about sagging off a little bit. We focused on (San Augustine leading scorer JaToryia Barnes) and not allowing her to get to the basket. We were going to give up the three just so we didn't get beat off the dribble and allow them to get to the basket. I think it worked for us, but we had a few get away from us. I thought we transitioned into a different type of defense in the second half and did a great job with that.”

Kaleh led all scorers with 19 points, including five 3-pointers. Kalyssa Dickens had 10 points and Alexis Thompson had five. Barnes led the Lady Wolves with 13 points and two others added four each.

The Lady Cats will move on to play the winner of Beckville and Cushing in the area round. The game is likely to be played Friday. The Polk County Enterprise Facebook page will update with day, time, site and opponent once announced.

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All-State

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javarion williams

JaVarion Williams of Corrigan-Camden was named to the Texas Sports Writers Association Class 3A All-State team Wednesday. The Bulldog junior was a standout on both sides of the ball, but was named to the third team as a utility on defense. File photo

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