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Peaster, Brock talent levels bode well for rivalry's intensity to reach new heights
The early season rankings for the Peaster Lady Greyhounds and the Brock Lady Eagles are disparate and varied. The Texas Association of Basketball Coaches slot Peaster in third behind the top-ranked Lady Eagles. Texasgirlsbasketball.com snuggles the teams even closer together with a one-two punch on top of the Class 2A division. Another poll pushes the Lady Hounds on top with the reigning state champs a few spaces below. Aside from the ambiguous opinions, one fact remains certain — come Friday, all the expertise takes a back seat to 32 minutes of basketball (barring overtime), with the final score deciding who had the better night, and who holds the upper hand, at least until the next round.
With a District 9-2A victory each, Brock and Peaster find themselves in a very familiar position, vying for the district leadership while the balance of their peers fight for a third slot to postseason. Nothing is guaranteed, of course, because the games still have to be played. The first of two meetings will take place at Peaster High School, with a scheduled start time of 6:30 p.m.
The Lady Eagles are 12-2 in overall play, having dispatched Paradise, while the Lady Hounds began their campaign with a win over Jacksboro, and also enjoy double-digit victories early in the season. With stellar seasons from both last year, the anticipation of the rivalry has grown to a fever pitch for 2009-10, as a significant number of key players return for their senior seasons.
“I think [Brock and Peaster] is one of the most intense rivalries in the area,” said local sports play-by-play radio announcer Ace Little, who has seen and called a lion’s share of contests between the two schools over the years, and will be on hand, Friday. “Because of how close they are [geographically] and the amount of respect they have for each other, I think this ranks, year-in and year-out, as the best non-football rivalry in the state.
“These kids have grown up knowing each other and watching each other play, from Little Dribblers, on up.”
Brock’s Kenisha Harris, last year’s MVP recipient at the state tournament, enters her last year of prep competition with the taste of last year’s state title still fresh on her palate. The Lady Eagles graduated a significant pair of guards, the Jones girls, who were defensive catalysts for Brock, but return underclassmen who experienced a good deal of playing time in the 2008-09 campaign. Payton Shoush, Kamy Cole and Paige Parliament remain key elements to Brock’s success.
Peaster, whose 2009 postseason saw them plow through the bracket all the way to the Region II tournament last Spring, undergoes a maturation, of a handful plus, of seniors who will insist this be their year.
“I think this season represents Peaster’s best chance to top the Lady Eagles,” Little said, “particularly with the [Makeever] twins entering their senior year, along with several others.”
Amber and Mandy Makeever, signed to further their basketball careers at Colorado State University, look to get over the hump with a district championship and beyond as a swan song to prep play. The ‘several others’ are a strong supporting cast of senior Lady Hounds, led by Maddie Gipson, Courtney Haney, Shayla Colliflower and Skye Daugherty. The sting of last year’s exit from the playoffs should be motivation enough for the Peaster girls, but the storied rivalry alone has historically been enough to get the competitive juices flowing freely enough.
“To anyone whose is reading this, if they’ve never been to one of these games and you have nothing to do Friday night, they should come on,” said Little. “Feeling the intensity of these games, well it’s almost like the Hatfields and McCoys.”
The contests between Brock and Peaster, boys or girls, are often near standing room only. Come early and enjoy the ride.
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Aledo rolls past Kangaroos
Just as it had done a week prior, the Weatherford Kangaroos' offense jumped out to a stellar start in its first possession Friday, drawing first blood against Aledo in Bearcat Stadium in the annual non-district tilt.
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Bulldogs put big bite on Dublin
The Millsap Bulldogs captured their first win of the season in a big way, dominating the Dublin Lions, 56-0, Friday night at Bulldog Stadium.
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Area, state football - Week 1
Springtown jumps ahead in first half, tops Alvarado, 31-21
Staff Report
The Springtown Porcupines blanked the Indians in the first half at Alvarado Friday, while finding the end zone twice to take a 14-0 lead into the locker room. Adding another pair of scores in the third quarter, Pojo built an insurmountable lead, taking the non-district contest, 31-21.
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Local briefs - Sept. 5, 2010
Weatherford cross country teams take five individual medals at Saginaw meet
Staff Report
With the team results still being tabulated, Weatherford had a good showing Friday at Saginaw’s cross country meet, which featured some of the top teams in the region.
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Week 1 Game Capsules
Weatherford at Aledo
Time: 7:30 p.m., Friday
Site: Bearcat Stadium
1000 Bailey Ranch Road
Aledo, Tx.
Type: Non-district
Last year’s result: Weatherford 28, Aledo 27
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Kangaroos, Bearcats set to renew I-20 tilt on Friday
If there was a missing ingredient to the cross-county rivalry recipe between Weatherford and Aledo prior to last year, the Roos probably added the absent spice by blemishing the Bearcats’ 2009 state-championship season with its only loss, 28-27.
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Local briefs - Sept. 2, 2010
Roos runners show well at Haltom cross country relay event
Staff Report
The Weatherford High School cross country teams competed Haltom’s six-mile relay event last weekend, making a good showing. Teams were comprised of three members, running two miles each in the unique format.
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Lady Roos 'D' too much for Timber Creek
Plenty of fan-generated noise and Lady Roos-generated defense proved too much for Timber Creek’s Lady Falcons Tuesday, as the Lady Roos varsity displayed a defensive consistency solid enough to beat the visiting Keller team in three games.
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Poolville takes consolation in Dublin
The Poolville Lady Monarchs varsity volleyball team took the consolation prize at the Dublin Tornament last weekend, after defeating Saint Jo Friday night.
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Roos turn over early lead, fall to Buffs, 22-19
Weatherford fans who traveled to Birdville Stadium Friday night were treated to an opening half of Roos’ offense at its best, as quarterback Trooper Reynolds engineered a triad of scoring drives, unanswered by the Haltom Buffalos until Weatherford had built a 19-0 lead.
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