By TONY EIERDAM
JACKSBORO – Last season, the Mineral Wells Rams faced the Burkburnett Bulldogs in the playoffs and came away with a stunning upset victory over the state-ranked team.
The Rams had fallen by 40 points in an earlier meeting.
This year, the same scenario at the same place occurred again, yet the results were not the same. In January, Burkburnett had defeated the Rams by 31 points, but the Bulldogs were determined not to let 2012 happen all over again.
Paced by 25 points from Chavaz Jackson with 23 from Elijah Strickland, Burkburnett had little trouble in an 81-59 win over the Rams here Tuesday night in a Class 3A, Region I bi-district playoff game.
The Rams end the season with an overall record of 17-17.
Burkburnett (23-9) will advance to the area playoffs and face Liberty Hill.
The Rams jumped out to a 12-6 lead and led 12-9 after the first quarter.
However, Burkburnett got its offense on track with 27 points in the second period to take a 33-26 lead at the half.
The Bulldogs outscored the Rams 24-17 in the third period to take a 60-43 lead into the fourth quarter.
“In the first quarter we were contesting shots and they weren’t knocking them down,” Rams head coach Aaron Pappas said. “But I felt like they wore us down in the second half with their press.
“Our legs got tired and as a result our defense faltered a bit and they started knocking down threes.
“They went on a run and we couldn’t catch up.”
Pappas said he was proud of the intensity his team showed throughout the entire game.
“The effort is always there,” Pappas said. “I have never questioned that with this group.
“Some teams are simply more skilled than us, but I have never seen a team that is as resilient and works as hard as this group of guys.
“Burk has a great team and Coach (Danny) Nix is a great coach. I wish them the best of luck.”
It was also the final high school basketball games for MWHS seniors A.J. Williams, Ricky Scott, Ty Ashley, Jacoby Prestwood, Kevin Gregory and Rylie Hill.
“A.J. was a big part of what we did this year, and he was our leading rebounder (average of nine rebounds per game),” Pappas said. “I coached him when he was in seventh and eighth grade, and I also had him when I coached the junior varsity. He will be greatly missed.
“Ricky is another I coached at the JV and varsity levels, and he was a big part of our success. We will miss his inside presence.
“But we have other great senior kids like Jacoby, Kevin, Rylie and Ty Ashley. They are good kids with great attitudes who never complain.
“Ty,” Pappas continued, “is a guy who came up to varsity this year in his senior year and he was probably one of our most improved players. He had a couple of big games this year. We will miss Ty quite a bit.
“Also going to miss Rylie, who was our team prankster and a lot of fun to be around. I will miss all of these seniors. They meant the world to the program, and hopefully that will filter down to our younger players.”
MWHS 12 14 17 16 – 59
BHS 9 27 24 21 – 81
MWHS – DaShawn Hicks 21, A.J. Williams 13, Biren Clardy 9, Ricky Scott 4, Juvaree Sutton 4, , Mark Glover 3, Jacoby Prestwood 2, Rascellis Williams 2, Reece Tarver 1.
Local Sports
Contact Tony
Contact sports editor Tony Eierdam
at sports@mineralwellsindex.com.
Related Photos
-
Mineral Wells sophomore guard Biren Clardy puts up a jumper in a recent game. Burkburnett eliminated the Rams from the playoffs Tuesday night with an 81-59 win in the bi-district round. David May/Democrat
The Index welcomes comments. Inappropriate language or comments outside our standards will be removed.
Burkburnett puts Rams out in first round, 81-59
- Local Sports
-
-
Optimists, Ram football coaches team up for camp
The Mineral Wells Optimist Club is teaming up with Mineral Wells ISD’s Head Football Coach Chuck Lawrence and his coaching staff to host a football camp for students entering kindergarten through eighth grades.
-
Four Rams to play in all-star grid games
Four former Mineral Wells Rams football players will participate in two all-star games on Saturday.
-
Making his mark at next level
Perhaps the most prolific hitter in recent times at Mineral Wells High School, 2012 graduate Bryson Allen has kept his hitting prowess alive after a successful freshman season at Seward County Community College in Liberal, Kansas.
-
Mineral Wells Track Club preparing for summer meets
With Mineral Wells High School head cross country/track coach Jackie Harvey instructing recent Rams and Lady Rams track greats Lorenzo Johnson, Adrian Colbert and Maricela Castillo, and recently, current MWHS trackster DaShawn Hicks, one could say that incredible talent was the reason these four athletes qualified at the state level, with Johnson and Colbert earning state championships.
-
MWHS enjoyed another successful sports year in 2012-13
Mineral Wells ISD athletic director Chuck Lawrence said it best last week at the spring sports awards ceremony when he exclaimed that 2012-13 was “the second-best sports year in Mineral Wells High School history.”
-
Ten Santo Wildcats earn 10-A baseball honors
Ten players from the District 10 champion and regional quarterfinalist Santo Wildcats earned all-district honors in a vote of league coaches.
-
Gordon names former Longhorn Joe Kostiha as new head football coach
Gordon ISD superintendent Eric Hough has informed the Index that Alvarado defensive coordinator Joe Kostiha, a 1999 graduate of Gordon, has been named as the Longhorns new head football coach.
-
Tincher signs letter of intent with national juco baseball power Seminole College
Mineral Wells all-state left-handed pitcher Matt “Moose” Tincher signed a letter of intent last week to play baseball at Seminole College in Seminole, Okla.
-
Eleven Rams earn District 6-3A honors
Eleven Mineral Wells Rams earned All-District 6-3A baseball honors, including two who earned superlative awards, in a vote of league coaches.
-
Gordon hires new head football coach
Gordon ISD superintendent Eric Hough has informed the Index that Alvarado defensive coordinator Joe Kostiha, a 1999 graduate of Gordon, has been named as the Longhorns new head football coach.
- More Local Sports Headlines
-
Obama: 'Lives Have Been Saved' by NSA Programs
Obama: Friction in Afghan Talks No Surprise
Unusual Heat Wave Bakes Alaska
Raw: Massive Protests Fill Brazilian Streets
Raw: German President Welcomes President Obama
Fans Cheer Dramatic Heat Comeback
Raw: Arizona Wildfire Scorches 8 Square Miles
Hoffa Mystery Still Fascinates After 4 Decades
Raw: 1 Dead in Shooting at Mo. Apartment Complex
Raw: Huge Fire Near Yosemite National Park
3 Charged in Ohio With Enslaving Mom, Daughter
Raw: Volcano Erupts Near Mexico City
Kid Couture: Spending Big Bucks on Babies
Suicide Bombs Target Baghdad Mosque, Killing 29
Military Plans to Put Women in Combat Jobs
Solar Power Chargers in NYC Parks
Civil Rights Groups Sue NYPD Over Muslim Spying
RAW: NSA Director Says 50 Plots Foiled
