Bloomfield, Missouri – Bloomfield High School celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the back-to-back Final 4 Basketball seasons of 1965 and 1966 on Friday evening at their Homecoming festivities.
They honored cheerleaders Bonnie Blue, Carolyn Whitledge Brown, Janice Asbell Aslin, and Brenda Graham Johnson. From the 1964-1965 basketball team Mick Aslin, Rodney Bullinger, Danny Gaines, Dennis Gillespie, Phil Johnson, Allen Lafferty, Ron McAdoo, Mike McCollum, David Pounds, Dale Underwood, Ron Underwood, Bill White, Ron White, Mike Wise, Head Coach Tom Hewgley, Assistant Coach Charlie Spoonhour, and scorekeeper Lonnie Hutchison.
This season, the Bloomfield Wildcats finished first in the Bernie Tournament, Bloomfield Christmas Tournament, and the Stoddard County Tournament. In the regional Tournament, they defeated Risco, Bernie, Doniphan, and Richland by an average of 64 points to advance to the Class M State Tournament.
At State, they defeated Ester 77-50, Advance 53-47, before losing to eventual state champion Buffalo by just 3 points 52-55.
The Wildcats responded by defeating Owensville 76-44 to capture 3rd place in State and completing the greatest season in wildcat Basketball History with 34 wins and 2 losses.
Individual honors for the 1964-1965 season went to Dennis Gillespie – All County, Ron Underwood – All County, Mike Wise – All County, Ron White – All-County and 1st Wildcat to be selected to the All-State Team.
The following 1965-1966 roster saw a blend of new and familiar faces. Those honored were Lanny Bell, Andy Bullinger, Terry Chasteen, Phil Johnson, Mike McCollum, David Pounds, Tom Rainwater, Dave Swindell, Doyle Swindell, Dennis Underwood, Don Underwood, Bill White, Don Williams, Glen Williamson, Mike Wise, Head Coach Tom Hewgley, Assistant Coach Charlie Spoonhour, and scorekeeper Lonnie Hutchison.
This season the Wildcats repeated with winning the Bernie Tournament, the Bloomfield Christmas Tournament and the Stoddard County Tournament.
In Regional Tournament they defeated Doniphan, Quilin, Malden, and Greenville to secure back-to-back trips to the Class M State Tournament. Mike Wise also set a 4 game regional record scoring 122 points for an average of 30.5 points per game.
At state they found themselves again in the 3rd place game, eventually losing to Booneville 51-52 to place 4th. They finished the season with 32 wins and 3 losses capping off the greatest 2-year run in Wildcat Basketball history.
Individual honors for the 1965-1966 season went to Phillip Johnson – All District, Andy Bullinger – All District, Donnie Underwood – All County, and Mike Wise – All County, All District and the second Wildcat selected to the All-State Team.
The Wildcats were guided from 1963-1967 by Coach Tom Hewgley and Assistant Coach Charlie Spoonhour. During their tenure the Wildcats complied a record of 112 wins and 19 losses, a winning percentage of .855. They are still the winningest coaches in school history to date.
Walnut Ridge, Ark. – With the spring season fast approaching, the Williams Baptist College baseball team is looking towards a successful 2015. The squad is made of a mixture of returners, transfer students and has added a talented class of freshmen.
“I have been very pleased with our fall and now early spring practices,” said Head Coach Frank Lee, who is entering his fourth season as the head Eagle.
Williams returns six seniors to the 2015 team. Jon Coburn, Blake Coffman, Cogan Ford, Kyle Hooker, Paul Keen and Mitchell Wallace will all be looked upon to provide leadership.
Coffman has started at second base the past three seasons and has hit over .300 in all three years. Ford led the team in home runs last season with four in 108 at-bats, while Keen led the team with 37 strikeouts on the mound.
"We will rely on our six seniors and their experiences should help us throughout the year,” added Lee.
In addition to the senior leadership, Williams has brought in newer talent to help supplement the squad and give the team much needed depth.
"We have several freshmen who will have the opportunity to earn playing time and contribute. With them, as well as a number of junior college transfers and underclassmen with significant playing time in previous years, we should have a solid season,” Lee noted.
Williams will open its season on the road in Cedar Hill, Texas, against Arlington Baptist College with a four game weekend set. First pitch is scheduled for Friday, February 6th, at 12:00 p.m.
The first home game for the Eagles will be against in-state foe Central Baptist College on Friday, February 13th.
To stay informed on all Eagles and Lady Eagles athletics, visit www.wbceagles.com.
Jackson, Missouri – The Lady ‘Cats dug a hole early with the Crusaders jumping out to a 14 point lead in the first quarter and never recovered.
Saxony Lutheran scored the first 11 points and jumped ahead 18-4 by the end of the first quarter. The Cats never led securing the Crusader’s 53-44 victory.
“Really the whole difference of the game was the fist quarter. Those first three or four minutes of the ball game sets the tone and we have got to be more aggressive and more active from the field,” commented Dexter head girls basketball coach Chad Allen. “It was hard to come back down 14 to start the game, but they did a great job battling back and we definitely owned the last three quarters.”
Krysten Garrison got taken out early in the game receiving her third foul in the second quarter and her fourth foul in the beginning of the second half. Dakota Reynolds picked up her third foul in the third quarter and fouled out with over four minutes left in the fourth quarter.
“We definitely got in a little big of foul trouble,” stated Allen. “Garrison had a target on her back and it seemed like every time she was out there she was getting a foul. Taking her out of our line-up does hurt us offensively.”
Hannah Thurmon, a freshman, recorded a team-high 18 points for the Bearcats. Melanie McKuin tallied 10 points.
“I thought Hannah did a great job tonight,” continued Allen. “They are big and physical on the inside and she pounded right after them. She made some good shots for us. I am really glad the girls hung in there and didn’t quit.”
In JV action Saxony Lutheran JV defeated Dexter 50 – 35.
Dexter (11-8) will host Naylor on Thursday, February 5, 2015 at the Bearcat Event Center. The JV game will be two quarters only and the varsity game will follow. Game time is 6:00 p.m.
Final Score Saxony Lutheran 53, Dexter 44
Saxony Lutheran 18 10 12 13 - 53
Dexter 4 14 12 14 - 44
Bloomfield, Missouri – The Wildcats hosted the Bell City Cubs Tuesday evening and improved their record to 12-8 with a 59-36 victory!
Bloomfield led by 11 points at the end of the first quarter. Their biggest lead in the game in the 3rd quarter when they outscored the Cubs 23 - 5.
“We were able to catch Bell City at a good time,” commented Bloomfield coach Jason Karnes. “They were short a few kids, but they came in here and played really hard. We had a sluggish first half, but were able to pick it up defensively the second half and that led to some good possessions the other way for us.”
Tyler Battles paced the Wildcats with a team-high 14 points including one trey.
Austin Bond and Noah Vandiver each added 11 points for Bloomfield. Caleb Pulley hit one 3-pointer!
Cole Nichols hit three treys for the Cubs. He finished with a game-high 18 points. Nate Finney finished with 12 points including two 3-pointers.
“We have a big conference game on Friday against a good Puxico team,” stated Karnes. Bloomfield (12-8) will host the Puxico Indians. Game time 6:00 p.m.
Final Score Bloomfield 59, Bell City 36
Bell City 5 13 5 13 - 36
Bloomfield 16 8 23 12 - 59
Bell City (36) – Nate Finney 12, Cole Nichols 18, Logan Yates 3, Jesse Smith 2, Peyton Maddox 1. FG 12, FT 7/15, F 21. (3-pointers: Finney 2, Nichols 3. Fouled Out: Brandon Abner).
Bloomfield (59) – Caleb Pulley 5, Peyton Bell 2, Nathan Newell 8, Austin Bond 11, Tyler Battles 14, Noah Vandiver 11, Alex Gibbs 6, Nate Cazee 2. FG 18, FT 21/28, F 19. (3-pointers: Pulley 1, Battles 1. Fouled Out: Gibbs).
Jon Rodgers was awarded first place in the heavyweight division.
Chance Jarrell earned 2nd place in the 182 lb weight class.
Blake Bolin earned 3rd place in the 182 lb weight class.
Christian Yarber took 3rd place in the 195 lb weight class division and Cory Holland earned a 3rd place medal in the 220 lb weight class division.
Shown in the photo from left to right: Chance Jarrell, Christian Yarber, Jon Rodgers, Blake Bolin, and Cory Holland.
The varsity and junior varsity wrestlers will host a match on Thursday, February 5th at 6:00 p.m. in the Dexter High School gym. It is Senior Night! Cape Girardeau, Poplar Bluff, and Kennett will be in attendance! Should be a great night of BEARCAT Wrestling!!
Congratulations gentlemen on a job well done!
