Sports

Varsity boys’ basketball teams in Van, Edgewood, and Grand Saline saw their dreams of a potential state championship run come to a close recently. The Van Vandals lost to the Paris North Lamar Panthers, 52-43, Feb.

Five members of the Van Vandal football team that advanced to the Class 4A, Division 2 State Quarterfinals during the 2024 season with an overall record of 10-4 were recently named to the Texas Sportswriters Association (TSWA) All-State Football Team.

The opportunity to advance in the Class 3A state basketball playoffs did not happen for the Canton Eagles Feb. 25 as they lost their third-round game to Sanger, 44-36, in Farmersville ending Canton’s season with an 18-18 overall record.

The Edgewood Bulldogs were impressive in their bi-district round matchup in the Class 3A state basketball playoffs as they easily took care of the Arp Tigers, 60-41, Feb. 18.

In a hard-fought contest that went down to the wire, the Grand Saline Indians edged Troup, 63-62, in the bi-district round of the Class 3A state basketball playoffs. Landon Mayne led four players in double figure scoring for the Indians with 18 points followed by Preston Hass with 12, and Blane Thompson and Weston Akins with 10 points each.

The Van Vandals improved their season record to 2112 with an impressive 68-47 victory over the Chapel Hill Bulldogs in the bi-district round of the Class 4A state basketball playoffs Feb. 18 in Tyler.

The defending Class 2A State Champion Martins Mill Lady Mustangs continue to dominate in post-season play as they whipped Reisel and Tenaha to advance to the Class 2A Regional Finals. Against Tenaha Feb.

The number-one ranked team in the state in Class 2A boys basketball, the Martins Mill Mustangs, had few problems in their bi-district game Feb. 17 as they blew past Latexo, 74-43.

Van Zandt County will be well represented when the boys’ state basketball playoffs begin this week with the bi-district round. The Grand Saline Indians will meet the Troup Tigers in a Class 3A bi-district game Feb.

The Wills Point Lady Tigers got off to a strong start in post-season play Feb. 11 as they outlasted Paris, 31-27. The Lady Tigers were led in scoring by Maddy Allen with 10 points. The Lady Tigers advanced to the Area round of the Class 4A state playoffs against Mabank Feb. 13 in Canton, but results were not available at press time.