Sports

The Van Lady Vandals and Canton Eaglettes renewed their longstanding rivalry last week, clashing in a contest that could go a long way towards determining the final outcome of this year’s District 16-4A title race. Van would go on to deliver one of its best efforts of the season against the Eaglettes, weathering a late rally to score a hard-fought 45-42 overtime win.

sports@vanzandtnews.com The Wills Point Lady Tigers have been a team on a mission since the start of district play, rebounding from a slow start to the season to power their way into playoff contention. That trend continued last week as Wills Point easily turned back the Nevada Community Lady Braves Jan. 3 to score a 47-33 win.

The Martins Mill Lady Mustangs kicked off their quest for another district championship and a spot in this year’s UIL Playoffs last week, taking on longtime rivals LaPoynor and Kerens in their first two District 19-2A games of the season.

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The Van Lady Vandals kept themselves in the thick of this year’s District 16-4A race last week, notching double-digit wins over both Mabank and Athens to stay within one game of chief rival Canton. The Lady Vandals first hit the court Jan.

While the District 8-4A, Division 2, District Champion and Class 4A, Division, 2, State Champion Carthage Bulldogs dominated the ‘Superlative’ awards, the Van Vandals and the Canton Eagles were well represented on the District 8-4A, Division 2, All-District Football Team released earlier this month.

sports@vanzandtnews.com The Wills Point Tigers hit the court just once over the past week, maintaining their perfect record in district play with a 64-48 rout of the Nevada Community Braves Jan. 3.

District play returned for both the Canton Eagles and Eaglettes this past week, as both teams handily defeated an unfamiliar foe, Cumberland Academy, in home matchups on Friday, Jan. 6.

Kris Dike, a former Van Vandal offensive tackle, will be among those suiting up for the TCU Horned Frogs in their NCAA National Championship football game Monday, Jan. 9 against the defending National Champion University of Georgia Bulldogs at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

The Howard Payne University athletic department announced the naming of current assistant head coach Kevin Bachtel as the next head coach to guide the Yellow Jacket football program Dec. 17.