Sports

The Grand Saline Indians aced their first test of District 12-3A play this week, tangling twice with the Prairiland Patriots in a home-and –home series. Grand Saline would win both contests, getting off to a strong start in their chase for a spot in this year’s postseason.

The Van Vandals rolled out the red carpet last week, playing host to teams from across the area for this year’s Van Tournament March 9-11. The Vandals would acquit themselves well over the three-day event, going 3-1-1 overall.

The Grand Saline powerlifting program made its way to Arp March 10, squaring off against some of the top 3A programs from across the area at this year’s Region 3 Division 3 Meet. The Indians would more than hold their own at the event, qualifying two lifters for the Class 3A State Meet while finishing sixth overall out of 34 competing teams.

The Grand Saline Lady Indians hit the most critical stretch of their season on Tuesday night, kicking off District 12-3A play against visiting Commerce. The game would ultimately not be much of a contest as Hannah Aaron delivered a standout pitching performance an the Grand Saline offense scored multiple runs in every inning played on their way to a 15-0 shutout win.

The Wills Point Lady Tigers basketball program enjoyed a major resurgence during the 2022-’23 season, finding the right mix of standout veterans and newcomers to end what had become a lengthy playoff drought.

DAVID KAPITAN sports@vanzandtnews.com The Edgewood Lady Dogs had their hands full this week, crossing paths with an Emory Rains program known for making deep playoff runs to open District 12-3A play. Rains would live up to its pre-game billing, getting a dominant pitching performance and timely hitting on their way to an 11-0 shutout win of the Lady Dogs.

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Martins Mill and the UIL State Basketball Tournament have become inextricably linked over the past two decades with the Lady Mustangs powering their way to either the University of Texas in Austin or the Alamodome in San Antonio 16 times since the 2005-’06 season.

DAVID KAPITAN sports@vanzandtnews.com The Edgewood Bulldogs recorded their most hard fought win of the season March 6, storming back from a sizeable early deficit to edge Kemp 10-7 March 6. The Yellowjackets appeared to be well on their way to a runaway win early in the contest, plating six in the home half of the first and, after Edgewood scored two runs of its own, one more run in the bottom of the third to take a 7-2 lead over the Bulldogs.

Lifters representingVan Zandt County’s three largest school districts, Canton, Van and Wills Point, made their way to Eustace High School March 4 to compete for a chance to advance to the Class 4A State Powerlifting Meet.