Sports

ALL-DISTRICT VOLLEYBALL - District 11-2A released all-district honors last week and nine Hamilton Lady Bulldogs were commended for their performance on the court and in the classroom. Brooklyn Bragg was named the district’s Defensive Most Valuable Player, and Campbell Lengefeld was selected as the Setter of the Year. Jordyn Medina was touted as the Co-Libero of the Year. Other Lady Bulldogs receiving first team all-district nods were Fernanda Olalde, Cortland Mehaffey and Lily Emeyabbi. Second team accolades were bestowed upon Averi Poe and Karah Niemann, and Addison Kelley received honorable mention recognition. All nine Lady Bulldogs made the District 11-2A Academic Team. Pictured (l-r), Lady Bulldog all-district volleyball award recipients including Campbell Lengefeld, Cortland Mehaffey, Brooklyn Bragg, Lily Emeyabbi, Jordyn Medina, Averi Poe, Karah Niemann, Fernanda Olalde and Addison Kelley.

BRACKET BUSTERS - The eighth grade Lady Bulldogs swept the competition in the McGregor Junior High Basketball Tournament on Saturday, earning lopsided victories over Valley Mills, Waco Reicher and McGregor to claim the championship. The eighth grade Lady Dogs and a combined seventh and eighth grade Lady Bulldog basketball team opened the season in Rio Vista the previous Monday. Hamilton’s combined squad toppled their host by a score of 19-16, and the eighth graders dismantled Rio Vista, 45-6. Hamilton’s junior high Lady Bulldogs were scheduled to host Frost on Monday of this week, and the HJH boys’ basketball teams were set to open their season on the road in Frost. Eighth grade McGregor Tournament Champions pictured (l-r) on the back row include Coach O.J. Kemp, Kate Lengefeld, Anna Pearcy, Henlee Wagner and Addison Massingill. On the front row, Kayla Tawater, Destini Ranaghan, Austin Kleiner and Emery Parrott. Staff photos

TALL ORDER - Hamilton’s Lady Bulldog high school basketball teams opened the season at home on Tuesday of last week with consecutive wins over 3A Whitney. The junior varsity Lady Dogs dunked the Lady Wildcats by a decisive 27-9 score, and the varsity Lady Dogs outlasted Whitney in a combative 33-31 season opener. On Saturday, the varsity Lady Dogs fell 64-39 on the road to 23rd-ranked in 3A Little River Academy. The Lady Bulldogs will remain home this week to host the Hamilton Invitational Basketball Tournament on Thursday through Saturday and will travel next Tuesday to San Saba for a JV game at 5 p.m. followed by the varsity at 6:15. HHS Bulldog basketball is scheduled to tipoff in Millsap this Friday with games beginning at 5 p.m. Next Monday, the JV Dogs will host Hico at 10 a.m. followed by the varsity boys at 11:15, and on Tuesday, the Dogs will travel to San Saba for an 11:15 a.m. JV game and a varsity match at 1:30 p.m. Pictured, Skylar Carr (15) dribbles off the block after snagging a defensive rebound. Staff photos

TOURNAMENT CHAMPS - Hamilton’s seventh grade Lady Bulldog basketball team tipped off the seasoan with a buzzer beating 28-26 home victory over Goldthwaite on Monday of last week. Returning to the hardcourt on Saturday, the young Lady Dogs trounced Valley Mills, Waco Reicher and McGregor on their way to earning a McGregor Tournament title. Pictured (l-r) with Coach Brandun Massingill and their tournament championship plaque, seventh grade Lady Bulldogs (back row) Cate Hooper, Bethany Thompson, Anna Claire Cooper and Masyn Raibourn. On the front row, Kiree Solis, Addyson Clowdus, Piper Hanson and Harper Lengefeld.

For the second consecutive year, Bulldog cross country runners Caleb Lengefeld and Dawson Melde have been named to the 2A all-state cross country team by the Cross Country Coaches Association of Texas. The pair of Bulldog seniors both received all-region honors as well. The Brandun Massingill coached Bulldogs followed up a fourth in state performance in 2020 with a state runners-up finish this year. Lengefeld placed second overall at the Region II-2A XC Championships in Grand Prairie to stamp his third trek to state in as many years, and he led the Dogs in Round Rock by placing ninth overall at the state competition. Melde followed up a District 12-2A individual championship run with a third overall regional finish and a 23rd individual placement at the state meet. Pictured (l-r) traversing the state course in Round Rock, two time all-state Bulldog runners, Caleb Lengefeld and Dawson Melde.

BIG PLAY - Down 14-0 early in the second quarter versus Italy in a bi-district playoff game played in Robinson on Thursday of last week, a pair of Bulldog sophomores clapped back for perhaps the biggest play of the game for the Hamilton Bulldogs. Pictured, Reese Hungerford (left) flatbacks Italy QB Jaydon Saxon, jarring the ball loose at midfield. Kevin Smythe (below) is pictured scooping the fumble before reversing field 46 yards for the first of two touchdowns scored by the Bulldogs in a 44-13 loss to the Italy Gladiators.

LEADING RUSHER - Senior Taylor Long (10), pictured following the lead blocking of C.J. DeLeon (5), found the endzone for the eleventh time of the season during the fourth quarter of Hamilton’s bi-district playoff game versus Italy last Thursday evening. Long rushed for an astounding 1,015 yards and 11 touchdowns on 143 ball carries during his senior year. Long eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark in five of Hamilton’s 11 games, helping lead the Bulldogs to a winning 6-5 record. Staff/Hinton

RETURN SPECIALIST - Senior Austin Clark (1), pictured navigating the sideline in Robinson last Thursday evening, registered 80 yards on four kick returns versus Italy. In addition to providing Hamilton’s running and passing games a shot in the arm all season, Clark recorded 370 return yards on 12 kick returns for an average of 31 yards per return this year. Clark returned two kicks back for touchdowns this season, including a 79-yard return against Bangs and a 73- yard return versus Moody.

AIR RAID - Senior quarterback Keegan Votaw (11) connected with sophomore wideout Cooper LeGrande (22) on six occasions versus Italy for a total of 114 yards. LeGrande snagged a team leading 21 receptions for 441 yards and four touchdowns in 2021, including 11 catches for 168 yards receiving in the final two ballgames of the season. Staff/Hinton