Sports

GREAT SEASON - The District 11-2A runner-up Lady Bulldogs with a 9-2 district record traveled to Lake Belton High School on Tuesday of last week to face the state-ranked Bosqueville Lady Bulldogs in the first round of the playoffs. After falling behind two sets by scores of 16-25 and 21-25, Hamilton’s Lady Dogs fought back to force a fourth set with a come from behind 25-23 third set victory. Bosqueville prevailed in the fourth and advanced to face Lindsay in the area-round where they lost in three sets. Pictured (l-r), the bi-district qualifying Lady Bulldog volleyball team including Coach O.J. Kemp, Coach Katie Emeyabbi, Head Coach Andrew Heers, Chloe Dolloff, Clementine Cooper, Laney Lane, Jordyn Medina, Karah Niemann, Lily Emeyabbi, Cortland Mehaffey, Kelton Wright, Campbell Lengefeld, Fernanda Olalde, Averi Poe, Addison Kelley, Brooklyn Bragg and Coach Cathe Allen. Kneeling on the front row, Ashlynn Cozby, Helena Knutson, Rosalinda Gutierrez, Peyton Raibourn and Kassidy Collett. Staff photo

STATE MEDALISTS - After setting a Hamilton High School boys’ record with a fourth in state finish last season, the 2021 Hamilton Bulldog cross country team shattered that bar on Saturday by placing second overall as a team at the Texas UIL State Cross Country Championships in Round Rock. In his fourth state appearance in as many years, senior Caleb Lengefeld led the Bulldog rush with a ninth in state individual finish, traversing the approximate threemile state course in a time of 17 minutes flat. Fellow all-region and all-state runner, Dawson Melde, claimed a top 25 finish, crossing the line in a time of 17:24 to place 23rd overall. In 28th place, Cuyler Pearcy clocked a 17:31 trailed by Hayden Blackwell in 46th position, Joseph Polster 53rd, Caden Hopper 63rd and Taylor Long 92nd out of the state’s top 147 2A runners. Pictured (l-r) during an awards ceremony following the state competition, the 2021 state runner-up Hamilton Bulldogs including Head Coach Brandun Massingill, Hunter Mize, Ben Cooper, Jaydon Watson, Cuyler Pearcy, Joseph Polster, Hayden Blackwell, Caden Hopper, Taylor Long, Dawson Melde, Caleb Lengefeld, John Polster, Garrison Blackwell and Coach Patick Blount. Staff photo

The Lady Bulldogs celebrate following an exciting come from behind third set victory over Bosqueville during a bi-district volleyball match played at Lake Belton High School on Tuesday of last week. Staff photo

Hamilton’s junior varsity Bulldogs were unable to close out their season on the gridiron last Friday night due to Bosqueville’s inability to field an 11-man JV squad. The young Dogs posted a winning 6-2-1 record this year and will join the varsity Bulldog squad as they face Italy in the bi-district round of the playoffs in Robinson this Thursday evening at 7 p.m. Though Hamilton’s seventh grade squad fell in Bosqueville last Thursday 36-14, they also stamped a winning 4-3-1 record in their inaugural season. An eighth grade ballgame played last Thursday evening in Bosqueville pitted the unbeaten Hamilton Bulldogs against the undefeated host Bulldogs. Hamilton claimed an early 22-6 lead and narrowly missed punching the ball into the endzone in the final minutes inside the ten yard line to claim victory, eventually falling to Bosqueville 34-30 to finish the season with an impressive 7-1 record. Seventh grade Bulldogs pictured (l-r) on the front row include Anthony Aleman, Jaden Tedford, Riley Ford, Kennon Lee, Jacob Dearing and Izmael Alaniz. Middle row-Vanden Phillips, Jordan Najera, Jayce Couch, Douglas Nix, Kasen Fry, Ethan Kalbas and Kellan Craig. Back row-Cooper Turner, Tucker Ondrusek, Laken Lasater, Colton DeLaGarza, Daniel Olalde and Nick LaLonde. Not pictured-Cooper Gardner, Jake Gutierrez, Jonathan Frederick and team manager Tomas Marquez. The district runner-up eighth grade Bulldogs pictured (l-r) on the front row include Carson Roberts, Isaiah Schultz, Alex Perez, Blaise Gesick, Brayden Bartley, Dixon Kellner and Lawson Yates. Middle row-Bret Bauman, Dylan Price, Noah Staar, Judson Coalson, Halston Haile and Grant Bauman. Back row-Caleb Allen, Colter Johnson, Pierce Summers, Trint Jeschke, Luke York and Mills Mehaffey. Not pictured-Josh Stone, Jacob Perry, Ben Ivey and Henry Ivey.

PLAYOFF TROT - Evant’s Lady Elk volleyball team advanced to the playoffs after finishing ahead of Three Way and Bluff Dale in district to earn a first round playoff bye. On Friday, the Lady Elks fell in an area-round playoff match played in Mineral Wells versus Nocona’s Prairie Valley High School in three sets by scores of 25-23, 25-11 and 25-19. Area-qualifying Lady Elks pictured (l-r) prior to a home game earlier in the season include Emileigh Burton, Izzy Gandy, Molly Waldrum, Luwi Rodriguez, Hailey Neri, Caeleigh Burkham, Bree Ramirez, Chastity Logan and Harley Weeks. Staff photo

Friday was a special day for the four remaining seniors of the 1952 Lady Bulldog State Champion Basketball team.

Hamilton's Lady Bulldog volleyball team was scheduled to shift into high gear on Tuesday of this week for a first round playoff match versus stateranked Bosqueville. The bi-district round showdown was to be hosted by Lake Belton High School at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

Hamilton's Bulldog XC team followed up a District 12 title run by placing second overall for the second consecutive year behind only Poolville at the Region II-2A Championships held in Grand Prairie last week.

Beginning at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, directly following the National Anthem and directly before the Bulldog boys' state XC run, Hamilton's storied Lady Bulldog XC team will once again be represented at the State XC Championships at Old Settler's Park near Dell Diamond in Round Rock.

The playoff bound Hamilton Bulldogs bid the Rio Vista Eagles a Schwarzenegger farewell last Friday night. Landing a 28-6 knockout punch, the Bulldogs relegated Rio Vista to a 1-5 in district and 3-6 record on the year, effectively bringing the host Eagles’ football season to an end.