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The varsity Hamilton Bulldogs were scheduled to enter the back stretch of District 12-2A competition this week, beginning with a game on Tuesday in Italy and a road matchup with Valley Mills this Friday at 7:30 p.m. The Bulldogs will return home next Tuesday for a senior night showdown with Frost at 7:30 p.m. Two seniors, including Jacob Eanes and Evan Norwood-Hall, will be recognized prior to tipoff. Following last week’s district action in which the Dogs earned a crucial 52-50 home victory over Itasca and fell in Hamilton to now 5-0 district leader Rio Vista by a score of 58-36, the District 12-2A landscape remains malleable. By hammering Itasca on Tuesday of last week, the Bulldogs took a half game lead over the Wampus Cats. Entering this week, the 3-2 Dogs and 3-2 Cats were residing in second and third positions, with 2-3 Italy and 2-3 Frost battling for the fourth chair. At 0-5, Valley Mills remains in the District 12 cellar. Despite carrying a comfortable 41-34 lead into the final stanza versus Itasca on Tuesday of last week, the Bulldogs were forced to hold on for a nail-biting 5250 victory. The Dogs were paced by sophomore big man Pierce Summers who slammed down a team-leading 15 points and seven rebounds. Junior guards Mike Bushnell and Jaxon Edwards each dialed in for a pair of successful three-point attempts and scored 10 points apiece, and fellow junior marksman Rogelio Ibarra knocked down eight points from the floor. Devin Eanes chalked five, and sophomore Colter Johnson posted four points and five rebounds. On Friday in Hamilton, the Bulldogs kept the usually high-flying Rio Vista Eagles grounded in the first quarter, outpacing their opponent 15-10 in the opening frame. Rio Vista proceeded to outflank the Dogs 48-21 during the subsequent three quarters to stamp a final 58-36 victory. Bushnell led the Dogs offensively with 12 points scored and was trailed by Edwards with 10 points and a team-leading five rebounds. Summers dished four assists, grabbed four boards and planted another four on the scoreboard. Ibarra also charted four points scored and was trailed by Jacob Eanes and Colter Johnson with two apiece. Pictured, sophomore Devin Eanes (12) looks to drop a dime while pushing the ball up the court, and junior point guard Rogelio Ibarra (1) facilitates the offense from the top of the key.

In just their second competition of the season, Hamilton’s Lady Bulldog powerlifting team placed third out of eight teams last Thursday during the Hico Invitational behind only 3A Comanche and 3A Dublin and ahead of Bangs, De Leon, Willow Park Trinity Christian Academy, Hico and Tolar, respectively. Hannah Bell was Hamilton’s only blue ribbon winner, placing first in her division by elevating 850 total pounds in three events. Bell raised 290 pounds in the squat competition, 225 pounds on the bench and another 335 pounds in the deadlift. Jessie Harris claimed one of Hamilton’s three silver medals, finishing behind Bell with a total of 620 pounds lifted, including a 235-pound squat, 105-pound bench press and a 280-pound deadlift. Amalia Knutson earned second in her division by squatting 270, benching 160 and deadlifting 280 for a total of 710 pounds. Her sister, Helena, placed third in her weight class after squatting a total of 235, bench pressing 185 and deadlifting 245 for a total of 665 pounds lifted and was trailed by Kayden Hudson in fourth with a grand total of 530 pounds lifted in three events. Hamilton’s third silver medal was earned by Emily Najera. Najera pushed up 710 total pounds, including a squat of 290, a bench press of 135 and a deadlift of 285. Also earning points for the Lady Dogs was Kara Baker who placed third individually in her weight class after boosting a total of 370 pounds. Baker squatted 145, benched 60 and deadlifted 165. With a lift total of 495, Alianne Downs placed ninth in her division and was trailed by Jaileigh Young in 11th-position with a total of 465 and Ellaina Smith in 12th with a total of 430 pounds lifted. Hamilton’s only other competitor, Morgan Finch, unfortunately bombed out while attempting to go for a personal best.