Sports

BALLERZ- The seventh grade Lady Bulldogs captured a McGregor Tournament title, six hardcourt victories and suffered just two close losses leading up to the holiday break and will return on Thursday, Jan.

COMBINED FORCES- Hamilton’s 2021-22 combined seventh and eighth grade Lady Bulldog basketball team, pictured left, includes, on the back row (l-r), Aubrey Ensor, Austin Kleiner, Jocelyn Johnson, Jessi Harris, Rylei Massingill and Coach Kady Crow.

The Hamilton Bulldogs will enter the holidays with a winning 8-6 record. After tapping a 49-46 home victory over 3A Comanche on Tuesday of last week, the Dogs dropped a road contest to 3A Jim Ned last Friday and fell again on Monday in Clifton to the 3A Cubs, 48-43. Returning from the Christmas break, the varsity Dogs will compete in the Brownwood Tournament on December 28-30. District 12-2A competition will begin for the Dogs on Tuesday, January 4 in Itasca. The 2021-22 varsity Bulldogs pictured (l-r) on the back row include Chloe Dolloff, Baylyn Parrish, Keegan Votaw, Mason Guinn, Bryson Tarpley, Jaydon Watson and Emma Griffin. On the front row, Caden Hopper, Cooper LeGrande, Head Coach Ryan Marwitz, Sutton Lee and Chase Weaver.

After defeating Rio Vista handily to open district competition on Tuesday of last week, the varsity Lady Bulldogs earned a sizable 46-16 home victory over Frost on Friday for a 2-0 district start. The Lady Dogs dropped a contest to state-ranked 4A Glen Rose on Monday and will enter the Christmas break with a 7-10 overall record. Before returning to district competition in the New Year, the varsity Lady Bulldogs will compete in the Brownwood Tournament on December 28-30. The 2021-22 varsity Lady Bulldogs pictured (l-r) on the back row include Laurel Ann Elkins, Peyton Raibourn, Skylar Carr, Brooklyn Bragg, Kelton Wright, Karah Niemann, Cortland Mehaffey and Grace Killian. On the front row, Averi Poe, Kenedy Craig, Madison Henkes, Fernanda Olalde, Campbell Lengefeld and Josy McGregor. Not pictured, Head Coach Patrick Blount, Coach Cathe Allen and Coach O.J. Kemp.Photos by Tracy Cox

JV White: Hamilton’s junior varsity White squad picked up wins over 3A Comanche and 3A Jim Ned last week to improve to 6-3 on the season prior to the Christmas break. The young Dogs will tip-off district competition in the new year on January 4 in Itasca. Pictured (l-r) on the back row, Coach Andrew Heers, Evan Norwood, Cody Tawater, Maddox Stroud, Kazden Thedford, Bryce Bankston and Cason Glezman. On the front row, Konner Ford, Brayden Ford, Anthony Espitia, Rogelio Ibarra and Yeydy Rivas.

JV Lady Dogs: Hamilton’s junior varsity Lady Bulldogs improved to 6-6 on the year and 1-0 in district by dismantling the Rio Vista Lady Eagles on the road last week and will return to the hardcourt for a district contest in Itasca on Tuesday, January 4. Pictured (l-r), the 2021-22 junior varsity Lady Bulldogs including Laney Lane, Carlie Parrott, Kinsey Mizell, Coach Cathe Allen, Julie Henderson, Madison Henkes and Josy McGregor. Photo by Tracy Cox

JV Red: The JV Red Bulldogs are off to a hot start, posting a 10-3 record before the Christmas break. The Dogs trounced Comanche on Tuesday of last week, 48-27. After dropping a game on the road to Jim Ned last Friday, Hamilton’s JV Red bounced back on Monday to trounce Clifton, 45-24. Hamilton’s junior varsity squads will return to the hardcourt for district competition on January 4 in Itasca. Pictured (l-r) on the back row, Cole Bauman, Cuyler Pearcy, Logan Limmer, Garrett Guinn, Kade Parrish and Coach Howard Cox. On the front row, Ace Lane, Jaxon Edwards, Jan Martinez, Hayden Blackwell and Joe Polster. Not pictured, Mike Bushnell.

Youth vs. Experience

HOOPERS HELPING KIDS - In addition to hosting a three-day, 45-team basketball tournament last week, the Hamilton Bulldogs again collected hundreds of toys for the local Goodfellows charity and were assisted in their effort this year by Ann Whitney

45 teams converged on the hill last Thursday through Saturday for the annual Hamilton Bulldog Ted Jones Memorial Basketball Tournament.