Sports

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.

INTERCEPTION: Ryan Worbington returns a first quarter interception to set up Hamilton’s first score of the ballgame. Staff photo/Chad Collett

Hamilton’s Lady Bulldog varsity and junior varsity volleyball squads wrapped up their regular season schedules in Bluff Dale on Tuesday of last week with straight set victories over the host Bobcats. The varsity Lady Bulldogs capped district competition with a 9-2 record, placing second behind only Tolar in the final District 11-2A standings. Hamilton’s district co-champion JV Lady Bulldogs finished with a 7-1 district record to share a seat with Tolar atop the final District 11-2A standings. Before entering the playoff fray, the varsity Lady Bulldogs were scheduled to travel to Holland on Tuesday of this week and will buss to Granbury this Saturday to scrimmage North Central Texas Academy at 10 a.m. Hamilton will face the third-placed representative out of District 12-2A in the first round of the playoffs. Final matches in District 12 were scheduled for Tuesday of this week. Depending on the outcomes of Tuesday’s District 12 matches, the Lady Bulldogs will more than likely face Bosqueville or Moody in a bi-district playoff match to be held at Lake Belton High School next Tuesday, November 2. Follow the Hamilton Herald-News and/or Hamilton High School Athletics on Facebook for playoff scheduling updates. Pictured (l-r) following their final district victory in Bluff Dale on Tuesday of last week, the District 11-2A runner-up Lady Bulldogs including Helena Knutson, Kelton Wright, Averi Poe, Karah Niemann, Brooklyn Bragg, Campbell Lengefeld, Jordyn Medina, Lily Emeyabbi, Fernanda Olalde, Addison Kelley, Cortland Mehaffey and Peyton Raibourn. Staff photo

REGIONAL MEDALISTS OUT OF THE GATES: Hamilton’s cross country runners are pictured muscling for rank as they fire off the Region II-2A XC Championships starting line versus the region’s top talent on Monday in Grand Prairie. Caleb Lengefeld (right), pictured running down the Region II-2A leader, Caden Thurman of Wolfe City, and Dawson Melde (553, far right) placed second and third respectively to earn individual top 10 medals for Hamilton at the Region II-2A XC Championships on Monday in Grand Prairie. Lengefeld and Melde were closely trailed by teammates Joseph Polster in 17th position, Hayden Blackwell 18th, Taylor Long 21st, Caden Hopper 40th and Cuyler Pearcy 46th out of the region’s top 111 competitors. The state-bound Bulldogs placed second in Grand Prairie with a score of 55 behind only Poolville with a team tally of 53. Staff photos/Lengefeld