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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.

As a decorated outside hitter for the Hamilton High School volleyball team and a two-time state track and field qualifier in pole vault, HHS senior Lily Emeyabbi has plans to continue being a multi-sport student-athlete while in college. Emeyabbi signed her letter of intent during a ceremony held in the Larry Eilers Gymnasium last Thursday to both pole vault and play volleyball for the Southwestern Assemblies of God University Lions in Waxahachie beginning this fall semester. Emeyabbi (center) was surrounded (l-r) at the table by her father Aaron, brothers Ryan and Kobey, sister Brynn and mother Katie as she signed her letter of intent. Staff photo/Kim Hinton

For the second consecutive powerlifting meet in as many weeks, Nik Adams was named the Outstanding Heavyweight Lifter last Thursday in Hico. Adams lifted a combined total of 1435 pounds in three events during Hamilton’s first competition in Dublin two weeks ago to earn the title, and last Thursday in Hico, the Bulldog junior squatted 600 pounds, deadlifted 565 and bench pressed 350 for a total of 1515 pounds, again besting the entire field of 74 competitors across all divisions. Also competing in the 275-pound weight class in Hico, Adams’ teammate Mills Mehaffey placed second in the division by hoisting a combined total of 1120 pounds, including a squat of 415, a bench press of 300 and a deadlift of 405. Tucker Ondrusek placed seventh in the 220-pound weight class after squatting 225, benching 185 and deadlifting 300 for a combined total of 710 pounds. Competing as one of the lighter competitors in the 181-pound weight class, Kennon Lee placed ninth out of 12 lifters by squatting 295, bench pressing 185 and deadlifting 315 for a total of 795 pounds. As the smallest lifter in the 123-pound division, Jake Gutierrez weighed in at 115.3 pounds and placed sixth in the division by pumping a total of 555 pounds of iron, including a squat of 175, a bench press of 130 and a deadlift of 250. Hamilton’s Bulldog powerlifters are scheduled to compete next in the Comanche Invitational on Thursday, Feb. 8. Pictured during the squat competition in Hico last week, Nik Adams and Mills Mehaffey earned individual overall gold and silver medals in the 275-pound weight division, and Adams was again recognized as the top heavyweight performer.