Sports

NINE IN A LINE: The fourth in state-ranked Lady Bulldogs, according to the Cross Country Coaches’ Association of Texas, placed all nine of their runners in the top 15 at the Mona Gloff Invitational in Hamilton on Wednesday of last week to earn another XC team gold. Pictured (l-r) with Mona Gloff prior to their gold medal performance, Gloff, Fernanda Olalde (9th), Madison Henkes (6th), Mia Coker (15th), Grace Carson (8th), Kaatje Jarrell (11th), Cortland Mehaffey (14th), Ashtyn Hansard (13th), Campbell Lengefeld (2nd) and Grace Killian (7th). Staff photo

PLAYOFF BOUND: The Lady Bulldogs have locked down a playoff bid with two district games scheduled for this week and a final senior night showdown with district foe Bluff Dale in Hamilton next Tuesday at 6 pm. The JV Red and varsity volleyball squads were set to host Hico on Tuesday, and all three high school teams will play in Tolar on Friday with the varsity beginning at 4 pm followed by junior varsity matches at 5 and 6. The Lady Dogs outlasted Evant on the road in five sets by scores of 25- 19, 21-25, 18-25, 25-16 and 15-6 on Tuesday of last week and proceeded to clean up in Hico versus Three Way on Saturday in three decisive sets by scores of 25-6, 25-11 and 25-9. Last week’s two victories moved Hamilton to 13-7 on the year and 8-1 in district. A win over Hico on Tuesday would give the Lady Dogs an opportunity to play Tolar for a share of the District 11-2A title. If Hamilton succeeds in knocking off the Lady Rattlers, a rubber match will be scheduled to determine the outright champion. Pictured (l-r), Emiley Hale, Macie Parrish and Kelton Wright protect the net as Morgan Mehaffey pushes the ball over a pair of Tolar defenders in a match versus the Lady Rattlers in Hamilton during the first round of district competition. Staff photo

As the seventh and eighth grade Bulldogs each moved to 2-0 on the young season last Thursday evening at Kooken Field, the HJH cheerleaders took to the sidelines for just the second time of the year. Hamilton’s seventh grade Dogs defeated DeLeon 28-26, and the eighth grade Bulldogs defeated Valley Mills 42-6 to remain unbeaten in district competition. Pictured (l-r) Thursday evening at Kooken Field, HJH cheerleaders Kinsey Mizell, Destini Ranaghan, Julie Henderson, Emery Parrott, Kaitlyn Walton, Lexie Ward, Clementine Cooper, Presley Long, Laney Lane, Aubrey Ensor and Spike, aka Addison Massingill.