Wildcats Enter Playoffs Following District Championship; Survive and Advance
There was a lot for the Wildcats’ basketball team to celebrate Tuesday night. They wrapped up a rare district championship with a 78-45 win over Hallsville. The Wildcats completed district play with an 11-1 record. The Wildcats will play Lovejoy or West Mesquite in a bi-district game next week. Coach Clark Cipoletta said winning district was great but he made it clear he has much bigger plans for this team this year. Concerning the playoffs, Coach Cipoletta quoted the late Coach Jim Valvano, “survive and advance”.
It was senior night Tuesday and the Wildcats recognized Bryson Lynn, Dedric Godbolt, I’vyn Clayton and Iverson Wade. After the game, the Wildcats hoisted the district championship trophy and each player and coach got to be a part of cutting a net down. Coach Cipoletta made the final snips and then got doused by a container of water by his players in the locker room. The Wildcats will be the district’s #1 seed in the playoffs.
Coach Cipoletta said he was extremely proud of his guys for being a part of history as district champs. He said hard work doesn’t always pay off in life, but he said so far it has for these guys. Coach Cipoletta has seen some hard times in the program so he said he was happy for the program to be where it is right now. He said there was no panic when the Wildcats only led by one after one quarter. Coach Cipoletta said he felt once his players settled in they would be okay. That occurred in the second quarter as the Wildcats outscored the Bobcats, 30-8. Coach Cipoletta said the Wildcats forced about 20 turnovers in the first half alone. Senior Bryson Lynn led the Wildcats with 15 points and Coach Cipoletta called Lynn a dynamic scorer. He praised senior Dedric Godbolt for helping the team with all the little things he does. Seniors I’vyn Clayton and Iverson Wade both hit 3 point baskets and Coach Cipoletta called those great moments.
Saltillo Lions and Lady Lions in Playoffs
The Saltillo Lions ended district play Tuesday with a 52-37 win over Sulphur Bluff. The Lions ended up with a 6-2 district record. The Lions got off to a good start Tuesday and led 24-15 after two quarters. Chris Boekhorst led the Lions with 18 points. Matthew Gurley scored 17 points. Trevor Moore had 7 points. Lyle Bench scored 5 points. Branson McGill had 2 points. The Lions improved their season record to 20-15. They open the playoffs against Avinger Monday at 7 p.m. at Union Grove.
Meanwhile the Saltillo Lady Lions will play an Area playoff game against Ector Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Chisum High School near Paris. The Lady Lions game will be the second half of a doubleheader. In the first game, Miller Grove will play Dodd City at 6 p.m. at Chisum. The Saltillo Lady Lions got ready for the playoffs with a warm up game win over CHESS, 50-41 Tuesday.
Sanders Files for Sulphur Springs City Council Place 3
Norman Sanders has filed to seek Place 3 on the Sulphur Springs City Council. Sanders will challenge incumbent Oscar Aguilar.
KSST News spoke with Mr. Sanders Wednesday after he filed at city hall. He told KSST News that due to his schedule, a picture and news story will be available early next week.
Update: Hopkins County Deputy Arrests Two on Henderson County Warrants, Additional Charge
Two individuals arrested in Hopkins County Wednesday were wanted on warrants after Henderson County authorities responded to a home in the Mabank area February 5th in response to a 21-month-old who shot itself in the face. The child was flown to a Dallas hospital to be treated for injuries. Henderson County CPS has taken custody of a girl and two boys who were living at the residence.
Hopkins County Deputies were advised a man wanted in Henderson County on felony warrants for Abandon Child Criminal Neglect and for Make Firearm Accessible to a Child was in Sulphur Springs. Henderson County law enforcement told the local deputies that a woman would be with him.
Timms
Deputies located the woman, Bryanna Elizabeth Timms, 34, of Mabank, at the Best Western Hotel. She and David Setharia Whittick, 33, of Mabank were both wanted on warrants for the above charges. When the deputies found Timms, she told the deputies she did not know where Whittick could be located. As the deputy drove her to jail, her phone GPS was sounding a tone and providing a location. The deputy took a side trip to the location. He drove back to the Best Western. Timms told the deputy that her mom had made her reservation and she did not think Whittick was at the hotel. He was, along with his dog. Timms was also charged with Hindering Apprehension of a Known Felony, a Felony 3.
Whittick
Timms is in Hopkins County Jail being held on a $30,000 bond for Hindering Apprehension. Whittick is in Hopkins County Jail. Both are being held for Henderson County authorities. The dog was taken to the Sulphur Springs Animal Shelter.
PJC-Sulphur Springs: Mayor Sellers Addresses Texas Government Class
MAYOR SPEAKS: Sulphur Springs Mayor John Sellers, second from right, was a guest speaker in Instructor Kelly Payne’s Texas government class at the PJC-Sulphur Springs Center this week. Sellers talked about city and state government and answered questions from class members. Above, Sellers visits with Instructor Payne, left, and students Rainie English of Saltillo and Tyler Stout of Sulphur Springs.
Wildcats District Champs
The #13 ranked Wildcats’ basketball team wrapped up the district championship with a convincing 78-45 win over Hallsville in Wildcats Gym Tuesday night. It is believed to be the first Wildcats’ first district championship in about 25 years. The Wildcats end the district race with an 11-1 record and they will be the district’s #1 seed in the playoffs.
The Wildcats got off to a slow start against the Bobcats Tuesday and led only 15-14 after the first quarter. The Wildcats got the fast tempo they wanted in the second quarter and they outscored Hallsville, 30-8 to take a 45-22 led at the half. Eight Wildcats contributed to the second quarter point total. The Wildcats continued to build the lead outscoring the Bobcats 33-23 over the last two quarters.
Bryson Lynn led the Wildcats with 15 points. Keaston Willis added 11 points. Cameron Kahn, Godsgift Ezedinma and Victor Iwuakor all scored 10 points. Michael Jefferson had 6 points. Day Day Hall and Xavier Cork had 4 points apiece. I’vyn Clayton and Iverson Wade scored 3 points each. Dedric Godbolt had 2 points.
Wildcats players and coaches displayed a district championship trophy and they all helped cut down one of the nets in Wildcats Gym. Players also dumped a container of water on Coach Clark Cipoletta in the team’s locker room.
Tuesday was Senior Night as Lynn, Godbolt, Wade and Clayton were recognized.
The Wildcats will play either Lovejoy or West Mesquite, who ended up tied for fourth place in their district, in a bi-district game next week. The Wildcats’ season record is 28-4.
Lady Cat Area Playoff Game Set for Rockwall High Gym Thursday
The #13 Lady Cats’ basketball team will play Frisco Lone Star in an Area game Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Rockwall High School Gym. The site was firmed up Tuesday afternoon.
The Lady Cats defeated Mesquite Poteet, 52-30 Monday night in a bi-district game at Emory Rains. The Lady Cats are 26-5 for the season.
Frisco Lone Star downed Lake Dallas, 80-20 Monday night. Lone Star, ranked #3 in Class 5A, is 32-4 for the season.
Fog Expected to Develop Overnight in Region
Fog is expected to develop overnight in the North and Northeast Texas area including the Hopkins County area. Some of this fog could become dense reducing visibility to under one (1) mile.
Counties included in the area are:
Montague-Cooke-Grayson-Fannin-Lamar-Young-Jack-Wise-Denton-Collin- Hunt-Delta-Hopkins-Stephens-Palo Pinto-Parker-Tarrant-Dallas- Rockwall-Kaufman-Van Zandt-Rains-Eastland-Erath-Hood-Somervell- Johnson-Ellis-Henderson-Comanche-Mills-Hamilton-Bosque-Hill-Navarro- Freestone-Anderson-Lampasas-Coryell-Bell-McLennan-Falls-Limestone- Leon-Milam-Robertson
Lady Cats Face Class 5A #3 Frisco Lone Star Thursday
Lady Cats Coach Jeff Chapman, enjoying Monday night’s bi-district win over Mesquite Poteet, 52-30, said playing Texas High in a seeding game on Friday helped the Lady Cats believe in themselves. Doubts may have crept in after the Lady Cats lost to Texas High by a large margin at home on January 30. It’s almost enough to convert Coach Chapman to a fan of warm up games. Still he said he’s glad the Lady Cats played Texas High last Friday in a game to determine the district’s number one and two seeds.
Coach Chapman agreed a big moment in the bi-district win over Mesquite Poteet Monday occurred in the second quarter when the Lady Cats outscored the Lady Pirates, 17-0. The Lady Cats went from one point down after one quarter to a 16-point lead at the half. Coach Chapman said the Lady Cats cut off a three-point shooter that was having success against them. He noted a Lady Pirates’ post player also had to sit due to fouls. Her backup was unavailable due to a torn ACL.
Next up for the Lady Cats will be a huge challenge in an Area game. Frisco Lone Star is ranked #3 in Class 5A and they have only 3 losses this season. The coaches have decided to play a Thursday game at 7 p.m. but other details of the match up are still being ironed out at last report.
