#18 in State Lady Cats Basketball Scores 101-26 Win on Home Court
In perhaps the first time in history, the Lady Cats’ basketball team scored over 100 points in a 101-26 win over Marshall at home Friday night. The #18 state ranked Lady Cats had quarters of 23 points, 27 points, 25 points and 26 points.
Autumn Tanton scored on a basket as she was fouled in the final minute of play to put the Lady Cats over 100 points. The Lady Cats allowed the Lady Mavs quarters of 7 points, 7 points, 8 points and 4 points.
Three Lady Cats had more than 23 points. Sadavia Porter led the Lady Cats with 29 points, Kaylee Jefferson added 27 points and Tori Moore hit five 3-pointers and had a total of 23 points. Tanton scored 10 points. All seven Lady Cats scored. The Lady Cats hit a sizzling 61% from the field including 5 of 16 or 31% from three point range. The Lady Cats shot 58% from the foul line or 18-31. Porter hit 9 of 10 from the foul line. Jefferson had a team high 6 rebounds and one block.
The Lady Cats had 29 steals including five each from Porter, Moore and Jefferson. The Lady Cats committed only 8 turnovers and they had only 7 fouls.
The Lady Cats remain in first place in the district with a 10-0 record. Their season record is now 24-3 and the Lady Cats have won 17 straight games.
The Lady Cats will travel to Texas High next Tuesday night.
Wildcats Basketball Picks Up Big Road Win; Remain in Second Place in District
The Wildcats’ basketball team picked up a big road win in district play Friday night defeating Marshall, 55-37. The win kept the Wildcats one game back of Mt. Pleasant as the Tigers topped Pine Tree.
The Wildcats leading scorer Friday night was Keaston Willis with 20 points and Victor Iwuakor chipped in 12 points. Five other Wildcats contributed points: Michael Jefferson 8 points, Bryson Lynn 6 points, Ke-Ontae Dunn 5 points and Simeon Taylor and Xavier Cork with 2 points apiece.
The Wildcats remain alone in second place a 7-1 district record. Their season mark is 22-5.
The Wildcats play Texas High in Wildcats Gym next Tuesday night.
Soccer: Lady Cats Win in Overtime; Wildcats Lose to Pine Tree As District Season Begins
Lady Cats 1, Pine Tree 0 (Overtime)
The Lady Cats’ soccer team won a defensive struggle, 1-0 over Pine Tree at the SSHS Track Soccer Complex Field Friday night. Payton Pierce scored a close in goal after a corner kick at the 8:02 mark during the first half of overtime. The Lady Cats made the goal stand up with a little over 18 minutes of shutout soccer in the overtime.
The Lady Cats were able to overcome a yellow card at the 3:45 mark in the first half of overtime given to goalkeeper Abbi Hale, who officials said wasted time by chasing a ball to put into play, with one closer to her net. Hale set out the entire 3:45 in the first half of overtime. She returned for the second half of overtime. The Lady Cats had to play the Lady Pirates without goal scorer Mileena Zirreta, who was out with an injury.
The Lady Cats get three points for the OT win, just like an outright victory. The Lady Cats are 1-0 in district play and 6-3-2 for the season. The Lady Cats play at Marshall Tuesday night.
Pine Tree 5, Wildcats 1
The Pine Tree Pirates seem to always be at or near the top of the district standings and the Pirates opened district play with a solid 5-1 win over the Wildcats at Pine Tree Friday night. The Wildcats slip to 0-1 in district play and 7-2-1 for the season.
The Wildcats will attempt to bounce back as they host Marshall at the SSHS Track Soccer Complex Field Tuesday night.
Saltillo Lions Remain Undefeated in District With Win in Sulphur Bluff
The Saltillo Lions improved their district leading record to 4-0 and evened their season mark to 14-14 with a 51-33 win at Sulphur Bluff Friday night.
After a tight first half with the Lions only up 18-16, Saltillo pulled away in the third and fourth quarters. Trevor Moore led the Lions with 26 points and Mathew Gurley added 12 points. Walker McGill had 5 points and Michael Simmons and Lyle Bench had 4 points each.
The Lions play Tuesday at Fannindel.
The Saltillo JV also defeated Sulphur Bluff, 40-15 Friday night. Nathan Valenzuela had 15 points. The Saltillo JV is now 16-3 for the season. They will host Sulphur Bluff on February 14.
Wildcats Baseball Practice Begins
Friday marked the first day for practice for the Wildcats’ baseball team. Friday morning, Wildcats Baseball Coach Jerrod Hammack anticipated a chilly outdoor practice after school at Eagle Stadium since the Multipurpose Building is unavailable due to Saturday’s Powerlifting Meet. Coach Hammack said the Wildcats have a lot of questions to answer after a disappointing season last year. The Wildcats ended up out of the playoffs.
Coach Hammack will have several pitchers returning including starter Ryan Humphries. Heston Golightly and Triston McCormick also pitched some last year. Coach Hammack said he also wants to look at Michael Arnold, lefty Cameron Harrison, Ryder Caddell, JV pitcher Zane Haywood and others. Coach Hammack said that’s what scrimmages and tournament games are for as varsity and JV players will be determined and roles for players will be established. Coach Hammack said most of the top of the Wildcats batting order returns including Mason Buck, Humphries, Golightly, McCormick and Easton Silman. Gavin Millsap also logged quite a bit of playing time.
Coach Hammack said there has been a lot of emphasis on weight training in the off season trying to get players stronger.
The Wildcats first scrimmage is rapidly approaching. They will host Sherman at Eagle Stadium on February 6.
Annual SSHS Powerliftilng Meet Saturday
The annual Sulphur Springs Powerlifting Meet takes place Saturday at the SSHS Multipurpose Building. Weight-ins for lifters will begin at 6:30 a.m. Saturday according to Wildcats Powerlifting Coach Casey Jeter. They will wrap up at 8:30 a.m. Breakfast will be available in the morning.
The first event, squats, begins at 9 a.m. Bench press competition will follow. Coach Jeter said after a lunch break, dead lift competition will take place in the afternoon. He said the Wildcats would be able to enter eleven varsity lifters plus eleven more lifters.
Coach Jeter said about 20 teams and 250 lifters would compete in all including 10 or so girls’ teams. He said the Multipurpose Building is large enough to accommodate a seventh platform for lifting. Coach Jeter said a lot of people are giving their time to make the meet a success.
Wildcats’ lifters have not lifted competitively since an Emory Rains meet back on January 7. He said they are raring to go. Coach Jeter said since the delay between meets, he expects his lifters to show a lot of improvement. He said during a practice this week, D’idrec Dugan, who will lift in the 242 pound weight class, dead lifted 500 pounds cleanly. Coach Jeter said that pumped everyone up. He said his lifters should begin to approach maximum lifts. Coach Jeter said they weren’t even close to that level after the first meet.
Game Day: SSHS Soccer, Basketball, and Tennis
The Lady Cats are at home and the Wildcats are on the road this Friday game day. The #18 state ranked Lady Cats’ basketball team will host Marshall in Wildcats Gym Friday night. A freshman team game is at 5 p.m., the JV contest is at around 6:15 p.m. and the varsity game should start at around 7:30 p.m. The Lady Cats are in first place and are 9-0 in district play. They are 23-3 for the season and they have won 16 games in a row. The Lady Cats defeated the Lady Mavs in Marshall, 82-15 back on January 3. We will have the Lady Cats and Lady Mavs varsity game for you Friday at around 7:30 p.m. on KSST Radio. We will also videotape the game for replay on Channel 18 on Suddenlink Cable at a later date.
The Lady Cats’ soccer team is also at home as they host Pine Tree Friday night in a district opener for each team. The game will be at the field at the SSHS Track/Soccer Complex. There will be a JV contest at 5:30 p.m. wth the varsity game to follow at around 7:15 p.m. The Lady Cats varsity enters district play with a season record of 5-3-2 in official UIL games.
The Wildcats’ basketball team is on the road at Marshall Friday night. They will have a freshman game at 5 p.m., a JV game at around 6:15 p.m. And the varsity match up at around 7:30 p-.m. The Wildcats are all alone in second place in district with a 6-1 mark. They are 21-5 for the season. The Wildcats defeated Marshall 72-40 in Wildcats Gym back on January 3.
The Wildcats’ soccer team opens district play at Pine Tree Friday night. A JV contest is scheduled at 5:30 p.m. with the varsity playing at 7 p.m. The Wildcats enter district play with a season record of 7-1-1.
Finally the Wildcats’ tennis team is scheduled to play at a Hallsville tournament Friday. It got underway with matches at 8 a.m.
The Building Fund Begins
Members of the First United Methodist Church of Sulphur Springs presented a check to Senior Citizens Center Director Karon Weatherman. Members of FUMC gave what they could during a 5 month campaign in 2016. The funds were kept separate from other church offerings. “This was over and above our regular giving to the church,” said Campbell. The congregation voted to divide the donations 3 ways, and give to 3 separate needs in the community. The amount given to the Senior Center was $2738.33.
Anyone wanting to donate to the building fund can now do so. Contact Karon Weatherman at 903 885 1661.
Sue Anders, Karon Weatherman, Ursula Campbell, Nel Ferny, Nancy Rooks
Midterm Teacher Change Prompts Letter from SSISD to Parents
(Editor’s Note: See the complete interview with Rusty Hardin on Channel 18 News Friday, January 27, 2017)
A midterm teacher change at Sulphur Springs High School prompted a letter to parents from the district. The letter stated that the teacher assigned to instruct for more than 30 days does not hold an appropriate state teaching certificate. Texas law required the letter from the district.
In the letter, Superintendent of Schools Michael Lamb indicated the district’s support of the assigned teacher stating the individual is “…qualified to teach in this assignment.” Campus administration will be evaluating the teacher’s performance in the classroom to ensure the quality of instruction, according to the letter.
Rusty Hardin, Assistant Superintendent and Human Resource Director for the district, said a mid-year teacher change often causes difficulties in placing certified teachers in the specific classroom especially if it is math or science. In this instance, a teacher resigned to begin retirement from teaching. Hardin said the district seeks to match the incoming teacher based on their education background—studies in that specific subject. Hardin said to post a new teaching job in midyear, few responses are received. He stated the letter has to be sent for long term substitutes as well as replacements.
Hardin noted that 99% of the teachers in the SSISD are certified or seeking certification.
Hiring new teachers is a challenge for all districts. Hardin stated he goes to five job fairs each year and uses job posting sites as well. He stated that finding new teachers is becoming more difficult each year.
