Go Bronchos!
News
Hooting for the Broncos
Next stop: Austin
Now, it all comes down to two games. The two most important games of the season await the Bronco team in Austin beginning Thursday.
The Clarendon Broncos suffered through a 41-year dry spell from the state basketball tournament, but broke new ground with a dominating team and a great coaching staff.
The last appearance at state by Clarendon’s basketball team happened in 1970 when the Bronchos played for the state title but were defeated by Kennard. Several present Clarendon residents were part of that team. The Bronchos also made the state tournament the previous year but were defeated in the semi-final game. The 1968 team qualified for the Regional tournament but was unable to move on.
But this 2011 team is ready to make basketball history and is determined to bring home the gold.
The Broncos were named Regional Champions by stomping the White Deer Bucks on Saturday in the final game of the Regional Tournament.
The 67-52 win over the Bucks followed a close 47-40 win over Farwell on Friday. There was no question as to who was the dominant team in the Regional Finals game as the Broncos went on a scoring frenzy in the first quarter to set the tone for the game.
After White Deer posted four points to begin the game, the Broncos took control and scored 14 straight points with about two minutes left in the quarter. They quickly upped that point spread to 13 at the end of one. Things just got better in the next period as the Broncos made good on several White Deer turnovers and led by 20 at the break. All in all, the Bronco pressure defense caused 35 White Deer turnovers, which converted into 33 points for the Broncos.
The Broncos were able to coast in the second half of play, but they never lost their intensity and determination to win. Johnny Gaines put in 22 points, Chris Crump added 12, and Mike Crump had 10 to lead the Broncos. Brayden Phillips had eight, Cole Ward put in seven, and Justin Shillings had seven.
Surrounded by new displays of gold in his office, first year Bronco coach Brandt Lockhart was sporting a huge grin on his face as he commented on the games.
“Our kids played great,” Lockhart said. “They were ready to go.”
And go they did. The Broncos out-hustled, out-played, and out-lasted the Bucks making the game look simple, as they never missed a beat on either end of the court. But it was the intense defense that set the tone for the lopsided game.
“We hurt them a lot with our pressure defense,” Lockhart said. “We caused a lot of turnovers and were able to score from them. They have worked so hard and they deserve this.”
On Friday, the Broncos stayed the course against Farwell in a back and forth game that was close to the end. Twelve clutch free throws in the final two minutes of the game by the Broncos gave them the edge they needed in the highly contested game.
Last Wednesday, the Broncos closed out Gruver 55-50 to earn a spot in the Regional Tournament. In the Farwell game, Gaines had 19 and Phillips scored 15; and in the Gruver game, Gaines scored 25, while Phillips added 14.
The Broncos will face off against Tenaha in the semi-final round of the state tournament at 8:30 a.m. Thursday morning in Austin at the Frank Erwen Center; and if victorious, they will play the winner of Eula and Evadale on Saturday morning also at 8:30 a.m.
Tenaha is 27-9 going into the tournament and is ranked 24th. They defeated two top five teams on their way to the state tournament by one point in each game.
The Broncos are at 24-6 and have been ranked number one all season. They are determined to hang on to that ranking for the duration and have the ability to do so.
“Tenaha is not tall, but they are quick,” Lockhart said.
The Broncos are quick as well and are in a great place to take it all the way. They are, like Coach Lockhart said, “ready to go.”
CISD will be closed for state tourney
Due to the Clarendon High School Bronco basketball team advancing to the state championship, school will release at 12:30 on Wednesday and close on Thursday and Friday in order to give everyone the opportunity to travel to Austin and support the Broncos.
These days will have to be made up on April 9 with Saturday school from 8:30-12:30; April 22 due to the closing in February caused from bad weather; and May 2 will make up the final day.
“It will all be worth it when the Broncos return with that state championship trophy,” high school principal Larry Jeffers said. “Go Broncos!”
Spell it out
Video: Broncos take down Bucks
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbJRxOt0JAw
Watch the Clarendon Broncos in action against the White Deer Bucks!
Broncos headed to state
The Clarendon Broncos beat the White Deer Bucks 67-52 on Saturday to win the Regional Tournament and secure a spot at the State Tournament.
The Broncos will play in Austin on Thursday, March 10, in the Frank Erwin Center.
We will find out tomorrow what time the Broncos play and who their opponent will be.
Congratualtions, Broncos!
Bulldog pride
Weekend fires burn 590 acres
According to First Assistant Fire Chief Jeremy Powell of the Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department, two different fires blazed that day.
“That was one of the worst days I’ve seen,” Powell said. “The winds on both fires were 30 to 40 sustained with gusts of 60 miles per hour. The relative humidity was around nine percent. The atmosphere was really dry.”
The first fire, reported at 2:50 p.m., was at the Crofoot Ranch (formerly known as the Bittercreek). The fire was a re-ignition of a prescribed burn held there on February 24.
It was contained within an hour with the help of the Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department, Texas Department of Transportation, Donley County motorgraders, Clarendon EMS, and the Donley County Sheriff’s Office. It burned roughly 40 acres.
The second fire was reported at 6:18 p.m. at FM 203 and Co. Rd. 28 northeast of Hedley. It was under control by 12:30 a.m., but it flared back up again at 5:30 a.m. The fire was finally extinguished by 9:30 a.m. It burned a total of 550 acres from Co. Rd. 28 to Co. Rd. 31, which stretches three miles long. The cause of this fire is unknown.
Mutual aid came from Memphis VFD, Wellington VFD, Hedley VFD and Samnorwood VFD. Other responders included TxDOT, Donley County Sheriff’s Office, and Clarendon EMS.
The fires threatened no structures, and caused no injuries. The second fire posed a threat to some farm equipment, but none was damaged.
“People need to be cautious on days when wind is extremely high,” Powell said. “Make sure to avoid any kind of burning.”
Broncos advance
The win put them in the Regional Quarter Final game against Gruver, which will be played on Wednesday night, March 2, at Tascosa High at 7:00 p.m.
Game results and further playoff information will be posted on www.ClarendonLive.com as it becomes available.
The Broncos were in a dogfight Friday night as they tried to put space between them and the Wildcats. It was not easy, but senior standout Johnny Gaines took control of the game and the scoreboard as he finished with 34 points in the game.
The inside work of the Broncos paid off as well as they slowed Canadian’s big post player who finished with 17 points. The final minutes of the third period were crucial to the Broncos as they went on a scoring run to build an eight-point lead. The Broncos hit several key free throws late as the momentum was clearly on Clarendon’s side.
And the Wildcats could only stand back and watch as the Broncos backed up their number one ranking by grabbing the win and the trophy. The Bronco offense was slightly off, but defensively, the Broncos were able to convert on turnovers.
“We did a good job playing defense and were able to turn those into points,” Lockhart
said. “Overall, it was not a good shooting night, but I thought we played with great effort.”
Also scoring: Brayden Phillips 6, Chris Crump 6, Justin Shillings 3, and Mike Crump 2.
Reader Comments