Photo by David Kapitan
Jaquez Thompson (1) hauls in an acrobatic catch over the outstretched arms of a Brownsboro defender.
DAVID KAPITAN sports@vanzandtnews.com
The Wills Point Tigers put together one of their most complete efforts of the season last week, strengthening their bid for a playoff berth by dominating the visiting Brownsboro Bears 42-14 in a steady downpour at Ken Autry Davis Field.
Brownsboro, fresh off a 62-41 win over the Canton Eagles, won the coin toss and elected to receive the first half kickoff. After taking control of the ball at their own 23-yard line, the Bears would net just one yard on three plays before being forced to punt the ball to the Tigers.
Courtesy photo
Tiger players and coaches shake hands with their Midlothian Heritage counterparts following matches played Oct. 21.
The Wills Point Tiger tennis team wrapped up another successful fall tennis season last week, losing a hard fought battle to fourth-ranked Midlothian Heritage in the Area round of the playoffs.
The Tigers, already winners of both a district and bi-district championship this season, fought down to the wire in an 11-8 loss.
Photo by David Kapitan
Hope Turner (10), Olivia McMath (7) and the rest of the Wills Point Lady Tigers completed the season sweep of rival Canton Oct. 23 by scoring a 25-15, 25-22, 25-20 win over the Eaglettes.
DAVID KAPITAN sports@vanzandtnews.com
The Wills Point Lady Tigers wrapped up the 2018 regular season last week, celebrating senior night with a thrilling five-set triumph over Brownsboro Oct. 19 before spoiling chief rival Canton's senior night with a three-set sweep Oct. 23.
Entering play last Friday night, the Bearettes and Lady Tigers had met once before during the season with Brownsboro stunning state-ranked Wills Point 25-16, 25-21, 25-16 back on Oct. 2. With a possible top-two finish in district hanging in the balance, the Lady Tigers and Bearettes crossed paths for the second and final time during district play Oct. 19 in Wills Point.
Runners representing Canton, Van and Wills Point made their way west Oct. 22, competing at this year’s UIL 4A Region II Championship Meet at the Jesse Owens Memorial Athletic Complex in Dallas.
Celina took the team championship in the varsity girls division with 111 points, followed by Anna in second with 129 points and Sunnyvale in third with 130 points. Van posted the best local finish, coming in 13th with 311 points and Wills Point placed 14th with 314 points.
Individual results in the varsity girls race included:
Players and cheerleaders stand in front of the Tiger Band for the playing of the school song following play against Bullard Oct. 12.
DAVID KAPITAN sports@vanzandtnews.com
The Wills Point Tigers entered last week's game against the Bullard Panthers riding high, having won each of their previous 10 district contests. The streak would not reach 11 as Bullard scored 20 unanswered points in the first quarter en route to a 53-13 win over the Tigers.
Bullard did a solid job limiting Wills Point's usually potent rushing attack in the contest, holding the Tigers to just 169 yards and 29 carries in the contest. In contrast, the Panthers finished with 559 yards overall, including 374 on the ground.
Olivia McMath looks on as Jeslyn Martinez passes the ball back towards the net against Mabank.
DAVID KAPITAN sports@vanzandtnews.com
The Wills Point Lady Tigers showed plenty of grit after a shaky start to district play in 2017, overcoming several early misteps to push their playoff streak to six seasons. The momentum generated from their late surge and subsequent playoff run has carried over into 2018, resulting in the team posting a 26-12 mark overall including a 6-2 start to district play with two contests left to play.
Wills Point started its week on the road Oct. 12, traveling to Athens to take on a Lady Hornets squad that had scuffled to an 0-7 start in district play. The Lady Tigers would come away with a victory, overcoming a sluggish start to score a four-set win.
Katelyn Bryant returns a backhand cross court during doubles play with partner Sawyer Sewell. Bryant and Sewell swept their match against Ferris, 7-6, 6-1.
The Wills Point Tiger tennis program made quick work of its rain-shortened bi-district round matchup against Ferris last week, winning all 10 matches played to advance once step closer to another appearace at the State Tennis Tournament.
Individual scores from the bi-district round included:
he Tiger offense huddles up midway through the third quarter of Wills Point’s 20-7 win over Mabank Sept. 14.
DAVID KAPITAN sports@vanzandtnews.com
The Wills Point Tigers picked up their first win of the season Sept. 14 in Mabank, evening their season record at 1-1 courtesy of a strong defensive performance in a 20-7 win over the Panthers.
Wills Point opened play on offense, marching quickly form their own 39-yard line into Mabank territory on runs by Demontre Hill and Stephon Bradley. The drive would be derailed after just five plays due to an untimely penalty and a drive ending fumble recovered by the Panthers.
The Wills Point Lady Tigers will enter tonight's (Sept. 21) district opener on a high note, wrapping up non-district play earlier this week with a three-set sweep of the visiting Rains Lady Cats Sept. 18.
Wills Point and Rains had been familiar foes during previous seasons, competing against one another during district play in each of the past two seasons. The Lady Cats came away victorious in every meeting en route to back-to-back district championships.
Pre-season football scrimmages normally are not very newsworthy but what happened following the Aug. 17 scrimmage at Van’s Memorial Stadium between two Van Zandt County rivals, the Wills Point Tigers and the Van Vandals, has drawn quite a bit of positive feedback.
After the two teams went through the normal handshake line, all of the coaches and players from both teams formed a circle around midfield and knelt and prayed together.
