Local Sports
No. 25-ranked Eagles finish 2009 flying high; open district Saturday
By Jay Neal
sports@jacksonvilleprogress.com
RUSK — The Rusk Eagles, ranked No. 25 in the current Class 3A poll, look to be the class of District 18-3A as the Eagles prepare to open loop play at 6:30 p.m. Saturday against Diboll at Eagle Coliseum.
Rusk, 17-4 on the year, heading into last night’s final non-conference tilt at New Summerfield, finished second in the Sabine Last Man Standing Tournament that wrapped up on Dec. 19 in Liberty City before pounding Mount Enterprise, 87-46, early last week prior to the holiday recess.
In the Sabine tourney, Rusk beat Central Heights (62-46), Sabine (60-54), Class 4A Mabank (56-47), Tyler Chapel Hill (53-42), before falling to host Sabine, the No. 8-ranked unit in Class 2A, 61-50, in the tournament’s final.
Three Eagles, Mike Katon, Der’rick Sanders and Taj Cleaver were named to the all-tourney team at Sabine.
In the Mount Enterprise contest, Cleaver and Sanders led Rusk with 14-point games respectively, followed by Katon and Kalon Skinner, who had 12 points apiece.
Katon completed a double-double by snatching down 21 rebounds in the game.
Eleven different Eagles scored in the tilt.
Rusk head coach, Tracy Kincade, said he is very happy with his squad’s performance thus far, especially since the majority of the Eagles’ games have been played away from Eagle Coliseum.
“Overall, I am very happy with our effort,” he said. “I was pleased with our defensive intensity in the (Sabine) tournament and I think we are getting better and better.
“We are becoming (real) road warriors — being on the road the last 10 games and going 8-2 in that stretch.”
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Volunteers help make Indian Tennis Camp a big hit
The last sports camp of the summer was held this week as the second and final session of the annual Indian Tennis Camp was staged at the Jacksonville High School Tennis Complex.
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Rusk Marlins go 1-1 in early stages of state tournament
The Rusk Marlins, playing in the Texas Teenage Baseball Association Junior Boys Baseball State Tournament in Eastland, Texas, rebounded from an opening-round loss to topple the Brownwood Rangers, 16-5, on Wednesday night.
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Good news, bad news for Texas Rangers
First the good news.
The Texas Rangers are currently well entrenched into first place in the AL West standings with a 59-42 record.
Texas is 7 1/2 games in front of second place Oakland A’s and 8 1/2 in front of the Los Angeles Angels. -
Sports Briefs for July 30, 2010
Maiden spikers to report early Monday morning
Jacksonville head volleyball coach Billie Walley requests that all freshman, junior varsity and varsity volleyball athletes to report to the JHS Gymnasium at 8 a.m. Monday for the first day of fall practice. All players should come dressed in proper volleyball attire. For more information, contact Walley at 903-721-3147. -
New Orleans native Kraus new JHS athletic trainer
Jacksonville High School student athletes needing medical treatment will have to get used to a couple of new faces from far away places when the new school term begins in early August.
Jason Kraus of New Orleans is the school’s new head athletic trainer while Averi Alderdyce, a graduate of Upper Iowa University, has assumed the duties of assistant athletic trainer — both are Licensed Athletic Trainers that came up through the Trinity Mother Francis Hospital athletic training program. -
Shattuck wins local NTPGA event
Local junior linksters found the comforts of The Challenge at The Woods to be to their liking on July 19.
Hunter Shattuck of Jacksonville won the boys 14-15-year-old division by firing a 8-over par 79.
Shattuck easily out distanced himself from the runner-up, Justin Largent of Rusk who tallied an 87. -
Rusk Express earn trip to TTA state tournament
As a result of winning the District 10 tournament, the Rusk Express have qualified for the Texas Teenage Baseball Association Senior Midget Boys (9-10-year-olds) State Tournament, which is being played at Coleman Park in Athens this week.
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Fightin’ Indians get trio of new assistant football coaches
It will be several weeks before Jacksonville Indian football fans will be able to determine if this year’s team will be improved over teams of the past.
One facet that JHS athletic director and head football coach Steve Wells has already strengthened significantly is his staff of assistant football coaches.
Highlighting the influx of new blood is Rick Cullum who will be serving as the Tribe’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Cullum brings a proven track record with him to Jacksonville, having served as offensive coordinator on a state-championship Lufkin team. He also has been a head coach as well. -
30th Annual River Cities Triathlon set for Sunday
SHREVEPORT, La. — Over 1,200 triathletes are expected in Shreveport on Sunday as the 30th Annual Sportspectrum River Cities Triathlon is slated to take place.
The first wave of the 1/2 mile swim will begin at 8 a.m. at Cypress Lake in Benton, La. Next the triathletes will bike 18.2 miles around Cypress Lake. - local sports briefs for July 28th
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