HBU drops hard fought match to Sam Houston; Taylor scores 20 for Huskies

HBU's Sophie Taylor (5) scored
20 points for the Huskies
against Sam Houston State.
Photo by Darla S Tamulitis
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved

HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS (February 23, 2019) The HBU Huskies fought the good fight, but could not contain the shooting of Sam Houston State's Jaylonn Walker as they dropped a 83-64 decision to the Bearcats at Johnson Coliseum in Huntsville. With the win, Sam Houston clinched a berth in the 2019 Southland Conference Tournament to be held in Katy, Texas on March 14-17.

Walker was unstoppable for the Beatcats. The 5-7 junior chipped in 19 of the Bearcats 51 first half points and went on to tally 22 points for the game. Three other Bearcats scored in double-figures; with Lydia Baxter scoring 14, Kiera McKinney adding 13 and Amber Leggett with 12.

For the Huskies, Sophie Taylor put up 20 points, her second highest point total for the season. The 5-9 junior, who played her prep ball at Round Rock Westwood High School, was 6-of-16 from the field, including one three pointer, along with shooting 7-of-8 from the line. Sophomore Taylor Kollmorgen pulled down eight rebounds and scored nine points in 15 minutes of play.

The Huskies fell behind by the end of the first quarter 24-8, with Walker accounting for 13 of Sam Houston's first quarter points. Marilyn Nzoiwu chipped in four of HBU's eight points. The Bearkats increased their lead to 51-27 at halftime. In the third quarter, the Huskies outscored the Bearcats 25-18, but could only manage 12 points in the fourth quarter. Sam Houston led the entire game; pulling out to 31-point lead at the 3:28 mark in the second quarter.

Next up for the Huskies is a Wednesday, January 27 home match up against Lamar at Sharp Gymnasium. Tip off is set for 7 p.m. CST in Houston.

San Antonio Commanders' Kenneth Farrow II listed as questionable for Sunday

By Darla S Tamulitis
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS (February 22, 2019) Kenneth Farrow II's (No. 20, shown left) participation is listed as "questionable" for Sunday when the San Antonio Commanders head to San Diego to take on the Fleet. Defensive lineman Matt Godin and linebacker Shaan Washington were listed as "out" on Friday for Sunday's game.

Farrow II was injured this past Saturday when San Antonio played the Orlando Apollos. The running back sustained a lower back injury and did not participate in Wednesday's practice. He saw limited participation on Thursday and participated fully in Friday's training session.n Godin, who is recovering from a head injury, and Washington (ankle injury) did not participate in practice on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday.

The Commanders will take on the Fleet in San Diego on Sunday in their first road trip of the season, with a scheduled start time of 7:04 p.m. CST.

San Antonio Commanders drop hard-fought contest to Orlando Apollos 37-29

Kenneth Farrow II (#20) dives for the end zone for
the first touchdown of the game.
Photo by Darla S Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2019, All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS (February 17, 2019) The San Antonio Commanders did not waste any time getting on the scoreboard, but the Orlando Apollos posted two touchdowns and one field goal in the fourth quarter to down San Antonio 37-29 in the Alamodome in San Antonio.

On their first possession, the Commanders drove the ball 59 yards in 10 plays; capping the drive with 15-yard run by Kenneth Farrow II (shown right) for the first touchdown of the game. On the play, Farrow II was injured on the play and left the field.

With two seconds remaining on the clock to end the first quarter, tight end Evan Rodriguez caught a one-yard pass from quarterback Logan Woodside for the score. The drive covered 72 yards in 14 plays and lasted 7:04; putting the score at 12-0 after 15 minutes. Both two-point conversion tries were unsuccessful

The Apollos answered early in the second quarter with a five-play, 75-yard drive that ended in a De'Veon Smith one-yard pass for the score. The tight end added the two-point conversion to make the score 12-8 with 12:56 remaining in the half. San Antonio added a 50-yard field goal, off the foot of Nick Rose to increase their lead to 15-8. Orlando came back two minutes later to boot their own 35-yard field goal, by Elliot Fry to cut the Commanders lead to four points (15-11). They added six points to their score with two minutes left in the half on a 21-yard pass from Garrett Gilbert to wide receiver Charles Johnson to make the score 17-15. San Antonio closed out the first half with Rose booting a 38-yard field goal to make the score 18-17 after 30 minutes of play.

In the third quarter, San Antonio added as Rose 37-yard field goal and a Joey Mbu fumble recovery for a touchdown and a successful conversion. Fry gave the Apollos another three points with a 24-yard field goal. The fourth quarter was all Orlando; scoring on a Fry 47-yard field goal, a touchdown on a 47-yard pass from Gilbert to Jalin Marshall, and an interception TD by Keith Reaser.

Next up for the 1-1 Commanders is a Sunday, February 24 match up against the San Diego Fleet. San Antonio downed the Fleet 15-6 on February 9.

Houston Cougars ranked No. 23 by Softball America

By Kristine Kelly
Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (February 3, 2019) Softball America, which is a new publication of Baseball America, has announced their preseason college softball rankings and the Houston Cougars are ranked number 23 in the nation. The rankings are determined by the staff of the publication, along with selected NCAA Division head softball coaches.

Previously, the Cougars received votes (31) in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Poll, while receiving one vote in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll. 

Houston kicks off the 2019 season on February 8, when they host the Kentucky Wildcats. The entire Cougar schedule can be viewed here.

FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, PASADENA MEMORIAL SWIMMERS ARE IN THE REGION FINALS

Photo by
Darla Tamulitis-La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved

By Chris Price
Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved

PEARLAND, TEXAS (February 1, 2019) The Pasadena Memorial High School Swimming and  Diving Team have qualified, as a result of the preliminary performances on Friday, and advanced to the UIL Region 6-6A Finals on Saturday, February 2. The finals will be held at Pearland Natatorium, in Pearland, Texas, and will begin at 10:15 a.m. CST.

The squad of Melanie Jimenez, Kimberly Dutton, Rachel Del Angel, Abigail Lezcano, and Daniela Fraga (alternate) combined to advance to finals in both the 200-yard medley relay and the 400-yard freestyle relay.

Del Angel also qualified for finals in the 50-yard freestyle and the 500-yard freestyle.

Dutton and Fraga advanced to the semi-finals in 1-meter diving, which was contested on Thursday.

The top two finishers in the finals advance to the UIL State Championships in two weeks in Austin.