irror
Sports
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
It was a season filled of highs and lows for Midlothian athletics. Sports writer Alex Riley takes a look back at the best shots, performances and moments that made the year one to remember
1.
First year offers many memories, lessons learned
Buzzer beater sinks Waxahachie
The obvious reason for this game being No. 1 is the final shot. Three-point attempts with hardly any time on the clock are always a thrilling finish. But it was the combined elements that made the boys basketball team win over county-rival Waxahachie the biggest moment of the year. Trailing 50-48 with 10 seconds left in the game, guard Trent Morgan came up with a steal and pass ahead to Blaine Blackburn for the game-tying lay-up. On the inbounds play, Blackburn fouled Waxahachie’s Jamison Sterns to send the Louisiana Tech signee to the free throw line. Sterns’ first shot missed as Eddie Johnson came up with the rebound and passed ahead to Morgan. He was trapped in a double-team which forced a jump ball that stayed with the Panthers with just 4.2 seconds left. The inbound pass was bounced around before going off an Indian player with 1.2 seconds left on the baseline. That set up a higharching pass from Morgan to Blackburn who fired off the 3-pointer that won the game and created a court full of chaos. Students from the opposite end of the floor rushed the court as the bench cleared and a mass celebration broke out. The victory propelled Midlothian to the District 16-4A title and a deep run in the playoffs.
I
Photos by Chad Wilson/The Mirror
Blaine Blackburn’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer against Waxahachie sparked mass celebration by the team and fans. It also sparked the run to a district title.
Photo by Alex Riley/The Mirror
2.
Red Oak’s misery was Midlothian’s celebration as an error in the 10th inning allowed the winning run to score and the Panthers to advance in the playoffs. The shot to third off Justin Shealy’s bat incited a mob scene at first base in celebration. It was the second straight year the baseball program won the bi-district title with a win over Ellis County rival Red Oak.
Error proves difference in baseball bi-district
The entire series between Midlothian and Red Oak in the bi-district playoffs had been a memorable one. But the final play proved to be the lasting moment. With runners on second and third and two out in the inning, the Panthers were trying desperately to end a 10-inning affair with their Ellis County rival and move on in the playoffs. A walk by Blake Lunday and base hit by Zach Walker had set up the situation as pinch runner Dustin Minter stood 90 feet away from home. Enter catcher Justin Shealy, replacement for the ailing Colton Clanton, who had gone 0-for-3 on the day with a
walk. Red Oak pitcher Garrett Thomas had struck out four of the eight batters he’d previously faced and had Shealy down in the count. That’s when a hot shot down the line bounced chest high off the Red Oak third baseman allowing Shealy to beat out a throw with a headfirst slide and Minter to cross home for the win. The series itself was a classic all its own as Red Oak pitcher Brent Fletcher tossed a 10-strikeout gem in game one, followed by a complete game effort from Panther arm Devin Rogers in game two. Through the whole series, the Hawks had not made an error until that final play. The countdown continues on Page 4C
left Blythewood, S.C. on Aug. 11, 2009, to take a job covering Midlothian athletics for Waxahachie Newspapers Inc. On Aug. 28, sitting in the Alamodome, Eddie Johnson hauled in an 85-yard touchdown pass with just a few minutes on the clock to bring the Midlothian football back from a huge deficit for a late lead. At that point, I thought to myself, ‘This could be fun.’ Little did I know, that was the tip of the iceberg. In the last 11 months, I’ve seen countless games, watched hours of practice and been privy to more sportsrelated conversations than I thought possible. There’s been the good, bad, ugly and beautiful that sports has to offer. But no matter what the score, the outcome or the feeling on the playing field, there has never been a dull moment. The rankings you see in this week’s paper are by my Alex Riley own objection. These are the moments that stand out in my Mirror mind. Did I miss one or two? Sports Of course. I’m the first to admit I wasn’t at every single writer athletic event the school had to offer (for clarification, I also cover Red Oak for its town weekly). But I think that’s a pretty solid list of great moments. People often ask me, ‘What’s your favorite sport to cover?’ Honestly, before arriving in Texas, it was the big three – football, basketball and baseball. In some regards it still is but not as much anymore. What covering all high school athletics has done is force me to learn about other sports. It’s made me figure out how to do the math in my head on what other golfers need to shoot in order for Cody Taylor to advance to state. I’ve had to learn the rules of pole vaulting so I could actually sound like I knew what I was talking about with Austyn Rapp and Josh Sonnen. Volleyball? Soccer? Had minimal understanding of the sports before Aug. 11. Thanks See RILEY, Page 2C
The final count District titles (five): Girls cross country Girls track and field
Boys basketball Girls soccer Boys soccer
Post season (14):* Softball Baseball Boys soccer Girls soccer Boys basketball Boys cross country Girls cross country
Girls track Boys track Girls golf Boys Golf Boys tennis Girls tennis Volleyball
*In sports with single athlete competition (golf, cross country, etc.) post season appearance was given if at least one athlete advanced beyond the district round of competition.