UIL and NCAA titles, new coaches, radio guys
Photo courtesy Lubbock Christian University
SOME OF THE BIGGEST NEWS in Texas Panhandle and South Plains basketball in the past year was on the college level. Chris Beard jettisoning Texas Tech to coach his alma mater, Texas, after unprecedented success by the Red Raiders had most Tech fans hopping mad, but it was a great opportunity for another top coach, Mark Adams, who has led almost every college men’s team in the region – Clarendon College, Wayland Baptist, West Texas A&M and now his alma mater, Tech – in addition to Howard College and Texas-Pan On March 12, 2020, the Lubbock Christian Lady Chaps, sitting pretty with a 28-3 record and planning to meet Angelo State in the NCAA Division II playoffs, were at practice when Coach American. Adams, a Brownfield native, has been Steve Gomez brought bad news. Because of COVID-19, the season was over. Their hopes successful and well-liked at every stop, for LCU’s third national championship were gone. But on March 26, 2021, the Lady Chaps and it will be interesting to see how the won that third title and became the first-ever DII program to go undefeated twice, topping Red Raiders compete in the new era of Drury, 69-59, in Columbus, Ohio. Having won the 2019 championship, LCU became the fifth program to win the title in consecutive tournaments. the transfer portal. See page 46 for more details on Adams. Don’t miss the report in “Basketball News” on the basketball Also well-liked and successful is Steve Gomez, whose figures – Joe Lombard, Rayford Young and Noel Johnson – Lubbock Christian Lady Chaps won their third NCAA Division who were inducted into the Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame in II national championship in 2021. The LCU women’s team was 2021 (page 44). well-stocked with Panhandle and South Plains talent. See page This edition also adds another outstanding writer, Lee 7 for Dave Wohlfarth’s story on Gomez Passmore. See Lee’s feature on Hoop 10 on page 40. and the Lady Chaps. We are happy to welcome some new schools into the The West Texas A&M men came within magazine this year. UIL schools Dimmitt, Farwell, Kress and one game of giving this region the NCAA Lubbock Cooper had been missing for awhile, and we’re glad Division II men’s national title, too. See to have them back. And TAPPS school San Jacinto Christian page 10 for Lance Lahnert’s recap of that makes a big return in this edition. remarkable run by Tom Brown’s Buffs. On the higher education side, Frank Phillips College is Speaking of NCAA titles, an Amarillo back after several years along with its women’s coach Brett High senior already has signed to play Schneider and men’s coach Chris Hackett. basketball at Villanova, which has won it The 2020-21 basketball season suffered disruptions in Division I three times. Brendan Hausen, because of COVID-19, including quarantines and the lack of Mark Adams son of Benji Hausen and Stefanie Andrus tournaments during the season. Sports still were seeing some Hausen, both outstanding former players, effects of the pandemic as the 2021-22 school started, but our will be with the Philadelphia school next hope is that they will be minimal and that our high schools and year (see page 47) but first hopes to lead colleges will be able to compete at full speed. Coach Jason Pillion’s Sandies to a Class Our gratitude 5A state championship. Producing Panhandle-Plains Basketball Magazine takes the Our region had four of those in 2021. cooperation of coaches, school advertising coordinators, booster Check out in-depth stories by Dave clubs, families, fans, businesses, college athletic departments Wohlfarth on those state titles by the and others across the region. Some who should be recognized Canyon girls (page 13), Brownfield girls (page 16), Clarendon are Danny Andrews, Russ Anthony, C&R Bindery, ColorArt boys (page 18) and Texline boys (page 20). Printing, Timothy Davis, Tony Freeman, Hartsfield Design, See photos of those state-winning teams in the front color Brady Hochstein, Kathy Haynes, Sam Haynes, Lance Lahnert, section as well as color action photos of the LCU Lady Chaps Kevin Lewis, Cathy Martindale, Tricia Odom, Lee Passmore, and the annual “Lookin’ Back” page showing our cover boys Steve Satterwhite, Vickie Shepherd, Texoma Offset Printing, and girls of 1981-82. WT intern Austin Vandagriff, Garet von Netzer, Wayland Baptist A special feature this year is a series of profiles of many University and Dave Wohlfarth. of the outstanding radio basketball broadcasters in the area We are grateful to all. and their recollections of big games and funny incidents. The Mike Haynes and Sheri Haynes “Unseen Voices” section, put together by magazine co-founder Co-Publishers Danny Andrews, starts on page 23. Panhandle-Plains 22012-2013 Special Features Basketball
1 Change Section 2021-2022 Panhandle-Plains Basketball
