The star athletes of Freestone County made their presence known at the Super Centex Victory Bowl event last week in the Heart of Texas area. The week of basketball, softball, baseball, football and volleyball concluded on Saturday afternoon.
The events began with the girls and boys basketball games at Fairfield High School for the first time. The Johnson Activity Center was the host for the Blue and Red All-Star teams. Michaiah Miller of Mexia was a player on the Blue team contributed to the 60-36 win. Miller scored on off of an offensive rebound in the final moment of the first period and made three of four free throws. She had a steal and score in the fourth period and scored nine points in the game. Peyton Conde of Academy High School was named the Most Outstanding Player of the game.
The boys’ game was another Blue All-Stars win 84-71. Keegan Rowell earned Most Outstanding Player honors in a game that turned into a highlight slam dunk contest in the last three minutes of the game.
The diamond was the site for the games on Friday. The girls played the softball game at Dee Dillon Field and the boys played the baseball game at Red Murff Field on the campus of the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton. Delainey Long played for the Blue team in her final game after playing for the Teague Lions. She was the leadoff hitter for the Blue team and had two ringing doubles and scored two of the three runs for her team in the 9-3 loss.
Long doubled down the left field line and scored on a two-out single by Asharah Thibodeaux from Waco. Long saw action in left and centerfield on defense and made a solid defensive play running in on a short fly ball for the second out of the third inning. She doubled again down the left field line with one out in the fourth inning and scored on a second single by Thibodeaux to cut into the lead. The Gene Pimberton Servant Heart Award for the game would go to Madison Brumit of Kerens High School.
The weekend games found players and fans at Waco ISD Stadium and the 15th Annual Victory Bowl. Six area athletes took the field and the Blue team claimed the 37-22 win over the Red team.
Cayden Story, who played his high school games for the Fairfield Eagles, along with Fairfield teammate Braiden Barrett made an instant impact on the Blue defense. Barrett had a big hit on a running back in the first drive and Story caused a fumble that was recovered by Timmy Hamilton from Blooming Grove. Blue would find the scoreboard with 2:46 remaining in the first quarter. Justin Moore of Bosqueville scored on an eight-yard run for the early 7-0 lead. Julio Rogue, also from Fairfield, saw action in the Blue offensive line on the drive.
The Red All-Stars answered with a ten-play drive that covered 72 yards and featured the running of Austin Cook (Hillsboro), Mason Heath (Riesel) and Tanner Bean (Wortham). Breck Chambers scored at the end around for the nine-yard touchdown and Heath added the conversion run for the Red 8-7 lead.
Blue would take control of the contest, led by the Fairfield All-Star players. Story recovered a fumble deep in the Red side of the field and scored in three plays. Mekhi Sandolph scored on a 12-yard run to regain the lead. Jace Richardson (Corsicana) intercepted a pass and returned it to the Red nine-yard line. Jack Johnston (Waco Connally) covered the nine yards on the first play of the drive to extend the lead to 20-8. Story had a sack on the next drive that pushed the Red back and forced the punt. Moore covered that ground in another one play drive on a pass to a wide-open Braylyn Brandon for the 65-yard score and the lead grew to 27-8.
Red scored on their first possession of the second half. Barrett had another big hit and stopped CJ DeLeon for no gain. Bean had a pair of 11 yard runs for first downs and finished the 13-play drive with a two-yard touchdown run. The conversion was good, and the Red cut the Blue lead down to 27-14. The Red cut the lead to five with 1:34 remaining in the third quarter on a Cook four-yard run.
Blue added a 23-yard field goal by Joe Morales (Corsicana). Blue would close the game away when the Red team fumbled, and Story scooped up the loose ball and returned it 29 yards to the Red 28-yard line. Two plays later Sandolph scored on a 21-yard run to extend the lead to 37-22.
DJ McClelland (Granger) was named the Bob McQueen Defensive MVP and Braylen Brandon (Corsicana) earned offensive MVP honors.
