Sports Roundup

The Azle Hornets and Lady Hornets each had strong showings at the prestigious War Games competition at Frisco Memorial High School recently.

The Hornets won the tournament, defeating Southlake Carroll, ranked No. 5 in the state in Class 6A, in the process. Meanwhile, the Lady Hornets finished as runners-up in the girls division, with only girls competing for Azle.

For the Hornets, Chase Yancey won the 144-pound division, as did Roman Fraser at 215 pounds and Devin Wingfield in the heavyweight (285) category. Also, Wyatt Hicks and Landin Evans finished second in the 150 and 157 divisions, respectively.

All four Lady Hornets were finalists in their respective divisions. Noah Kovach won the 100-pound category, Kaylie Groot was first at 107 and Mariah Dillard took first at 114. Elle Yelle placed second at 165.

“We had a great weekend,” beamed coach Tyler Harrison.

Also medaling for the Hornets were:

113: 4. Kolby Moreland

132: 3. Tyler Yancey

138: 4. Camron Latham

The Hornets and Lady Hornets are competing in the Comal Pieper Duals this weekend in San Antonio. Dec. 20-21 they cross the border to compete in the Bring the Hammer Tournament at Cabot High School in Cabot, Arkansas.

AZLE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL

The Fighting Crusaders (11-4) garnered four victories during the week, defeating Gorman 40-22 Dec. 10, a game that saw them end with a 16-0 run in the fourth period. They also won the Fort Worth Hill School Tournament, defeating Arlington St. Paul’s Prep Dec. 13 (39-28), Perrin Grace (38-27) and St. Paul’s again Dec. 14 (44-14).

Leading scorers in each game were:

Vs. Gorman: Brody Fairman 12, Jakob Rollins 8

Vs. St. Paul’s: Corban Potter 11, Gavin Montez 10, Fairman 10

Vs. Grace: Montez 20, Fairman 12

Vs. St. Paul’s: Nathan Tuggle 11, Jaxson Durham 10

Fairman was named the tournament MVP and Montez was selected for the all-tournament team.

“We are going 10 deep and flying around on defense right now,” ACS coach Ryan Rollins said. “I am very proud of how everyone is contributing.”

The Crusaders were playing at Weatherford Express Home School at press time. They host Haslet Heritage Christian Academy Dec. 19 and travel to Ranger Dec. 20, both at 7 p.m. They wrap up 2024 with a trip to Weatherford Victory Baptist Dec. 28 at 6 p.m.

LAKE WORTH BOYS BASKETBALL

The Bullfrogs continued their remarkable turnaround from last season with a runner-up finish in their own Bullfrogs Classic this past weekend, improving to 9-3. Lake Worth won a couple of thrillers, holding off late rallies, defeating Diamond Hill-Jarvis 55-52 and Irving Nimitz 49-46, before falling 74-51 in the championship game against Saginaw Boswell.

Leaders in the tournament for the Bullfrogs were:

Vs. DHJ: Braylen Fridia 18 points; Favian Lopez 11 points; Ayden Brooks 11 points, seven rebounds, four assists; De’Jay Black six rebounds; Eddie Paige six rebounds, three steals. The Bullfrogs shot 19-of-28 (68%) from 2-point range.

Vs. Nimitz: Fridia 14 points, three assists; Lopez 12 points, four rebounds, three steals; Paige 10 points, four rebounds; Ivan Sanhez 9 points; Brooks 11 rebounds.

Vs. Boswell: Fridia 18 points, Anthony Green 8 points, Paige 5 points, Parrion Hall 5 points, Black five rebounds, Tyrell Scruggs five rebounds.

Lake Worth was hosting Springtown in both teams’ District 7-4A opener at press time and travels to Burkburnett, No. 17 in the state in the state by TABC, Friday, Dec. 20 at 7:30 p.m. They are in the Ponder Holiday Classic Dec. 27-28 and will visit Stephenville New Year’s Eve at 2:30 p.m.

AZLE BOYS BASKETBALL

The Hornets (9-12) placed third in the Fairfield Tournament this past weekend, winning their final three games after dropping the first two. Results and scoring leaders were:

Lost 58-49 to Decatur, No. 11 in 4A by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches: Bryce Robinson 10, Britt Haas 9, Cason Cook 8

Lost 59-55 to Mexia, No. 10 in Class 3A by TABC: Jayden Taylor 15, Robinson 14, Haas 12

Defeated Palmer (No. 13 in 3A by TABC) 58-56: Cook 19, Taylor 16, Robinson 15

Defeated Waco Connelly 53-52: Robinson 20, Taylor 13, Cook 13

Defeated Bullard 58-49: Taylor 19, Robinson 13, Haas 11, Cook 11

Prior to the tournament, the Hornets made short work of Dallas Spruce, winning 75-40 on the road Dec. 10. They put the game away with a 24-6 run in the third quarter.

Leading Azle were Taylor with 18 points, Cook with 13 and Robinson with a dozen. Haas came close to double figures with 9.

Azle opens District 5-5A play at home against Saginaw Friday, Dec. 20 at 5 p.m. The Hornets will host Northwest Dec. 27 at 1 p.m. in nondistrict before returning to league play Dec. 31 in Granbury at 1:15 p.m.

AZLE CHRISTIAN GIRLS BASKETBALL

The Fighting Lady Crusaders (7-2) had little trouble with Perrin Grace Christian, winning on the road 45-25 Dec. 9 for their seventh straight victory. Daisy Ramos led with 12 points, while Vanessa Malewiski and Dari Skarvedt each added 8.

ACS was hosting Parker Tarrant Home School at press time and hosts Haslet Heritage Christian Academy Dec. 19 at 6 p.m. They travel to Ranger Dec. 20 at 5:30 p.m., host Stephenville Faith Dec. 28 at 11 a.m. and end 2024 by visiting Weatherford Victory Baptist Dec. 30 at 5 p.m.

AZLE GIRLS BASKETBALL

The Lady Hornets (5-13, 0-1 in district) wrapped up pre-district play at home against Poolville Dec. 10 with a 65-22 win. They began District 5-5A competition Friday, Dec. 13 at Saginaw Chisholm Trail, falling 45-28.

In the victory against Poolville, Azle used runs of 24-2 in the first quarter and 16-0 over the course of the third quarter to take command. Scoring leaders were:

Vs. Poolville: Angel Sifuentes 16, Abby Natusch 14, Brooklyn Young 9, Keagan Stuart 8

Vs. Chisholm Trail: Natusch 13

Azle was hosting Fossil Ridge, No. 21 in the state by the TABC, at press time. On Friday, Dec. 20 they host Saginaw at 6:15 p.m.

The Lady Hornets will compete in the College Station Tournament Dec. 26-28, followed by a return to district play at Granbury on New Year’s Eve at 11:45 a.m.

SPRINGTOWN GIRLS BASKETBALL

The Lady Pines (6-11) began District 7-4A at Krum Dec. 10, falling 53-39. They then hosted Burkburnett, No. 8 in the state by TABC, Dec. 13 and lost 58-44.

Leaders vs. Krum: Olivia Williams 12 points, Brylynn Bazzell 8 points, Esther Balado 8 points

Leaders vs. Burkburnett: Bazzell 22 points, Balado 8 points, Kaylee Falcon 6 points

At press time the Lady Pines were hosting Lake Worth. On Friday, Dec. 20 they host Bridgeport, 11th in state by TABC, at 6:15 p.m. and finish the year in the Carter Riverside/Western Hills Classic Dec. 27-28.

SPRINGTOWN BOYS BASKETBALL

The Porcupines (2-11) were in the Glen Rose Tournament Dec. 12-14. They dropped games to Glen Rose (94-51), Eagle Mountain (51-39), Tolar (59-51) and Wimberley (63-53). Leaders were:

Vs. Eagle Mountain: Ayden Lugo 12 points, eight rebounds; Grayson Brooks, 10 points, four rebounds; Dylan Crutchfield 8 points, seven rebounds

Vs. Glen Rose: Lugo 13 points, four rebounds; Crutchfield 10 points, six rebounds; Brooks 10 points

Vs. Wimberley: Lugo 13 points, five rebounds; Crutchfield 12 points, 12 rebounds; Brooks 10 points, five rebounds

Vs. Tolar: Lugo 18 points, Brooks 11 points, Crutchfield 8 points

The Porcupines were opening District 7-4A play at Lake Worth at press time. They host Bridgeport Dec. 20 at 12:30 p.m. and are in the Ponder Holiday Classic Dec. 27-28.

On Dec. 10, Springtown fell at home to Aledo 87-46. Lugo led the Porcupines with 16 points, two steals and two assists. Brooks scored 14 with 4 rebounds and Ethan Graham had 8 points.

LAKE WORTH GIRLS BASKETBALL

District 7-4A play got off to a rough start for the Lady Frogs (14-7, 0-2 in district) as they fell to Decatur 74-19 at home Dec. 10. The Lady Eagles are ranked No. 5 in the state by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches.

Jackie Cleveland led Lake Worth with 10 points and Aliyah Salas added 7.

The Lady Eagles followed with a 43-41 loss at Eagle Mountain Dec. 13. Leaders were Kylan Nabors 18 points, Salas with 11 and Cleveland with 8.

The Lady Frogs were hosting Springtown at press time. They conclude play in 2024 with a visit to No. 8 Burkburnett Friday, Dec. 20 at 2:15 p.m.

SPRINGTOWN WRESTLING

The Porcupines competed in the Mike McCready Memorial Tournament recently in Colleyville. Punishers of the Meet were:

165 pounds: Zariah Nelson, 3-3 record, sixth place

138 pounds: Dominic Contreras, 3-2 record

175 pounds: Breaden Brown, 2-2