Sweeny High School - Bulldog Yearbook (Sweeny, TX)

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194 The eonv of Defeat M0 t 4' 4 -wiv! ho09 if-Li' L

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Victory l --r ' weeny Court Queens Earn Ticket to State Tournament Here we go again! For the third time in four years the Lady Bulldogs have reached the threshold to the state championship only to be deprived of it once again. The Eagles of Barbers Hill, led by Pennee Hall, topped the Lady Bulldogs 68-53 in their championship bid in Austin's Super Drum. Sweeny's fate was sealed by their dismal 36 percent free throw shooting, while the Eagles had an incredible 60.2 percent night. We never could get one to fall where we needed it, cited a disappointed Coach Jerry English. We played with great intensity, but not a great deal of finesse, Millie Bivens led Sweeny in scoring with 19 points, while Trina Williams added 13. The Lady Bulldogs route to Austin was long and diversified, if not difficult. They started their season with a bang, posting an 8-3 non- district record with their only losses coming from 5A powerhouses Angleton, Victoria, and Cy-Fair. They beat, among others 5A semifinalist Yates in a non-district slate comprised of nearly all 5A schools. This proved that Sweeny could play on the same level as anybody in the state. In tournament play, Sweeny won the Sweeny Classic by blowing out Columbia and Dickinson en-route to their championship victory over El Campo. ln the Barbers Hill Gulf Coast Classic, the Lady Bulldogs reached the semifinals before bowing to District 17-5A champs Westfield 57-55. Finally, in the Brazosport College Holiday Tournament, the girls routed Clear Lake and Brazoswood before avenging their loss to Angleton 60-58 in the finals. Those non-district matches proved to be the only competition Sweeny would face until they reached Austin. After a non-district record of 15-4 against mostly 5A schools, the girls in District 26-3A proved to be absolutely no contest. Despite measures to keep scores down, like shortened quarters, Sweeny nevertheless obliterated district opponents with scores like 96-21 and 61-10 en-route to a perfect 10-0 district mark. In fact, the closest anyone ever got to Sweeny in a district game was 31 points during a game with Van Vleck. FAR LEFT: Ecstatic after winning the Region IV championship once again, Lady Bulldogs Trina Williams and Jill Burttschell heol aloft their ticket to Austin. ABOVE LEFT: Lady Bulldogs Coach Jerry English shows intense concentration during one of his team's practice sessions. LEFT: Varisty Lady Bulldogs basketball players include Trina Williams, Jackie Higgins, Rolanda Bell, Jill Burtfschell, Renee Phillips, Millie Bivens, Elaine Amey, Betty Bivens, Carol Higgins, and Rhonda Woodard. l 193

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.vwdo wn in Austin he Lady Bulldogs entered the playoffs in same fashion in which they won district. 3 - - i 77 36 bi district victory over Coach English stated, We made stakes in execution, but we still to keep it out of reach. pounding LaGrange in the bi-district Sweeny traveled to Kingsville for the IV Toumament, in which they their winning ways with a 67-36 of Medina Valley in a repeat of last year's regional The Panthers committed 16 in the first period alone as Sweeny out to a 19-6 lead. That quick start helped us, said Coach English, l think prepared a great deal for our press, having it last year. But, when it came right back so fast, l'm sure it shook them up a continued to shake things up as Ingleside later the same day, 49- thus sending them to Austin once AlI in all, l'm just very, very excited kids. This team has worked as hard as Sweeny team I have ever coached. I think wonderful thing that we are going to be to Austin together, cited an elated ch English after the game. pon reaching the hallowed final four, the y Bulldogs met with much more opposition they were accustumed to, having to fight rappy Ferris team tooth and nail to escape a narrow 48-45 victory. Neither Sweeny Ferris played up to their usual caliber of etball, as blown opportunities and low ting percentages were the rule. We had emendous desire to win in the last six tes, said English, We didn't play very , but we wanted it badly. l know we can better next time. weeny did play better in the finals against ers Hill, but for the winners of 21 straight s just not to be. The disappointment was ent on the faces of the players as they sat ned by the reality of losing the big one again. However, these girls have bigger better things to look forward to. All- r Millie Bivens will play in the state tar game in Houston this summer and the of the seniors can go away much the er for their experiences. The rclassmen, though, have a much more t objective: to continue in the dynasty is Sweeny. lily., sig w 'Q- .x l... I 'S Q31 ' 4,1 1 ABOVE LEFT: With the disappointment evident on their faces, the Lady Bulldogs accept the state runner up medals once again. FAR LEFT: Sophmore Trina Williams outjumps an Eagle opponent while teammate Renee Phillips looks on. ABOVE RIGHT: Senior all-stater Millie Bivens goes airbome lor a basket during the state linals against Barbers Hill. eff T .M ... . i is LEFT: Junior Jill Burftschell shoots for two during the regional toumament in Kingsville. ABOVE: Seniors Millie Bivens and Renee Phillips sadly display their state runner up team trophy as their teammates look on. 1' Y 195