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As a freelance writer, I’ve focused on covering high school sports, highlighting the excitement, dedication, and stories behind the games. From detailed game recaps to athlete spotlights, my work captures the essence of local sports and the communities that rally behind them. I aim to bring each story to life with accuracy and enthusiasm, connecting readers to the heart of the action and the athletes who make it happen. Below are a few of my published works with buttons to link where the story is published.
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'Kids found a way' — University survives in double overtime, sets up rematch with Ellison
MIDLOTHIAN — Insanity. That’s the only word to sum up what happened at Midlothian High School on Tuesday night between the University Trojans and Frisco Memorial Warriors.
The Trojans defeated the Warriors in a double-overtime thriller with a final score of 79-75 in the Class 5A Div. II regional semifinals. It’s not March, but this game had all the madness of an NCAA tournament game. The scoring duo of London Smith (18) and Dre Rutledge (24) fueled the Trojans to the victory.
With a back-and-forth fourth quarter that saw Memorial erase a 10-point lead by University, that was only the beginning of the chaos. With less than a minute to go in the game Memorial capitalized on missed free throws from University and took a 57-56 lead.
After a University foul with 4.3 seconds on the clock, Memorial proceeded to make the first free throw and miss the second, which was rebounded by Rutledge. He took the ball the length of the court and dropped it in as the buzzer sounded to send the game to the first overtime.
Rutledge said that his regulation-ending play was one that he knew was always possible. He said that the game is never over until the final buzzer, and he made sure of it.
“Once I hit that layup, I knew that we could win this game,” Rutledge said. “Because I knew that God put us in that position to keep playing.”
University head coach Ricardo Felix said that he’s most proud of the way his team handled the situation of being down late and giving up a late lead, after some players felt like that it was on them.
“I think London was disappointed there at the end because he felt like a lot of it was on him, but he did an excellent job,” Felix said. “I think as a whole, man, the kids played through all that and they found a way to finish the game, and that’s what I’m most proud of them for.”
Smith said that the end of regulation it was his teammates that helped pick him up, as he was playing and fighting for them.
“I just had to stay up for my team you know,” Smith said. “The seniors put their all into this and I don’t want this to be their last game, so I think the seniors brought me through it and lifted me up to finish and put the team in a position to win.”
The overtime game plan for University (27-8) was obvious: get the ball to Smith and Rutledge and let them work. Felix said that the trust the two have in each other really helped the team down the stretch and praised their ability to turn to one another when needed.
“As long as they keep trusting each other we’re gonna be successful,” Felix said.
The end of the first overtime period produced the same chaos as regulation. Back-and-forth down the stretch led to a 65-63 University lead late. After hitting one free throw but missing the second, University saw Memorial’s Sachin Keshaav nail a corner 3-pointer with four seconds left to send the game to a second overtime.
Although it seemed like it was heading that way, the Trojans pulled through and denied the Warriors (25-9) a chance at a third overtime period. Clutch plays by Rutledge and Smith secured a four-point lead late and helped The U secure the victory.
Rutledge and Smith both added that the fourth quarter run by Memorial was just part of the game, and they understand that teams go on runs at different times. Both players said that their job is just to stay composed and keep playing basketball.
Felix said that game planning was difficult but doable, as Memorial was a team that he didn’t know much about, but he credited his team and his coaches for their resiliency and their ability to game plan.
“On the weekend we work on ourselves and our defense,” Felix said. “The next day we really focus on our matchups and figuring out how to battle them, and then make our defensive adjustments based on that."
Felix constantly gave praise to his assistant coaches and the work they put in throughout the whole season and the playoffs.
“I can’t give enough credit to this coaching staff, man,” Felix said. “Ricky Rhodes, Victor Carmichael and Anthony Webb are just three guys who do outstanding work for this team and don’t get enough recognition. Their game-planning and preparation that they put into this team is what helped us be successful all year.”
The victory for the Trojans sets up a third meeting with district foe and third-ranked Killeen Ellison (29-5) in the regional final. After dropping two regular-season matchups against Ellison, Rutledge and Smith both said that they’re ready for the exciting matchup.
“You don’t lose to a team three times in one season,” Rutledge said. “So we’re definitely coming prepared and ready to make some noise.”
Top-ranked Trophy Club Byron Nelson volleyball sweeps its way to 6A-II state title game
WACO – Byron Nelson proved just why it’s the top-ranked volleyball team in the nation Tuesday night in a 3-0 sweep of Woodlands’ College Park, defeating the Cavaliers 25-15 in consecutive opening sets and finished the sweep 25-13.
Byron Nelson (39-1) will play in the 6A Div. II state championship Saturday against either Stratford or Vandergrift, while College Park’s season ends at 34-12.
Under the bright lights of the state semi-finals, the nation’s number one volleyball team showcased its dominance, crushing dreams and advancing one step closer to championship glory
Byron Nelson opened the first set going back and forth with College Park. However, a big run midway through the set gave the Bobcats the lead who refused to give it up the remainder of the set.
Huge contributions from the outside hitter duo of juniors Kylie Kleckner and Ashlyn Seay helped seal the first set victory. Kleckner said the gameplan going into the night’s matchup was to focus on themselves as a team while Seay said the focus was the same.
“We’re always focused on our side instead of what the other team’s doing,” Seay said. “Just making sure we’re playing our game.”
The second and third sets told the same story with the set starting out tight and the duo of Kleckner and Seay, with help from sophomore Sophee Peterson, controlling the game and putting Byron Nelson in position to win.
Head Coach Brianne Groth said that going into tonight’s matchup was similar of what her players said—to take care of themselves.
“I think the gameplan was to take care of us,” Groth said. “If we play really really well then I feel confident in the success of our sets.”
Groth praised the fight of College Park and said that she knew her team wasn’t just coming in for an easy win. Groth also said that she believes College Park deserved the exposure that a traditional state championship would bring.
“I hate it for our girls that there’s not a state tournament,” Groth said. “I also hate it for College Park because they should be recognized, they deserve to be recognized and they’re not being recognized.”
Groth is looking forward to taking the “grit” of her team into the state finals on Saturday.
“We always talk about if you are a championship team, you find ways to win even when you’re not playing well,” Groth said.
Built like a Tank: Bremond holds the line against Lovelady in second-round win, 34-14
MADISONVILLE — With its back against the wall and a roaring crowd cheering from the stands, Bremond stood firm against a furious fourth-quarter Lovelady comeback, sealing a 34-14 win in the area round of the playoffs.
Under the bright lights at Mustang Stadium, the Tigers leaned on their powerhouse running back, Tank Scott, to bulldoze through the defense. Led by his four-touchdown night, Bremond held off the late Lions rally, punching its ticket to the next round and keeping their Class 2A Division II championship hopes alive.
Scott set the tone early with a rushing touchdown midway through the first quarter to put Bremond on the board early for a 6-0 lead.
Bremond’s defense had Lovelady fighting to come back from the jump, and an interception from Xavier Clark ended the Lions’ hopes of tying the game up.
The interception set up Bremond on a first-and-goal from the 5-yard-line, and Scott scored his second touchdown of the night with five minutes to go in the half, extending the Tigers’ lead to 12-0.
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Lovelady opened the second half with a march downfield, looking to cut into the two-score lead, but a crucial personal foul on third down pushed the Lions back 15 yards, which resulted in an interception on the next play by Bremond’s Braylon Estrada with just over eight minutes left in the third quarter.
After an Eddy Carrizales field goal late in the third put Bremond up 15-0, the Tigers continued their offensive attack in the fourth. With an 11-yard touchdown run from Clark, Bremond extended its lead to 21-0.
Lovelady refused to give up, however. After taking the ball down the field, a 24-yard touchdown reception by Barrett Stauffer cut the lead to 21-7 with six minutes to go in the game.
A successful onside kick recovery saw Lovelady set up its offense at the 50-yard line. Multiple Bremond penalties on this drive allowed Lovelady to take the ball down and score on a four-yard touchdown pass to Jaden Shelton, cutting the lead to 21-14 and firing up both crowds with just over three minutes in the game.
A second onside kick, however, went to Bremond. The Tigers controlled the ball down to the 5-yard line, where Scott would score his third touchdown of the night. The score all but sealed Bremond’s victory, putting the Tigers up 27-14 with two minutes to play.
Lovelady threw another interception to Bremond's Jaden Scott, pretty much ending the Lions’ season. Bremond kneeled it out until 11 seconds were left on the clock, then Tank Scott scored his fourth and final touchdown of the night on a 25-yard run.
Scott finished with some 25 carries for more than 165 yards and four touchdowns.
Bremond (10-2) will face Mount Enterprise (10-3) in the third round next week while Lovelady’s season ends at 9-3.
Explosive Axtell turns to wildcat to get past Bosqueville, 37-27
AXTELL — Under a sky filled with fireworks, the real sparks flew on the field as Axtell delivered an explosive performance against Bosqueville.
As the final burst of fireworks faded into the night, the Longhorns (8-1, 4-1 District 1-2A Div. 1) had already ignited their own celebration with a 37-27 victory over the Bulldogs.
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Both the Bulldogs and Longhorns started out slow, with both going scoreless in the first quarter. Bosqueville started the second quarter strong deep in its own territory before fumbling the ball to Axtell, which would take over just outside the red zone.
After a quick four-play drive, the Longhorns opened the game’s scoring with an eight-yard touchdown run by running back Coldyn Horn with just over 10 minutes to go in the half.
The Bulldogs quickly responded with a five-play drive, highlighted by a 48-yard pass from quarterback Keaton Harrison to receiver Keller Silver. The drive was capped off with a nine-yard touchdown run by Harrison to tie the game at 7 a piece
As the Longhorns looked to respond, their drive was cut short after a fumble halfway through the quarter. The Longhorn defense took control, however, after Axtell defensive back Cole Tindle recovered a Bulldog fumble and took it 57 yards for a touchdown to put the Longhorns back ahead 14-7 at the half.
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Axtell head coach Craig Horn said that going into halftime he understood his team wasn’t playing to the level he wanted, and credited Bosqueville’s defense for forcing them to play differently.
“We just had to narrow some things down a bit,” Horn said. “They were taking some things away and forcing us to run outside.”
Horn said the week off was a factor in the Longhorns not playing particularly well in the first half, but they tightened up, fixed what they needed to and made the changes needed — even if that meant a new quarterback.
After the halftime break, the Longhorns subbed in running back Coldyn Horn and ran a wildcat offense for the rest of the game.
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The Bulldogs came out of the halftime break quick, catching the Longhorns off guard, and recovered an onside kick to set the offense up Axtell territory. The recovery proved helpful for the Bulldogs, who tied the game on a 34-yard touchdown pass from Harrison to Silver.
The Longhorns tried to respond and marched the ball all the way down to the 2-yard-line before turning it over on downs. The Longhorn defense stood strong and after two consecutive false starts, which saw the ball placed on the 1-inch line, the Longhorns made a tackle in the end zone resulting in a safety and a 16-14 lead late in the third quarter.
The Longhorns extended their lead midway through the fourth quarter on a 25-yard touchdown pass from Horn to receiver Troy Arlitt to put the Longhorns up 23-14 with just under seven minutes to go in the fourth. The Bulldogs immediately responded with a 75-yard touchdown run by Brody McNamara to cut the lead back down to 23-21 with 6:30 to play.
The Longhorns tried to add to their lead but fumbled the ball with four and a half minutes left in the game. The Bulldogs looked to take the lead but fumbled the ball right back to Axtell on their first play of the drive.
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The Longhorns capitalized on the turnover with a 14-yard touchdown run from Horn with 4:08 left in the game. Bosqueville fumbled the ball again on their first play, the Longhorns put the game out of reach on with a two-yard touchdown run from Horn again.
The Bulldogs responded with a touchdown with just over a minute to go, but a failed two-point conversion and a failed onside kick sealed the victory for Axtell.
Horn finished with 14 rushes for 123 yards and three touchdowns, while also completing a pair of pass attempts to finish with 55 passing yards and a score.
Horn said that his mindset going into the game late was to just “pound the ball” and keep the clock rolling to secure the victory. Horn also gave credit to his teammates for their success on the ground.
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“It’s not just me out there,” Horn said. “It’s also 10 other guys out there that get confidence from the momentum of things.”
Coach Horn said all three phases of offense, defense and special teams are continuing to improve as the Longhorns ramp up for postseason play.
Bosqueville ends its season at 4-6 and 1-5 in district, missing the playoffs for the third year in a row. Axtell, meanwhile, heads to Itasca (4-5, 2-3) in the final week of the regular season.
No. 4 seed Baylor women’s golf set to tee off in Big 12 Championship
No. 4 seed Baylor women’s golf is set to tee off in the Big 12 Championship event on Thursday morning at the Clubs at Houston Oaks Country Club in Hockley. The Bears are looking for their second-ever Big 12 Championship.
Baylor finished in a tie for second place the last time it played in Hockley in 2022. The Bears have risen 23 spots in the rankings over the past month.
Head coach Jay Goble said his squad is in a solid spot heading into the tournament. Goble said he’s confident due to the success of two years ago as well as the groove his group is in as of late.
“[Houston Oaks] is a course we played very well two years ago,” Goble said. “I think our team has really been moving in the right direction in the last month or so. We played well at Arizona State and then again at Dallas Athletic Club last week. I really believe that everyone’s game is peaking at the right time.”
The Bears shot under four in the final round of the Arizona State Invitational and finished sixth on March 30, and they also shot under 12 and had a first-place finish in the Veritex Bank Texas Showdown on April 8 in Dallas.
Senior Rosie Belsham enters this tournament having earned Big 12 All-Tournament recognition two years ago when the Bears played at Houston Oaks. Belsham will play at the No. 1 spot this weekend, and she said she feels comfortable with this course due to its resemblance to Ridgewood Country Club — one of the Bears’ practice or qualifying courses in Waco.
“If you have a tough shot or something, you can think about all the good ones you’ve hit at Ridgewood and draw off that,” Belsham said. “It helps you feel like you’ve played it before even if you haven’t.
“I think I’m the only one to have played Big 12s there, but a few more of us have played there. And with it being like Ridgewood, I think it gives us a lot more experience.”
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Freshman Ashleen Kaur, a Houston native, is set to play at the No. 2 spot while junior Sara Hasegawa will play at the No. 3, with junior BaiMai Seema and sophomore Silje Ohma rounding out the rotation in the No. 4 and No. 5 spots, respectively. Freshman Yoonjeong Huh will fill in as the Bears’ alternate for the Big 12 Championship.
Kaur grew up near this course and leads the team in scoring birdies or better 20.1% of the time.
Hasegawa has three-straight top-10 finishes, and she’s second on the team in getting a par-or-better, achieving this at a rate of 80.4% on 414 holes over the course of the season.
Huh had seven starts this year and finished in a tie for 14th at the Veritex Bank Texas Showdown in Dallas.
The Bears are set to tee off on Thursday morning, and the final round on Saturday will be available to be streamed on ESPN+.