Denton RC High School Blog

Argyle’s Ben Parks was named the first-team kicker on the Texas Sports Writer’s Association’s 3A All-State team on Wednesday. The senior, who’s signing with the University of Wyoming on Wednesday, was also selected as the second-team punter.
Parks made good on 11 of his 17 field goal attempts in 2007 and downed 12 of his 31 punts inside the opponents’ 20-yard line.
Joining Parks on the all-state team was center Corey White and wide receiver Brady Brown, who were both named to the second-team offense. Brown was the Eagles’ leading pass-catcher with 95 grabs for 1,074 yards on the season.

Posted by Adam Boedeker at 7:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I speak for Joey Florence when I ask the UIL to put the Denton schools in an eight-team district.

Being a nationally recognized 4A team, Ryan and Florence haven't had much luck scheduling other 4A teams. The result -- a non-district schedule of Abilene, Colleyville Heritage, Arlington Bowie and South Oak Cliff.

An eight-team district would mean Ryan would only have to schedule three non-district games, meaning maybe only one state-ranked 5A team for the next two years.

I speak for myself when I ask the UIL not to put the Denton schools in with the Wichita Falls schools. Two trips to Wichita Falls this year and last year have done murder to the miles on my car.

Posted by Jeff Andrews at 6:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

I know, it's one of the most overused statements in sports, but if Guyer can finish off the season with two more wins, the Lady Wildcats are in the postseason after coming into district play with only a handful of wins -- well plus a couple of fingers.

Guyer has won four of its last five games, which is the most impressive run the Lady Wildcats have ever made in district play in this being their third season of existence.

I can't sugarcoat it, District 5-4A has drastically regressed over the last couple of years with the fall of Denison last year and Sherman and Denton this year, but a playoff appearance is a playoff appearance.

Granted, Guyer has three games left and two are against the district's two best teams in Ryan (Tuesday) and a star point guard-less Wichita Falls (next Tuesday to close the season). Two wins will get Guyer in and with one it still might be in the driver's seat with a little help. Those two games sandwich a tilt with Wichita Falls Rider, which Guyer defeated by nearly 20 points earlier this year.

Last week, head coach Charla Valenzuela told me she knew no one expected her team to be in this position, and I have to admit, she's right. Earlier in the year when she kept saying the team was still searching for its best game, I honestly thought it was coachspeak, but I was wrong. She was right.

Not to take anything away from the rest of the team, but the Lady Wildcats have benefited tremendously from the addition of Leah Russell, the Lake Dallas transfer who led the Lady Falcons four rounds deep in the playoffs last year. She's the lone Guyer player with playoff experience if you don't count the ones that played volleyball (Hannah Ingram, Carrie Johnson, Kimmy Seiler and Alyssa Keim). Russell a legit scoring threat from anywhere on the floor, which is something this team hasn't had much of in the past. I think the main thing she's brought to the program is a winning attitude and the ever-important postseason experience.

We'll see what happens in the next two weeks but even if they fall short this year, the Lady Wildcats have made some serious strides for a team that had never won three district games in a season and now have won four of five.

Posted by Adam Boedeker at 7:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Although a loss is never good, don't get too worked up about Ryan dropping games to Wichita Falls and Sherman last week. Those two basketball programs are as good as you'll find, and have certainly proved to be the best of District 5-4A this season.

Ryan's playoff hopes will still come down to how the Raiders play in the their last four games. If they can sweep the rest of the district like they did in the first half of district play, Ryan is in.

The Raiders don't need to win out, but a win over Denison at home in a couple weeks would go a long way. The Raiders are tied with Denison for third place, but Denison closes the season against Sherman and still has to play Wichita Falls again. Ryan has a much easier road, but rivalry games against Denton and Guyer will be tough, and the Raiders close the season at Wichita Falls Rider.

Posted by Jeff Andrews at 3:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

With National Signing Day coming up on Feb. 6, area athletes will be signing their college future away to respective universities. The day is dedicated to football, soccer, track and cross country.

From Argyle, kicker Ben Parks will sign with the University of Wyoming. Quarterback JJ Harp, the Denton Record-Chronicle's all-area MVP is signing with Eastern New Mexico along with one his favorite targets, Matt Handler. ENMU competes in the Lone Star Conference.

Cross country star Kristie Krueger will be signing with the University of Georgia after a decorated high school career that saw her win multiple state titles.

Posted by Adam Boedeker at 4:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It won't be official, but a loss to Wichita Falls on Tuesday and the Ryan Lady Raiders can kiss their district title hopes goodbye.

Wichita Falls and Ryan have clearly separated themselves from the rest of the district. While it's possible Denton or Guyer could jump up and steal a game from one of the two, it's unlikely. After Tuesday, Ryan and Ole High should run the table, making Tuesday's game all the bigger.

I think the game is a toss up. It's a classic matchup of strength on weakness. Ryan's guards will rule the perimeter while Janette Merriex will dominate the paint. Which is the bigger advantage? In their first meeting, Merriex ruled and Ole High made the plays down the stretch.

It could go either way this time. One advantage Ryan has is De'Amber Wilhite is a better player than she was the first time. If she can go off and Ryan can do something to limit Merriex, Ryan can win.

Posted by Jeff Andrews at 4:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Oh the joys of deadline reporting... I said Argyle's Cory Dixon was going to Northeastern State, which is in Oklahoma.

The truth is, Dixon will be attending Northwestern State in Louisiana, which has had a handful of recent NCAA Tournament bids. My apologies to Cory.

Posted by Adam Boedeker at 11:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Pilot Point point guard Kaley Uptergrove is one of the fastest girls I've ever seen with the ball. She simply doesn't slow down on the dribble.

Despite not leading the LadyCats in scoring, Uptergrove was Pilot Point's offensive catalyst in its loss to Argyle on Tuesday. Her ability to penetrate and move in transition broke down Argyle's zone defense a number of times.

If she lacks anything, it's some touch on her passes. A few times, she passed the ball so hard her teammates didn't see it or couldn't catch it. If she can settle her passes down and keep her speed up, she can do some damage for the struggling LadyCats.

Posted by Jeff Andrews at 7:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Ryan's win over Denison on Friday was huge -- bigger than huge.

A playoff team last year, the Yellow Jackets have the pole position for the third playoff spot in District 5-4A. Sherman currently trails Denison, but the Bearcats should move up to be one of the top two teams along with Wichita Falls.

With Denton, Guyer and Wichita Falls Rider struggling, that leaves Ryan and Denison. Denison has two games against Wichita Falls left and one against Sherman. Then the play at Ryan. Ryan has to play Sherman and Wichita Falls one more time.

That win gives Ryan a leg up heading down the stretch, and winning it in a tough environment in Denison makes it even more impressive.

Posted by Jeff Andrews at 4:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I went bowling after the Giants-Cows game and my line was next to Denton forward Noel Herdia. The kid can throw the rock as well as he can score goals. The tiny speedster nailed four strikes and two spares on the way to a 139. Denton's leading scorer in 2007 also had a goal in Denton's 3-2 loss to Ryan in the Adam King Bronco Soccer Tournament.

He's a bowling beast and a soccer beast.

Posted by Jeff Andrews at 11:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Just got off the horn with Guyer boys soccer coach Cody Schroeder. He told me the Wildcats' senior midfielder/co-captain Alberto Miguel suffered a severe ankle sprain today and will likely miss 4-6 weeks. That could be bad news for a team competing for a playoff spot in District 5-4A.

Posted by Adam Boedeker at 7:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Wildcats basketball team will be without head coach Nathan Moses for tonight's game at Wichita Falls Rider. Moses and his wife are having their first child and assistant coach Grant Long will take over coaching duties for tonight's game.

Posted by Adam Boedeker at 2:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Although I haven't seen every team in District 5-4A yet, my early vote for Defensive Player of the Year goes to Ryan guard Jacque Dean.

She is simply a ferocious on-ball defender. The senior has a motor that never seems to slow down and her passion for the game is obvious when she’s on the court. She gets more excited than any other play on Ryan’s team.

But the Lady Raiders’ perimeter defense has more than just Dean. Emily Paramore is just as quick and aggressive. Guyer had trouble finding any space against the pair on Friday, contributing to Ryan’s blowout win.

Ryan’s game against Denton on Tuesday may be the last time the Lady Raiders are tested before their rematch with Wichita Falls. Denton got off to a slow start, but the Lady Broncos are playing well in district, and I will never again count out a team coached by Dennis Krishka.

Posted by Jeff Andrews at 3:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Argyle kicker/punter extraordinare Ben Parks has made his decision. My prediction is he was listening to Toby Keith and not Willie Nelson (shame on him) and said he should've been a Cowboy and not he shouldn't grow up to be a Cowboy because he will play his college ball at the University of Wyoming. Wow, I hope that made sense. It worked in my head.

Apparently, he went snowmobiling on his visit. I'd say that'd be a way to reel me in too. Unfortunately, I can't kick 50-yard field goals and down punts inside the 1-yard line on a consistent basis. Parks can. Congratulations to him. Keep in mind, he has until Feb. 5, which is National Signing Day, to change his mind, but this late of a commitment will probably be solid.

Posted by Adam Boedeker at 2:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

If you're in the Denton area and you want to watch a good basketball game tonight, I've got just the one for you.

Head out to Liberty Christian in Argyle for a 6 p.m. tip between the state's top two large private schools, No. 1 Bishop Lynch and the No. 2 Lady Warriors.

Lynch won the TAPPS 6A title last year while Liberty took home the 5A title, and Bishop Lynch defeated the Lady Warriors last year in nondistrict play.

This Liberty team is different though despite losing all-state post Kristen Goodspeed to a torn ACL at the beginning of volleyball season. The Lady Warriors won the Mansfield Rotary Invitational last week -- the first time a private school has ever won the tourney in its five-year history. Along the way, they beat five ranked public schools at the 3A, 4A and 5A level, including 5A No. 3 Mansfield Timberview in the final.

Whitney Hand leads Liberty Christian with 25-plus points, 12-plus boards and five-plus assists per game. She's signed with Oklahoma and is one of the nation's top high school players.

I've yet to see her play and I'm looking forward to it tonight. It's going to be a great atmosphere. Apparently there's people coming that have no personal connection to either school. Heck, when it's over, you'll still have time to head up to Ryan to watch the Crosstown Showdown between Ryan and Guyer. I predict a Guyer victory.

Posted by Adam Boedeker at 10:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)