Bulldogs Basketball

Bulldogs struggle to get into groove at Celina

Howe’s Jacob Campbell drives the lane at Celina on Friday. Staff photo.

Howe’s Kaleb Taylor (13) turns around a Celina attempted shot. Staff photo.

The Howe Bulldogs (8-6, 0-1) hit the court for the first time in 10 days with a game at and against Class 4A Celina. The result was a 54-35 loss and Howe now has back-to-back losses for the first time since losing to Sam Rayburn and Farmersville to open December.

It was a display of long bombs in the first quarter by Celina as they hit four –pointers to take a 13-12 lead over Howe after the first period. Jacob Campbell’s nine points and Austin Haley’s three successful foul shots kept the Dogs close before the Bobcats defense allowed Howe only four points in the second period. Howe also had their best defensive period by only allowing eight to Celina, but the Bobcats entered intermission with a 21-16 advantage.

Celina’s Kasey Ollison added eight points on field goals while teammate Ethan Brownell hit two of his four 3pointers in the period. Celina stretched their lead to 40-31 entering the final stanza.

But the Bobcats went on a 14-4 run to finish out the game and Howe now puts that game in the rearview mirror and looks ahead to hosting Bells tomorrow for the second district game and the first one at home.

Campbell led Howe with 21 points at Celina with Kaleb Taylor adding six and Haley five. Ryan Hough added two points to round out the scoring.

The Bulldogs are scoring 43.14 points per game so far this season while allowing 42.36 to opponents. Howe’s only district game to date is a 45-40 loss at Pottsboro.

Presley Shockey (5) in defense against S&S on Friday in Callisburg. Staff photo.

Jentrie Doty (24) looks to pass against S&S on Friday. Staff photo.

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first period thanks to Kendall Griffin’s 10 points to open the game. Griffin would later be named to the First State Bank All-Tournament Team. Howe was able to hold a 32-19 lead at the half thanks in part to Teagan Stubblefield’s second 3-pointer of the half. The game was slowed down considerably in the second half and Howe took home a 41-30 win.

Griffin ended up leading Howe with 16 points with Stubblefield’s three 3pointers totaling nine. Presley Shockey added eight points.

Following the win, Howe played Muenster’s JV and won commandingly 38-12 which Griffin dropped in 19 points to lead the Lady Bulldogs. The game was actually close after the first period with Howe holding a 4-2 lead, but Jentrie Doty hit her first of three 3pointers to help stretch the lead to 12-9 at intermission. The halftime adjustment put the ball into Griffin’s hands to put 10 of her points on the board in the third period which took the air out of the Muenster’s JV and Howe took a 27-11 lead into the final frame.

Behind Griffin’s 19 points was Doty’s nine, Shockey’s three, and Emery Snapp’s three points.

Howe then danced to the semifinals of the tournament but faced a large challenge with Muenster and were turned away by a score of 39-26. The Lady Bulldog trailed after the first period, 11 -7, but the Lady Hornets dominated in (Continued on page 5)