SCHEDULES, STADIUM MAPS BELOW

  Going into the 2012 high school football season, good news and bad news abounds for Pasadena ISD teams.
  The good news at Memorial High is a dream schedule. After their season-opener against Fort Bend Clements on Aug. 30, the Mavericks won't play outside the friendly confines of Veterans Memorial Stadium for the rest of the regular season.
  For Memorial, that offsets part of the bad news that has all five Pasadena ISD schools staring down far more foreboding path to the playoffs than in 2010 or 2011. Comfortably grouped in a six-team district those two years, the Pasadena ISD schools now move into an eight-team District 22-5A alignment that includes Pearland, Alvin and Manvel.
  Assured of at least three playoff teams the past two years, the Pasadena ISD is now assured of only one.
  Pearland, the Class 5A state champion in 2010, rates as a solid favorite to win the district title this fall. Manvel, moving up to the Class 5A ranks this fall, advanced to the Class 4A title last season. Alvin was 2-1 last season in non-district play against Pasadena ISD schools, beating Pasadena and South Houston while losing to Dobie.
  Memorial has the good fortune of catching Pearland, Alvin and Manvel at home this season, which means all of the Mavericks' seven district games will be played at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
  Dobie, South Houston, Pasadena and Sam Rayburn each must face two of those three opponents on the road.
  Two new head coaches will be making their Pasadena ISD debuts when the season kicks off the final weekend of August. Chris Quillian was elevated to the top job at Memorial when John Snelson left for Dickinson. David Satcher takes over at Sam Rayburn, replacing Chris Bussey, who opted to join Snelson's staff.
  The Texans will launch homecoming season when they play Northbrook on Sept. 21.
  Other homecoming games: Dobie, Oct. 5 vs. Memorial; Pasadena, Oct. 6 vs. South Houston; Memorial, Oct. 12 vs. Pasadena; and South Houston, Oct. 13 vs. Sam Rayburn.

HISTORY OF DISTRICT FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS

2012 DISTRICT 22-5A FOOTBALL STANDINGS

SCHEDULES

DATE............... DAY.................. OPPONENT.............. LOCATION....... STADIUM..................... KICKOFF/RESULT

PASADENA

SOUTH HOUSTON

SAM RAYBURN

DOBIE

PASADENA MEMORIAL

* District 22-5A game 
+ Homecoming game

STADIUM MAP LINKS

Pasadena ISD / Veterans Memorial Stadium

Spring Branch ISD / Tully Stadium

Pearland ISD / The Rig

Alvin ISD / Memorial Stadium

Humble ISD / Turner Stadium

Dickinson ISD / Vitanza Stadium

Baytown ISD / Stallworth Stadium

Clear Creek ISD / Veterans Memorial Stadium

Fort Bend ISD / Mercer Stadium    

  Four seniors from the Pasadena High boys basketball team recently signed college letters of intent with schools in four distant states. Firming up their college plans were Shawn Baker, Humberto Cortes, Joshua Solis and Ivan Sifuentes.
  Baker signed with Itasca Community College in Grand Rapids, Minn. Cortes signed with Millikin University in Decatur, Ill. Solis signed with Hannibal-LaGrange University in Hannibal, Mo., and Sifuentes with Colorado Northwestern Community College in Craig, Colo.
  Below: Sifuentes, Solis, Baker and Cortes with Pasadena High Assistant Coach Vince Ortega and Head Coach Adrian Castro.

  Kody Eaves, the pitching and hitting star of Memorial High's march to the state playoffs this spring, was picked by the Los Angeles Angels in the 16th round of the major leagues' first-year player draft earlier this month.
  Eaves signed a letter of intent with TCU during the winter. Eaves has until July 13 to make a decision on signing a pro contract with the Angels or playing ball at TCU.
  Eaves hit .358 last season with 27 runs scored.
  He led the Mavericks to a bi-district series victory over Baytown Sterling with a 4-for-4 performance in the deciding game. He ended the game with a grand-slam and earned the pitching victory.
  Eaves is the first Maverick to be drafted since Scotty Schafer was taken by the New York Mets in 2006.

  Pasadena High's Ronnie Acosta and Sam Rayburn High's diver Yezenia Gomez were recently named the Most Valuable Divers in District 22-5A.
  Acosta was the 22-5A champion in the one-meter springboard and finished fourth at the Region 6-5A Diving Championships. Gomez was the 22-5A champion in the one-meter and finished fourth at regional. She was also the district champion and district MVP in diving last year.
  Meanwhile, Memorial High senior Erin Graham and Sam Rayburn senior Gabriel Garcia were named to the Texas High School Coaches Association Academic All-State Swimming Team.
  Graham was one of only seven 5A female swimmers named to the list and the only female swimmer from 22-5A and Region 6-5A to receive the honor. Garcia was one of only eight 5A male swimmers named to the list and the only male swimmer from 22-5A and Region 6-5A to receive the honor.
  Below: (Left) MVP divers Ronnie Acosta and Yezenia Gomez; (right) academic honorees Gabriel Garcia and Erin Graham.

All-Region honorees Rene Acosta, Ronnie Acosta, Coach Darla Kelly, Sheila Hernandez and
Yezenia Gomez.

  Two divers from Pasadena High and two swimmers from Sam Rayburn High were recently named to the UIL Region 6-5A All-Region Swimming and Diving Team.
  Pasadena High's Darla Kelly was named the region boys diving coach of the year for the second year in a row.
  Named to the All-Region team were Eagle divers Rene Acosta and Ronnie Acosta, both in the one-meter; and Texans swimmers Sheila Hernandez, in the 200-yard freestyle, and Yezenia Gomez, in one-meter diving.

  Sam Rayburn senior Angel Martinez captured first place in the Second Annual Pasadena ISD Chess Tournament held last Saturday at Beverly Hills Intermediate.
  Sam Rayburn senior Evaresto Ramirez took second. Pasadena High senior Rene Benitez and Beverly Hills eighth-grader David Ho tied for third place.
  Ngoc Phan, a sixth-grader at Melillo Middle School, won the Grade 5-7 Division. Tying for second were Mauro Lermo and Taylor Nguyen, both seventh-graders at Beverly Hills. Two Milstead Middle School sixth-graders -- Nathan Chapa and Jose Galindo -- tied for fourth.
  The competition was open to students in Grades 5-12. Students from two high schools, one intermediate school, four middle schools and one elementary school competed. Nineteen students competed in the Grade 8-12 Division, while 33 students battled it out in the Grade 5-7 Division.

Pasadena High senior Ashley Velasquez signed a letter of intent to play volleyball for Garden City (Kan.) Community College last week. Below: Velasquez, seated with Pasadena High Coach Lynn Perry, signs her letter of intent with well-wishers Joe Saavedra, Pasadena High's principal; her father and mother, Humberto and Nubia Velasquez; her brother, Joshua Velasquez; Pasadena High assistant coach Carmen Solis; school counselor Deon Parrish; college advisor Pilar Retta and Tim Giraud.

Memorial's Kody Eaves slams a three-run homer in the second inning and earns a handshake from his coach, Terry Garza, as he trots around third.

  SATURDAY UPDATE: Both Memorial and Dobie were eliminated from the state Class 5A playoffs on Saturday in the conclusion of playoff contests interrupted on Friday night by lightning.
  Fort Bend Dulles kept the Mavericks at bay in the ninth inning and won 6-4 in a game that began in Alvin on Friday night and wrapped up in Tomball on Saturday.
  The Vikings needed only two minutes to get two outs and finish the game.
  A solo home run by Ford Bend Clements' Austin Bass in the eighth inning Friday night provided the winning margin for the Rangers, who eliminated Dobie from the state playoffs with a 2-1 area-round victory on Saturday in Tomball.
  The contest, which began in Manvel, was suspended in the eighth inning on Friday night by lightning.
  Because neither contest could be completed on Friday, both of the planned best-of-three series for Memorial and Dobies were shortened to a single contest.

  Lightning left the baseball teams from Memorial High and Dobie thunderstuck on Friday night.
  State playoff series involving the two District 22-5A teams were suspended in the late innings with both trailing and both pushed to the verge of an unplanned one-and-done elimination on Saturday.
  In Alvin, Memorial was one strike away from beating Fort Bend Dulles in regulation innings. But Dulles tied the game and took a 6-4 lead with two runs in the top of the ninth. In the bottom of the ninth, with two Memorial players on base and only one out, lightning forced play to be suspended. After a lengthy delay, play was called off for the night.
  Under state playoff rules, the decision to suspend the game wiped out the planned best-of-three format -- meaning the winner of Saturday's resumed game will be the area round champion and advance to the regional quarter-finals next week.
  Dulles needs only to protect its lead when play resumes in the bottom of the ninth to advance. Memorial will have runners on first and second, one out and a 3-1 count on the batter.
  The game will resume Saturday at 5 p.m. at Alvin High School.
  In Manvel, Dobie was trailing Fort Bend Clements 1-0 when lighting forced suspension of play after five complete innings. When play resumed, the Longhorns tied the score 1-1, but lost the lead again in the eighth when Bass hit his home run. Play was then called off for the night and scheduled for conclusion on Saturday in Tomball. 
  That planned best-of-three series was also scaled back to a one-game playoff.
  The Memorial-Dulles game featured nearly as much electricity on the field as in the skies.
  The Mavs' Kody Eaves belted a three-run homer in the second inning to erase an early 1-0 Dulles lead. Memorial added a fourth run in the inning as Aaron Robinson singled in Kole Eaves, who had reached on an error.
  But Memorial's offense stalled out after that, leaving senior right-hander Brady Toler without additional support.
  The Mavs led 4-3 going into the top of the seventh. With two outs and Memorial one strike away from victory, the Vikings' Caden Williams delivered a single that sent teammate Zach Carrabine flying around third -- but he stopped halfway home, spooked by a strong throw.
  But when the throw skipped to the backstop, Carrabine raced home just ahead of a tag by Memorial catcher Dillon Gallardo who took a flip from Toler, who had backed up the throw.
  The 4-4 tie was still intact after seven innings. In the top of the ninth, Zack Belski drew a talk off Toler, stole second and took third on a wild pitch. With Toler preparing to deliver to Williams, the third-base umpire called a balk that brought Belski in with the lead run.
  The Memorial bench protested furiously and in the ensuing spat both head coach Terry Garza and his assistant, Kevin Etchberger, were ejected from the game.
  When play resumed, Williams singled, stole second and scored on a hit by Eric Johnson, giving Dulles a 6-4 lead. In the bottom of the ninth, Toler walked and Garrett Owens singled, putting runners on first and second with one out. That when the flashes in the sky brought the game to a halt.
  Dobie's Emmitt Pitts muzzled Clements through four innings of a scoreless tie, but the Rangers broke through in the top of the fifth. Pitts hit two batters and an infield single loaded the bases. Pitts fell behind Daniel Perez 2-0 and then unloaded a wild pitch, giving Clements the lead.
  Pitts escaped further damage with the help of a hustling catch of a dying infield popup by shortstop Jose Reyes that ended the inning.

Memorial's Brady Toler works the opening inning against Dulles.

Memorial's Cole Eaves tags out Dulles runner Zack Belski as he tries to retreat to third base.

Cole Eaves safely burrows his way back to first on a pickoff attempt.

The Mavericks lose their 4-3 lead in the seventh as Dulles's Zach Carrabine slides across home plate on an outfield throw that skipped to the backstop. Memorial catcher Dillon Gallardo waits for the throw from Toler, backing up the play.

Dulles's Caden Williams and Memorial catcher Dillon Gallardo put their football skills to the test on an encounter at home plate in the seventh inning. Gallardo got the tag on Williams to end the inning and preserve a 4-4 tie.

Dobie's Emmitt Pitts works on retiring Clements in the fourth inning.

A tight spot for the Longhorns: With the bases loaded and two out in the fifth, Jose Reyes races in from shortstop to catch a blooper and end the inning.

Dobie's Zach Long swipes second in the bottom of the fifth.

Dobie reliever Ryan McCormack (44) prepares to be smothered by happy teammates after he nailed down the final out in the Longhorns' 11-10 victory over North Shore.

  HOUSTON -- Between nosebleeds and knawed fingernails, the Dobie Longhorns won a playoff game on Saturday -- and a state playoff series -- that seemed beyond their reach just a few days ago.
  Jesus Rendon, forced out of the game with a nosebleed in the first inning, announced his return to good health with a RBI single in the top of the seventh inning that provided the Longhorns with the go-ahead run in a wild 11-10 victory over favored North Shore in the deciding game of the teams' bi-district series.
  The home-standing Mustangs, champions of District 21-5A, took the roller-coaster momentum of the contest to an extreem in the fifth inning when they sent 13 batters to the plate, scored seven runs and wiped out a 9-3 Dobie lead.  
  Suddenly trailing 10-9, the Longhorns went down in order in the sixth inning for the first time all day, what looked to be an ominous sign for Miguel Torres' team.
  But Dobie, the fourth-place team in 22-5A, survived a based-loaded jam in the bottom of the sixth and then roared back to life in the top of the seventh. 
  Zach Long reached on a one-out ground ball that skipped away from North Shore shortstop Pedro Garza. Long stole second and then scored on a double to right-center by Xavier Johnson.
  With two out, Rendon drove the first pitch up the middle to score pinch-runner Austin Nguyen from third base with the lead run.
  The drama continued in the bottom half of the seventh as Dobie reliever Ryan McCormack walked the first two batters he faced, including slugging phenom Nick Buckner.
  It was Buckner who hit a towering two-run homer to ignite North Shore's seven-run uprising in the fifth.
  McCormack pitched cautiously to Buckner with one runner on in the seventh and walked him on a full-count pitch. But McCormack got Ricardo Salinas to strike out swinging and then coaxed a pair of fly balls from the Mustangs, the second a lazy pop to right that Wade Buisson flagged down to end the game and trigger a Dobie dogpile in the middle of the Mustangs' diamond.
  It was Buisson who replaced Rendon beyond the plate in the bottom of the first after the Dobie catcher went to the dugout with a persistent nose bleed. And it was Buisson who got a key hit in Dobie's most productive inning -- a four-run eruption in the third that gave the Longhorns an 8-3 lead.
  Jose Reyes led off the third with a double and scored on a single by Buisson to right-center. Dobie added additional runs in the inning on a wild pitch, a sacrifice fly by Johnson and a single by Tavarus Ansley.
  The Longhorns hiked their lead to 9-3 in the top of the fifth when Johnson launched a solo home run over the left-field fence.
  But Dobie's moment of euphoria dissolved into a nightmarish bottom of the fifth. All of it happened with two out.
  Buckner, a junior who ranks as one of the nation's top prospects, belted his second homer of the series, a two-run shot that carried 400 feet to the opposite field. That drove Long, Dobie's starting pitcher, from the game.
  North Shore quickly turned Buckner's appetizer into a feast.
  Mike Gutierrez drove in two more runs with a single before a bases-loaded walk cut the Longhorn lead to one. Daring base-running gave the Mustangs the lead. On a hard-to-handle infield grounder, North Shore runners on third and second both scooted home.
  The Longhorns advance to play Fort Bend Clements, the third-place team from 23-5A. Clements defeated Clear Creek 4-1 on Saturday to win that bi-district series, two games to one.

The scoreboard tells the story as Dobie's Zach Long adjusts his gloves after stealing second base in the top of the seventh. 

Xavier Johnson (left) lashes a double to right-center to drive in Long and tie the game at 10-10 in the Dobie seventh; (right) Jesus Rendon drives a single up the middle in the seventh to give the Longhorns the lead.

Dobie reliever Ryan McCormack deals to North Shore slugger Nick Buckner in the bottom of the seventh. McCormack walked Buckner but retired the next three batters to end the game.

Dobie players raise a ruckus on the bench as teammate Wade Buisson bats in the fourth inning. Buisson connected for a double on the pitch.

Xavier Johnson pumps fists with Dobie teammates after hitting a solo home run in the fifth.

Dobie second baseman Jose Cabreja fires to first in the second inning to retire North Shore's Mike Lopez.
 
Jose Sanchez kicks off a two-run Dobie explosion in the second with a single to left.

Michael Munoz works the sixth inning for the Longhorns.

North Shore's Christian Montes, who ended the game with a fly ball to right field, flips away his helmet away as Dobie players leap into a happy dogpile on the infield.

Memorial's Kody Eaves powers his team through a seven-run first inning. Above: Eaves leads off the game with a double to right field. Below left: Eaves slides into second ahead of the throw from right. Below right: Eaves slams another double later in the inning.

  Memorial High senior Kody Eaves handled the start, the finish and everything in between on Saturday night as the Mavericks pounded Baytown Sterling for the second straight game and advanced to the area round of the state Class 5A playoffs.
  Eaves pitched a one-hitter and was just as dominate at the plate, stroking two doubles in the first inning and ending the game with a grand slam in a 12-0 rout for the Mavericks at Clear Brook High School.
  Eaves' grand slam stopped the game on the run rule in the fifth inning.
  The Mavs pounced for seven runs in the first inning and another five in the fifth. After dropping the first game of the best-of-three series by one run, Memorial outscored the Rangers 25-4 over the final two games.
  The Mavericks will take on Dulles in area round action. Dulles beat Clear Lake 3-1 in the deciding game of their best-of-three series on Saturday.
  Eaves led off the game with a double to the right-field fence. Brady Toler followed with an RBI double and Jordan Wyatt an RBI single. A bases-loaded walk and a Sterling error led to three more runs.
  Eaves came up again in the inning and banged a two-run double, again to right field.
  In the fifth, he cleared the right-field wall with his grand slam. He finished the night 4-for-4 at the plate.

Kody Eaves en route to a one-hit shutout.

Memorial catcher Dillon Gallardo fires to first to retire Sterling's David Snyder after a strikeout in the dirt.

A run that got away -- Sterling pitcher Christian Rios tags out Memorial's Ricky Gallardo at the plate in the first inning. Gallardo tried to score on a pitch that skipped away from the catcher.

North Shore's Victor Coronado flies past Dobie third baseman Jose Sanchez while trying to advance on a pickoff attempt at second base. Coronado was called out when his hand slid off the base and Sanchez applied a second tag.

  North Shore right-hander Ricardo Salinas limited Dobie to one hit and helped his own cause with a key second-inning double as the District 21-5A champions used a 2-1 victory Friday night to even their playoff series with the Longhorns.
  The opening-round series will be decided on Saturday when the two teams return to the North Shore diamond for a noon showdown. Dobie, the fourth-place team in District 22-5A, won the first game of the best-of-three series, 6-5, on Thursday night.
  Memorial High forced a deciding game in its series with Baytown Sterling by clubbing the Rangers 13-4 Friday night in Baytown. Jordan Wyatt and Brady Toler hit home runs for the Mavericks.
  The two teams will square off for a final time Saturday night at 7 p.m. at Clear Brook High School.
  Sam Rayburn was eliminated from the playoffs in an 11-1 loss to La Porte at Maguire Field. La Porte won the series opener on Thursday night 6-4.
  In softball action Friday night, Dobie was ousted by Brazoswood 2-1 in area-round play. The Lady Longhorns, the champions of 22-5A, finished the season with a 20-11 record after losing back-to-back games to the Lady Bucs.
  North Shore greeted the Longhorns to single runs in the second and third innings. Salinas doubled in the second and scored on a single by Mike Gutierrez. Christian Montes made it 2-0 with an RBI single in the third.
  Dobie got a run back in the sixth when Jesus Rendon reached on an infield error, Jose Sanchez singled and Zach Long delivered a fielder's choice grounder that brought in Rendon. The hit by Sanchez was the only one of the game off Salinas.
  Longhorns pitchers Ryan McCormack and Michael Munoz held the Mustangs to just four hits.

Dobie's Ryan McCormack works the fourth inning.

A scary moment in the fourth inning: Dobie catcher Wade Buisson is immediately surrounded by concerned teammates and umpires after being struck in the throat by a foul tip. Buisson stayed in the game.

Dobie's Zach Long delivers the fielder's choice ground ball that brought in the Longhorns' only run of the game. 

Sam Rayburn senior Michael Ponce delivers to the plate.

Sam Rayburn left-fielder Giovanni Ortiz just misses a running catch of a fly ball in foul territory off the bat of La Porte's Josh Vidales.

Dobie's Jose Cabreja is swarmed by teammates Travarus Ansley (left) and Trey Trujillo (26) after delivering the fly ball that brought home the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning.

  Seven turned out to be the Dobie Longhorns' lucky number Thursday night, and an incredibly unlucky one for the North Shore Mustangs.
  The Longhorns took advantage of seven Mustang errors -- including a dropped fly ball with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning - to claim a 6-5 victory at Maguire Field in the opening game of the teams' opening-round series in the state baseball playoffs.
  Dobie, the fourth-place team in District 22-5A, can close out the series and eliminate the District 21-5A champions with a victory either Friday or Saturday. The series moves to North Shore for an 8 p.m. contest Friday followed by a deciding game, if needed, at noon on Saturday.
  The Longhorns scored two runs in the first inning without benefit of a hit and finished the game in much the same fashion, scoring one in the seventh on a walk, a hit batsman and North Shore's seventh error of the contest.
  With two out in the seventh and the game apparently headed for late-night extra innings, Wade Buisson drew a walk and took second when Jose Sanchez was hit by a pitch. Jose Cabreja then launched a fly ball to left-center field. North Shore left-fielder Michael Moreno track the ball just short of a collision with Christian Montes, then pulled up and dropped the ball.
  Terrance Small, pinch-running for Buisson at second, dashed home with the winning run.
  The rally handed the victory to Xavier Johnson, who hit a solo home run earlier in the game and then relieved starting pitcher Emmitt Pitts when a line drive off his lower leg forced him from the game in the sixth.
  Trailing 5-4 going into the bottom of the sixth, the Longhorns tied the game on an RBI single by Zach Long. North Shore threatened to retake the lead in the top of the second.
  But with Mustangs on first and third with one out, Dobie shortstop Jose Reyes grabbed a grounder up the middle by Taylor Merin, stepped on second and fired to first for an inning-ending double play.
  North Shore made a bid to take control of the game in the fourth inning when Mauricion Juneo hit a two-run homer for a 4-3 lead. Nick Buckner, the Mustangs' starting pitcher, followed with one of the longest homers in the history of Maguire Field, a blast over the grove of tall trees in right-center field, estimated to have carried 460 feet.
  In an earlier playoff contest at Maguire, Memorial came up on the short end of a one-run game, losing to Baytown Sterling 4-3 in the opener of their best-of-three series.
  The Mustangs closed a 4-1 deficit in the fifth on a two-run single by starting pitcher Brady Toler but couldn't push across the tying run.
  The difference proved to be a solo homer in the fourth by Sterling's Brett Boudreaux that gave the Rangers their three-run cushion.
  Sterling can close out the series with a victory at home at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.  A third game, if needed, would be played Saturday at 7 p.m. at Clear Brook High School.
  The Pasadena ISD's other playoff entry, Sam Rayburn High, lost 6-4 to La Porte in the opener of their best-of-three series in La Porte. That series moves to Maguire for a 7:30 contest Friday night. A third game, if needed, will be played Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Maguire.
  SOFTBALL: Dobie's district champion Lady Longhorns were rocked by Brazoswood 10-2 in the opening game of the team's area-round playoff series Thursday night at the Pasadena ISD Softball Complex. The series resumes Friday night at 7 p.m. in Brazosport. 

Dobie shortstop Jose Reyes turns a 6-3 double play to end the top of the seventh inning and kill a North Shore threat to take the lead.

Jose Cabreja takes the final swing of the game, lifting a fly ball to left field that was dropped for an error.

Dobie starting pitcher Emmitt Pitts fires to the plate in the fifth inning.

Dobie's Andres Armenta slams a base hit to center field in the fifth.

Memorial starting pitcher Brady Toler delivers to the plate in the second inning.

Mavericks senior Kody Eaves pulls into second with a third-inning double.

Memorial's Jordan Wyatt slides into second with a stolen base as Baytown Sterling's Keats Starks keeps the throw from going into center field.

The fourth-grade girls break from the starting line at the Get Fit Jog.

  Abby Balli, a sixth-grader at Lomax Middle School, recently set a Get Fit Jog record by becoming the first female to win four consecutive age-group race titles.
  The 34th running of the Get Fit Jog was held April 21 at the Pasadena Rodeo Grounds. For the first time the event was moved from Veterans Memorial Stadium due to parking lot construction at the stadium.
  A total of 1,222 students from Grades 3-6 completed the course along with many parents and family members who provided support.
  Students qualify for the event by completing a minimum of 40 miles in their campus Get Fit Jog clubS. Campus clubs encourage students to develop lifelong healthy habits.
  Balli became the first female participant to win all four grade levels. Last year she became the first female to win three straight races. 
  Corey Scott is the only male runner to win all four levels. He went unbeaten from 2005 to 2008.
  Keller Middle school took home the trophy for best participation with 288 students running in the event.
  Red Bluff took the elementary award with 105 student participants.

Pam Tevis, the district's director of physical education and health, hands out race ribbons to third-grade participants with assistance from Melillo Middle School P.E. instructor Joey Pena.

TOP 20 FINISHERS
THIRD-GRADE GIRLS
1. Audrey Serrato, Red Bluff; 2. Paige Harbuck, Turner; 3. Jazmin Cardenas, Turner; 4. Mia Garza, Turner; 5. Celena Mata, Meador; 6. Jazmin Martinez, Parks; 7. Amaris Guerra, Turner; 8. Yire Santos, McMasters; 9. Norma Gutierrez, Genoa; 10. Chatora Williams, Moore; 11. Vi Pham, Turner; 12. Katelyn Arokohl, Frazier; 13. Jessica Palma, Fisher; 14. Liliana Perez, L.F. Smith; 15. Valerie Calderon, L.F. Smith; 16. Solene Tangavelou, Teague; 17. Sesenia Perelas, Williams; 18. Caitlin Cruz, Mae Smythe; 19. Gina Velazquez, Young; 20. Karisma Lozano, Burnett.
THIRD-GRADE BOYS
1. Christopher Sheldin, Parks; 2. Ian Rodriguez, Turner; 3. Christopher Govea, Red Bluff; 4. Anthony Perez, McMasters; 5. Robert Montano, South Belt; 6. Damien Garcia, Bush; 7. Michael Tula, Garfield; 8. Jose Gallegos, Red Bluff; 9. Kane Rodriguez, Genoa; 10. Zyress Valles, Gardens; 11. Josue Benitez, Fisher; 12. Quan Nuramotes, Mae Smythe; 13. Tucker Fettenhorst, Turner; 14. Eric Rodriguez, Garfield; 15. Omar Cornejo, Garfield; 16. Forest Anancio, Meador; 17. Jared Tate, Frazier; 18. Keion Thompson, Moore; 19. Isaac Espinosa, Golden Acres; 20. Cole Urdiales, Garfield.
FOURTH -GRADE GIRLS
1. Ivonne Castillo, Parks; 2. Eryn Livingston, Turner; 3. Viridiana Zapata, Gardens; 4. Reagan White, Mae Smythe; 5. Bailey Jacobs, Frazier; 6. Elizabeth Martinez, Turner; 7. Reagan Gallagher, Turner; 8. Alessandra Palma, Teague; 9. Erin McNabb, Turner; 10. Charlize Tamayo, Atkinson; 11. Erika Tafolla, Turner; 12. Taiya Mitchell, Bush; 13. Daniel Colunga, Frazier; 14. Mia Garcia, Turner; 15. Jaqueline Arrington, South Belt; 16. Michelle Rodriguez, Jensen; 17. Anissa Gracia, Matthys; 18. Alexis Mottu, South Belt; 19. Alejandra Hernandez, McMasters; 20. Nathalie Meyers, Jensen.
FOURTH-GRADE BOYS
1. Eli Donaho, Moore; 2. Aaron Jauregui, Red Bluff; 3. Bryan Martinez, L.F. Smith; 4. Humberto Rubio, L.F. Smith; 5. Cameron DeMann, Turner; 6. Isaiah Cabrera, Turner; 7. Allen Barrera, Red Bluff; 8. Xavier Ruvalcaba, Red Bluff; 9. Jesus Rangel, L.F. Smith; 10. Jsrael Longoria, Jensen; 11. Quan Reyna, Richey; 12. Matthew Castro, L.F. Smith; 13. Leonardo Hernandez, Frazier; 14. Mark Reyes, Red Bluff; 15. Raul Peralta, McMasters; 16. Blake Winter, Turner; 17. Christopher Gonzales, Red Bluff; 18. Dylan Jones, Teague; 19. Jason Tao, Frazier; 20. Demetrio Torres, Pearl Hall.
FIFTH-GRADE GIRLS
1. Kaylen Ruiz, Mellilo; 2. Olivia Garza, Mellilo; 3. Brianca Goana, Keller; 4. Athziri Cervantes, Lomax; 5. Valerea Arguelles, Keller; 6. Brooklyn Balderas, Keller; 7. Jazmin Rendon, Keller; 8. Brittany Lopez, Williams; 9. Emily Creason, Lomax; 10. Julissa Rodriguez, Lomax; 11. Karizma Martinez, Lomax; 12, Kayla Cedillo, Williams; 13. Hanna May, Williams; 14. Vanessa Barrientos, Fisher; 15. Millie Hernandez, Keller; 16. Taylor McAdams, Shaw; 17. Jessica Contreras, De Zavalla; 18. Adrialia DeLeon, De Zavalla; 19. Lena Henderson, Lomax; 20. Jessica Perez, Lomax.
FIFTH-GRADE BOYS
1. Alfred Roman, Milstead; 2. Nicholas Vitela, Lomax; 3. Shukri Farias, Lomax; 4. Colton Miller, Milstead; 5. Juan Casas, Schneider; 6. Trevor Hondros, Mellilo 7. Alexis Perez, Keller; 8. Timothy Tran, Lomax; 9. Humberto Garza, Milstead; 10. Anthony Hernandez, Keller; 11. Nicholas Cisneros, Fisher; 12. Brandon Bowman, Lomax; 13. Cameron Falcone, Jensen; 14. George Farias, Lomax; 15. Jesus Rodriguez, Shaw; 16. Mario Ramirez, Lomax; 17. Eric Loza, Lomax; 18. Rene Garcia, Lomax; 19. Robert Romero, L.F. Smith; 20. Caleb Jones, Lomax.
SIXTH-GRADE GIRLS
1. Abby Balli, Lomax; 2. Liliana Zapata, De Zavala; 3. Esmeralda Lozano, Keller; 4. Chloe Rodriguez, Keller; 5. Crystal Rodriguez, Milstead; 6. Flora Perales, Shaw; 7. Evelyn Chun, Schneider; 8. Marisol Hernandez, Lomax; 9. Adriana Chairorro, Schneider; 10. Brianna Yescas, Keller; 11. Lesly Barajas, Keller; 12. Avina Sahidy, Keller; 13. Marlene Moran, Keller; 14. Liliana Guevara, Keller; 15. Hannah Tran, Lomax; 16. Natalie Caucdeo, Keller; 17. Marissa Powell, Keller; 18. Jackie Pena, Milstead; 19. Lizette Zuniga, Shaw; 20. Selenia Ramirez, Keller.
SIXTH-GRADE BOYS
1. Alex Vega, Keller; 2. Benjamin Stereff, Lomax; 3. Bryan Guerrero, Shaw; 4. Cesar Rivas, Keller; 5. Humberto Gutierrez, Shaw; 6. Christopher Ramirez, Milstead; 7. Adrian Ortiz, Keller; 8. Alex Palacios, Keller; 9. Joe Flores, Keller; 10. Gerardo Moreno, Schneider; 11. Ceasar Flores, Shaw; 12. Jose Alejandro, Shaw; 13. Luis Tamayo, Milstead; 14. Angel Ramirez, Keller; 15. Hoang Phong, Lomax; 16. Marco Vellouio, Keller; 17. Fabian Martinez, Shaw; 18. Luis Barron, Schneider; 19. Abraham Lara, Keller; 20. Juan Hernandez, Lomax.

South Houston forward Leobardo Vasquez makes a move inside late in the game as Cypress Ridge defenders Andres Rivas (3) and Ravi Lumba (11) close in.

  DEER PARK - The end came hard Friday night for one of the most successful sports seasons in South Houston history.
  A goal by Cypress Ridge junior Marlon Cardenas not quite five minutes into the contest stood up for the next 75 minutes and carried the Rams to a 1-0 victory over the Trojans in the semifinals of the Region III boys soccer tournament at Deer Park's Abshier Stadium.
  The Trojans seemed on the verge of the tying goal several times over the balance of the contest but never found the anecdote for Cardenas' early score. Rams goalkeeper Seth Mabe turned away three South Houston shots in the final four minutes of the first half.
  Cypress Ridge advanced to face Morton Creek in Saturday's regional championship game. Morton Creek eliminated Deer Park, the Trojans' District 22-5A rival, 2-0 in the earlier semifinal.
  The Rams matched South Houston's technical skills throughout the contest and played air-tight defense, especially in the second half. Under extreme pressure from South Houston standout Leobardo Vazquez in the first half, the Rams found fresh footing in the second half by limiting Vasquez's access to the ball.
  South Houston finished the season 14-8-4, a campaign that saw the Trojans win three playoff games and come within two victories of a trip to state.

South Houston freshman Jefry Hernandez works the ball against Cypress Ridge's Martinez.

Trojan senior Leobardo Vazquez knocks down Cypress Ridge's Andres Rivas with the force of a shot on goal in the first half. 

Cypress Ridge sophomore Robert Garza (14) leans in on South Houston senior Alejandro Farias.

Trojan senior Jorge Pineda battles Garza for position.

South Houston junior Ediberto Garza negotiates a maze of Cypress Ridge defenders.

South Houston senior Juan Sosa fights off contact by the Rams' Andres Rivas.

Cypress Ridge players console Trojan senior Luis Rodriguez after the game.

South Houston Coach Agustin Loredo tells his players to hold their heads high after the loss.

GAME ALBUM

The Lady Maverick golf team have once again qualified for the 2012 Regional Golf Tournament at Eagle Pointe next week in Mont Belvieu. The team consists of Lena Stringham, Sadie Burt, Lydia Castillo and Kristen Boswell.

Pictured are former UH quarterback and Heisman trophy candidate Case Keenum, Joseph Horton, Ruth Horton, KHOU 11 Sports Reporter Matt Musil and the Greater Houston area FCA director Eric Anderson.

At the Bruce Matthews Celebrity Golf Classic benefiting the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Joseph and Ruth Horton, pictured above center, were honored as the Houston area "Bill Yeomen Coach of Influence" FCA sponsors of the year. 
  Earlier that week, the Hortons were treated to a dinner hosted by Hall of Fame recipient, Bruce Matthews, who was joined by fellow Hall of Fame recipient, Anthony Munoz. Munoz spoke to the audience about the positive influence of a coach and the difference a coach made his life. 
  Following the golf classic, the Hortons were given a commemorative trophy for their positive influence on student athletes .

Dobie third baseman Jose Sanchez leaps high in the air in a futile attempt to flag down a high-chop single by Deer Park's Stephen Lopez in the sixth inning.

  Ricky Ramirez and Tyler Allen drove in a combined five runs with doubles in the fourth and fifth innings to lead Deer Park to a 16-3 romp over Dobie that allowed the Deer to take firm control of the District 22-5A race.
  Ramirez worked five innings to earn the victory for the Deer, 5-0 in district action at the one-third mark. The Longhorns, considered Deer Park's chief rival for the title, fell to 3-2.
  The Deer quieted the Dobie home crowd with a four-run eruption in the fourth inning and a five-run explosion in the fifth that gave Deer Park a 9-2 lead. A seven-run surge by the Deer in the sixth enabled the visitors to prevail via the run rule an inning short of regulation.
  The Longhorns committed five errors in the contest.
  Ramirez doubled in two runs in the third. Allen delivered a deep blow to left-center in the fourth that scored all three runners on base.
  Xavier Johnson delivered three hits for the Longhorns, driving in two runs with a third-inning single and another with a single in the fifth. 
  Going into the second half of district play, Dobie stands tied with Sam Rayburn and Memorial for second place, each with 3-2 records. South Houston is in fifth place with a 1-4 mark. Pasadena is 0-5.

Deer Park's Clay Thompson beats the tag of Dobie catcher Jesus Rendon to score in the third inning.

Dobie's Xavier Johnson bangs a two-run single in the third.

Deer Park left-hander Ricky Ramirez works the third inning.

Dobie shortstop Jose Reyes fires to first to retire Cole Bedford and end the third inning.

Deer Park's Tyler Allen makes a relief appearance in the sixth inning.

  Pasadena High's swimming and diving team placed four individuals and four relay teams on the All-District 22-5A squad.
  First-team members from Pasadena were Ronnie Acosta, one-meter diving; and Rene Acosta, one-meter diving. Ronnie Acosta also earned honorable mention in the 100 Butterfly.
  Alexis Rivera placed on the second team in the 100 Backstroke and earned honorable mention in the 50 freestyle.
  Angelica Heysquierdo earned honorable mention in the 100 Breaststroke.
  The following relays were named to the all-district team:
  Andrew Heysquierdo, Ray Navarro, Rene Acosta and Ronnie Acosta: first team, 200 Freestyle Relay.
  Cynthia McLehany, Angelica Heysquierdo, Alexis Rivera and Diana Martinez: second team, 200 Medley Relay and the 400 Freestyle Relay.
  Diana Martinez, Angelica Heysquierdo, Jennifer Palos and Cynthia McLehany: second team, 200 Freestyle Relay.

Dobie right-hander Emmitt Pitts works the sixth inning in his shutout of Memorial.

  Dobie High senior Emmitt Pitts fired a five-hit shutout on Wednesday as the Longhorns hiked their season record to 12-0 with a 1-0 victory over Memorial High at the Mavericks' campus field.
  Pitts struck out only one, but issued only two walks -- one intentional -- and was back by errorless defense. The righthander raised his season record to 5-0 and lowered his earned run average to a sterling 0.25.
  Pitts has allowed only one earned run in 28 innings this season.
  The Longhorns scratched out the game's only run in the second inning with Jose Sanchez delivering the key hit.
  Andres Armenta led off the inning with a walk and moved to second on a botched pickoff attempt. Armenta moved to third on a ground out and later scored on Sanchez's two-out single.
  The Mavericks threatened in the first inning, but Dobie center fielder Travarez Ansley threw out a Memorial runner at the plate on a single by Jordan Wyatt to end the inning.
  Memorial's Brad Toler held the Longhorns to only three hits in a complete-game performance.
  Dobie, now 2-0 in district play, will take on Sam Rayburn at 4 p.m. on Thursday at Maguire Field. At 7 p.m. on Thursday, South Houston will take on Pasadena.
  Memorial is 1-1 in district play.
  Sam Rayburn downed South Houston 5-0 on Wednesday at Maguire behind the five-hit pitching of senior Derek Stubbs. Eric Aldava belted a homer for the Texans.

Dobie's Jesus Rendon gets down a sacrifice bunt in the seventh inning against the Mavericks.

Dobie third baseman Jose Sanchez fires to first to retire Memorial's Dillon Gallardo for the final out of the game. 

Pitts chats with teammates as he leaves the field following the final out.

Sam Rayburn senior Derek Stubbs delivers to the plate in his five-hit shutout of South Houston on Wednesday.

South Houston's Rocky Romero fires away against Sam Rayburn.

  On Saturday, the Melillo Middle School Chess Club hosted its second mini-Chess Exhibition of the year. Melillo's Chess Club challenged 29 fifth and sixth grade students for the top title of tournament champion. Students will have another opportunity to compete in a District Championship game on Saturday, May 26. 

The results from Saturday's tournament are as follows:

First Place: Nathan Chapa, Milstead. Nathan won all four games, earning a perfect score of 4.0.
 
Second Place: Alex Mendez, with 3.5 points.

Third Place (Tie): Shiv Kumar, Nelson Calderon and Ruben Hermosa from De Zavala, Beth Early and Kevin Ly from Melillo and Andrew Johnson from Milstead.  Each had 3 points.

  Bianca Silva, a sixth-grader at Park View Intermediate, and Jakoby Flores, a fourth-grader at Mae Smythe Elementary, set new district records at the Big Shoot out basketball skills competition held last month.
  Below is a complete list of grade-level winners and their scores.
  Third-grade boys: Jared Tate, Frazier Elementary, 46.8
  Third-grade girls: Vanessa Lam, Freeman Elementary, 50.53
  Fourth-grade boys: Jakoby Flores, Mae Smythe Elementary, 30.48 (new district record)
  Fourth-grade girls: Kemoni Irvin, Williams Elementary, 57.6
  Fifth-grade boys: David Amaya, Melillo Middle School, 42.94
  Fifth-grade girls: Alyssa Jaramillo, Schneider Middle School, 52.7
  Sixth-grade boys: Jonas Varrela, Lomax Middle School, 43.5
  Sixth-grade girls: Bianca Silva, Park View Intermediate, 47.4 (new district record)

(Top row) Jared Tate, Vanessa Lam, Jakoby Flores and Kemoni Irvin; (bottom row) David Amaya, Alyssa Jaramillo, Jonas Varrela and Bianca Silva.

  Two standout football players for Pasadena High recently signed letters of intent to continue their careers at the college level.
  Julian Nance, the third-leading rusher in District 22-5A last fall with 1,144 yards, signed to play for Lon Morris College in Jacksonville, Texas. Armando Lemus, a standout fullback and receiver, signed with Bacone College in Muskogee, Okla.
  Nance earned first-team all-district honors as a linebacker his junior season and at running back his senior season. He scored 13 touchdowns last fall to rank third in the district in scoring.
  Lemus contributed three receptions for 99 yards and two touchdowns in Pasadena's biggest victory last season, a 26-21 triumph over South Houston.
  Below: Joined by Pasadena High Principal Joe Saavedra and Eagles Coach Jeff Ganske, Lemus and Nance sign their letters of intent.

  Angella Gencarelli, who guided South Houston's girls basketball team to a District 22-5A co-championship with Deer Park, has been named the district coach of the year.
  Four Trojan seniors -- Dominique Davis, Jasmine Lopez, Akira Decoud and Brianna Butler -- were named first-team all-district. Also named to the first team were Dobie junior Kate Inchun, Sam Rayburn senior Aracely Gomez, Memorial junior Jessica Elkins and Memorial sophomore Kaylee Berkley.
  Dobie senior Shanequa Gaston was named the district's most valuable player. Pasadena sophomore Paola Ozuna and Sam Rayburn sophomore Sabrina Garza were named newcomers of the year.
  Pasadena ISD athletes named to the second team were Dobie senior Jazmin Guerrero, Memorial junior Desirae Ramirez, Memorial senior Tori Rodriguez, Pasadena sophomore Kierra Irvin and two more South Houston seniors, Bianca Yanez and Bella Garcia.
  Honorable mention selections included Dobie senior Nyla Vasquez , Dobie junior Kim Luu, Sam Rayburn senior Jackie Orozco, Sam Rayburn senior Alexa Martinez, Sam Rayburn junior Brianna Scott, Sam Rayburn sophomore Emilee Torres, Memorial senior Ashley Cooner and South Houston sophomore Mia Martinez.

Dobie sophomore Daryl Edwards penetrates the Bush defense in the second half.

  PEARLAND - The Dobie Longhorns got a clear look at their future on Friday night even as their district championship season slipped into the past.
  The District 22-5A boys champs fell victim to the size, depth and court savvy of state-ranked Bush, an 86-67 winner in an area round state playoff game at Pearland High School.
  Cameron Ridley, the Broncos' 6-foot-11 center and a University of Texas signee, humbled the Longhorns with a dominating performance that included 25 points, 20 rebounds and seven blocked shots.
  Still, the Longhorns played even with Bush for extended stretches, and drew strong performances from the only two non-seniors on their roster - sophomores Christian Sanders and Daryl Edwards.
  Sanders, coming off a 29-point performance in Dobie's bi-district victory over La Porte, raked Bush for 24. Edwards came off the bench to score 11, including nine in the first half.
  Bush led from start to finish, opening up an 8-0 lead and stretching it to 49-37 at the half. Still, Dobie did a good job of finding shots in the open court and maintained a sharp touch through the middle two periods.
  The Longhorns closed the Broncos' lead to nine points to start the fourth quarter. But back-to-back dunks by Ridley and Kelly Oubre, a 6-6 sophomore guard, streched the Bush advantage to 13 and sent Dobie into a final tailspin. Bush pushed its lead to as much as 22 in the closing minutes.
  Senior Darnell McCall chipped in 10 points for the Longhorns in his final game.
  Ridley and junior guard ShawnDre Jones both scored 13 points in the first half. Jones finished with 21.
  The Longhorns finished the season with a 22-14 record.

Cameron Ridley (left), the Broncos' 6-11 center, drives home a dunk at the start of the fourth quarter; (right) Dobie's Taylor Holland nails a key 3-pointer in the second half.

Dobie senior Darnell McCall pulls up for a two-point jumper during the opening quarter. 

Dobie defenders Taylor Holland (12) and Christian Sanders (15) try to block out Cameron Ridley, Fort Bend Bush's 6-foot-11 center.

Sanders drives inside for two points during first-quarter action.

Dobie Coach Kevin Cross encourages his players to pick up the pace during a second-half timeout.

Jaimie Starling, a student at Frazier Elementary, hold up a poster in support of her big brother, Dobie senior Chris Mendoza.

Who let the Longhorn loose? Dobie's Christian Sanders streaks past the La Porte defense to the hoop in the second half. PHOTOS BY AL CARTER, Pasadena ISD Communications

  DEER PARK -- Dobie sophomore Christian Sanders scored a career-best 29 points, enough to rouse the Longhorns from a dismal start to an 81-70 victory over La Porte on Tuesday night in a bi-district playoff clash at Deer Park High School.
  The Longhorns, champions of District 22-5A, will take on Fort Bend Bush in second-round action on Friday. A place and time for that game will be determined on Wednesday.
  In other playoff openers on Tuesday night, Sam Rayburn lost a late lead and fell to Channelview, 56-49, in the game preceding the Dobie-La Porte contest; and South Houston fell to Port Arthur Memorial, 66-54, in a game played at Barbers Hill.
  La Porte led the Longhorns 21-11 at the end of the first quarter, and took a stunning 25-12 edge early in the second quarter after a pair of Dobie turnovers led to breakaway layups for the Bulldogs.
  But Sanders, who committed one of the turnovers, immediately took control of the game. After scoring only two points in the opening quarter, Sanders scored 11 in the second quarter and 11 more in the third.
  The Longhorns whittled La Porte's lead to 36-30 at the half, then pummeled the Bulldogs for 51 points in the second half.
  A layup by Sanders tied the game at 39-39 midway through the third quarter and added another layup to retie it at 45-45 three minutes later.
  The Longhorns look their first lead with 36 seconds left in the quarter when Devonte Banks nailed a 3-pointer from the corner. Another 3-pointer, this one by Daryl Edwards at the third-quarter buzzer, gave Dobie a 55-50 advantage.
  Edwards' shot ignited a nine-point run by the Longhorns, who raced to an 11-point lead in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter.
  La Porte made a brief run, closing to within four points, but Dobie's Geo Ramirez hit two free throws with 49 seconds left to put things to rest.
  Ramirez chipped in 16 points to the Dobie cause while Banks added 12.
  Rashad Washington led La Porte with 19 points.
  Sam Rayburn, the third-place team in 22-5A, led Channelview 45-43 going into the final quarter, but were outscored 13-4 the rest of the way.
  Sophomore Michael Cutler scored 16 points for the Texans. Senior Bryan Canales also scored 16 and contributed Sam Rayburn's only field goal of the fourth quarter.
  Marquise Johnson topped Channelview scorers with 15 points.
  Like Sam Rayburn, South Houston grabbed a lead only to give up its grip on a bi-district victory. The Trojans led by 11 points early in the second quarter.
  The Titans broke the game open with an 11-point run to end the third quarter.
  Calvin Mitchell led South Houston with 14 points.

Dobie's Geo Ramirez drives for two points early in the game.

Dobie sophomore Daryl Edwards (left) scans the middle over La Porte's Ruben Jimenez; Longhorn senior Taylor Holland works the top of the key.

Dobie students anxiously wait out free throws in the final seconds.

Sam Rayburn senior A.J. Espinoza rips the ball from the reach of Channelview's Robbie Miller.

Texans senior Tim DeSoto peeks inside for an open passing lane.

Sam Rayburn students erupt in cheers as the Texans make a late effort to get back in the game.  

South Houston's Brianna Butler draws a foul from La Porte's Tori Wise (12) in the closing seconds of the third quarter. Butler made both free throws to give her team a 10-point lead going into the final quarter.

  DEER PARK - La Porte point guard Tori Wise scored 10 points to lead a furious fourth-quarter rally that lifted the Lady Bulldogs to a 48-44 victory over South Houston in the opening round of the girls state basketball playoffs on Monday night.
  In an earlier state playoff opener played at Deer Park South, Dobie fell to powerful North Shore 55-30.
  The Lady Trojans, competing in the playoffs for the first time in 10 years, surrendered a 10-point lead going into the final quarter, falling victim to a turnover extravaganza that marred the efforts of both teams to take control of the game.
  A  co-champion in District 22-5A, South Houston committed 41 turnovers in the contest. The Lady Bulldogs posted another 28.
  Akira DeCoud led the Lady Trojans with 19 points, saving seven for the fourth quarter. She was the only South Houston player to score a field goal in the quarter.
  South Houston led from the opening minute up until the 3:44 mark of the fourth quarter when La Porte tied the game at 41-41. The Lady Trojans had led 36-26 at the end of the third quarter.
  With just under three minutes left, Wise nailed a 3-pointer to give the Lady Bulldogs a 44-41 lead. A half-minute later, after another South Houston turnover, La Porte guard Elise Rodriguez scored on a layup to push the Lady Bulldogs' lead to five.
  DeCoud answered with a drive to the hoop for a 3-point play. After La Porte failed to capitalize on a one-and-one opportunity, the Lady Trojans had the chance to tie the game in the final seconds. An errant pass to the baseline - South Houston's 43rd turnover of the game -- ruined the chance.
  Rodriguez then sealed it with two free throws.
  Jasmine Lopez added 10 points to the Lady Trojans' cause. Wise finished with 16 points while Rodriguez added 14.
  Dobie trailed North Shore by a thin 20-17 margin at halftime before the Lady Mustangs blew the game open with an 18-4 run in the final quarter.
  Jazmin Guerrero led the Lady Longhorns with 11 points while Shanequa Gaston added 10.  Courtney Williams paced North Shore with 22 points.
  Girls playoff action for Pasadena ISD teams continues on Tuesday night when Memorial takes on Port Arthur Memorial at Barbers Hill High School. Tipoff is 7 p.m.

South Houston's Jasmine Lopez (11) and Brianna Butler (24) close in on La Porte's Tori Wise in the backcourt.

Akira DeCoud looks to pass over the top of La Porte defender Dominique McDougle.

(Left) Jasmine Lopez gets tied up at midcourt by La Porte's defense; (right) South Houston's Bianca Yanez dribbles around La Porte's Jeslee Lozano.

South Houston's Dominque Davis whips a pass across the court.

Dobie's Shanequa Gaston drives to the basket and scores in the second half against North Shore. 

  Angel Martinez of Sam Rayburn High and Stephen Lozano of Pasadena High tied for top honors in a chess exhibition sponsored by the Beverly Hills Intermediate Chess Club last Saturday.  Martinez and Lozano finished with five points each.
  Alan Deleon of South Houston High took third place with 4.5 points. Finishing in a four-way tie for fourth place were Giovanny Sigaran and Adonis Villarreal of Pasadena High, and Michelle Thomas and Alice Phan of Beverly Hills. Each had 4 points.
  A total of 22 students from four schools participated.
  The next scheduled chess event is the district championships in May.
  Below: (left) First-place winners Stephen Lozano and Angel Martinez; (middle) third-place winner Alan Deleon; (right) fourth-place winners Alice Phan, Michelle Thomas, Adonis Villarreal and Giovanny Sigaran.

A key play in the final seconds: Dobie's Geo Ramirez (21) draws a charging foul from Trojan senior Maurice Ijeh, ending South Houston's last chance to tie the game.

  Senior Vance Leonard scored 27 points as the Dobie boys held off a furious second-half South Houston rally to beat the Trojans 72-69 at the Longhorns' gym on Friday night in a showdown game for the District 22-5A basketball title.
  The Longhorns closed to within one victory of securing their first outright district basketball championship in 23 years. Now 7-2 in district play, Dobie can claim sole possession of the title with a victory over Deer Park on Tuesday night.
  A loss by the Longhorns, combined with a South Houston victory over Memorial on Tuesday night, would leave the two teams locked in a co-championship. Dobie hasn't won so much as a co-title since 2002.
  Leonard scored 14 points in the first half as Dobie raced to a 41-29 lead at intermission. A 25-point explosion by the Longhorns in the second quarter seemed to seal the fate of the Trojans, the defending district champs.
  But South Houston fought back to within a point, at 70-69, with seven seconds left. Two free throws by Taylor Holland restored a three-point Dobie lead and the Trojans couldn't counter.
  Christian Sanders scored 16 points for the Longhorns and Devonte Banks 13.
  Sanders scored 10 of his points in Dobie's key second-quarter burst.
  Lacey Mose led the Trojans with 13. Victor Andino and Maurice Ijeh added 11 each.

Dobie senior Taylor Holland sinks the second of two free throws with seven seconds left to give his team a three-point lead.

Longhorn students celebrate at the final buzzer.

South Houston's Elton Dyer (23) fights a battle above the rim with Dobie's Geo Ramirez and gets the block.  

Dobie guard Devonte Banks works the ball in the backcourt.

(Left) Dobie's Christian Sanders (15) pushes into the lane for a first-quarter layup; (right) Lacey Mose brings the ball up for South Houston.

Dobie's Sanders works the ball down low as Bradley Deanda (3) defends for the Trojans.

South Houston's Maurice Ijeh eyes the bucket on a free throw.

South Houston's Calvin Mitchell (20) whips a pass inside for Maurice Ijeh.

Dobie's Devonte Banks shovels the ball from the top of the key.

(Left) South Houston's Victor Andino (14) tried to swipe the ball from Christian Sanders; (right) a Dobie cheerleader helps stir up the crowd.

Banks directs a pass to the wing as new Dobie Principal Franklin Moses calmly scrutinizes the action.

South Houston's Elton Dyer and Dobie's Taylor Holland vie for a critical loose ball in the closing minutes.

(Left) Dobie's Christian Sanders goes high to defend a shot; (right) Longhorns Coach Kevin Cross monitors the action on the court.

Franklin Moses, Dobie's new principal, soaks up the excitement.

Ariel Hebert, a Dobie senior, sings the national anthem before the game.

Senior night celebrants: Marcus Varron with his parents, Angelique and Marcus.

Taylor Holland, who later supplied the insurance points, poses with his mother, Michelle Holland and his brother, Reggie Wilson.

The Eagles huddle before the start of overtime against Deer Park.

  Ivan Cifuentes scored 16 points to lead Pasadena High to a 52-50 overtime upset of Deer Park on Friday night for the Eagles' first district victory of the season.
  The shocker effectively eliminated the Deer from the District 22-5A title race, leaving Dobie, Sam Rayburn and South Houston in strong position to capture at least a share of the championship.
  Trey Williams scored 12 points for the Eagles and Corey Martin added 12.

(Left) Pasadena's Joshua Solis (3) draws a foul; (right) Corey Martin (23) and Solis pressure the Deer.

South Houston's Dominque Davis (2), Akira DeCoud (23) and Brianna Butler (24) join Deer Park players in stuffing the lane in anticipation of a rebound.

  DEER PARK -- South Houston's surging Lady Trojans positioned themselves for a breakthrough championship in the District 22-5A basketball race with a 48-43 road upset of Deer Park on Tuesday night.
  The Lady Trojans received balanced scoring from their senior-laden lineup and led the Lady Deer from the early minutes of the first quarter.
  The victory lifted South Houston into a first-place tie with Deer Park. Both stand 6-2 in district play with only two games to play. The Lady Trojans close with Sam Rayburn and Pasadena High. The Lady Deer have remaining games with Pasadena and Memorial High.
  Should the Lady Trojans win their remaining games, the worst they can achieve is a co-championship with Deer Park.
  Senior Akira DeCoud led the Lady Trojans with 12 points, including four in a tense fourth-quarter stretch. South Houston led 44-37 with three minutes left, but Deer Park scored five straight points to pull within two.
  A layup by DeCoud with 1:28 left gave the Lady Trojans a four-point lead and some breathing room. South Houston's defense held the Lady Deer scoreless over the final minute.
  Seniors Dominque Davis and Jasmine Lopez added 10 points each for the Lady Trojans.
  Deer Park senior Tabitha Hawthorne led all scorers with 16 points, including 10 in the second half.
  South Houston is now 17-12 for the season.

South Houston's Akira DeCoud comes up with a key steal in the final minutes of the game.

Angella Gencarelli gives her Lady Trojans a timely pep talk during a timeout in the second half.

South Houston's Jasmine Lopez works the ball upcourt against Deer Park's Lyndsie LeBlanc.

South Houston's Dominque Davis pulls up and sinks a key 3-pointer as Deer Park's Michelle Linton (14) defends.

(Left) DeCoud sets a roadblock on Deer Park's Lyndsie LeBlanc; (right) Brianna Butler fights for a rebound with Deer Park's Tabitha Hawthorne.

DeCoud hits a baseline jumper in the second half.

DeCoud gets set to sink a free throw.

Dobie sophomore Kevin Padilla (8) works the ball against Southlake Carroll as junior Edwin Padilla moves in to help. 

  Dobie's boys soccer team is No. 4 in the latest ESPN national rankings. The Longhorns stand 11-0-1 for the season after going 3-0-1 at the recent Round Rock Tournament.
  At the tournament, Dobie beat Round rock McNeil 2-0, which was ranked No. 10 in the state, and played defending state champ Southlake Carroll to a scoreless tie.
  Jonathan Palma scored three of the Longhorns' five goals at the event and assisted on another. Dobie has nine shutouts this season and sports a goals-against average of 0.36.

Senior Douglas Leighton presses Southlake Carroll's defense.

  Aracely Gomez, Sam Rayburn's senior foward, reached a milestone last week when she posted her 1,000th career rebound in a game against Deer Park. Gomez is a three-year starter for the Lady Texans.

  South Houston High football standout Kenneth Marshall spoke to students at Jessup Elementary last week about the importance of getting an education, setting goals and pursuing dreams.
  Marshall, who has signed to play for Texas A&M, was one of several guest speakers during College & Career week. He attended Jessup from kindergarten through the fourth grade.
  Marshall saluted his P.E. instructior at Jessup, William Pape, and thanked him for motivating him to develop his athletic skills. Marshall plans to graduate from South Houston next month and immediately start classes at A&M.
  Below: Kenneth Marshall chats with Jessups's future football stars. Bottom: Marshall with William Pape, his former P.E. instructor at Jessup.

  Memorial High junior soccer standout Itzel Guajardo has been selected to participate in a training camp that could earn her a spot on the Mexico Football Federation's Under-17 National Team.
  Guajardo will leave later this week to attend the training camp in Mexico City. She will compete for a chance to play in an exhibition game against Canada's Under-17 team in April.
  As a sophomore last year, Guajardo led District 22-5A in scoring and was named the district's offensive MVP honors.
  She is a five-year veteran of the Albion Hurricanes club team.

Selena Reyna signs with Ball State surrounded by well-wishers (front) her mother, Susie Reyes, and sister, Andrea Lopez; and (back) South Houston Head Coach Jonathan Garcia and Assistant Coach Kim Cook.

  South Houston senior Selena Reyna signed a softball letter of intent on Wednesday to play for Ball State University in Indiana.
  "This is really exciting," Reyna said. "I have worked really hard for this and I'm excited that all my hard work has paid off."
  Reyna was named first team all-district last spring as a junior. She earned second-team all-district honors her freshman and sophomore seasons.
  "Selena came in and hit the ground running as a freshman," South Houston Coach Jonathan Garcia said. "She made an immediate on our team and has steadily gotten better every year."
  Reyna was joined at the signing by Garcia and Assistant Coach Kim Cook; her mother, Susie Reyes; and younger sister Andrea Lopez, also a student at South Houston.
  "I think Selena's signing says a lot about the softball program at South Houston," Garcia said. "I think this will have a positive impact on her teammates as well, showing them that you can get a scholarship to play softball while at South Houston, if you're willing to be dedicated and put in all the hard work as she has."
  "The past four years on the team have been unforgettable," Reyna said.

Eaves with Memorial head baseball coach Terry Garza, Memorial athletics director John Snelson and Memorial assistant baseball coach Kevin Etchberger after signing his letter of intent.

  Memorial shortstop Cody Eaves signed a national letter
of intent on Wednesday to play baseball for TCU. Eaves
hit .395 last season as a junior with four home runs.
Family, friends, teammates and coaches held a signing
party for Eaves at the school on Wednesday.

Eaves with his coaches and family members.

Memorial's Jessica Elkins hammers a shot over Clements defenders Kayla Kuhn (11) and Erin Taylor (15).

  PEARLAND - Fort Bend Clements used nine kills from team kills leader Summer Kisner to roll past Memorial in three games Friday night in second-round action of the state Class 5A playoffs at Pearland's Dawson High School.
  The Lady Rangers, who won the District 23-5A title with an 18-0 record, dominated the Lady Mavs from the opening minutes. Clements won with scores of 25-15, 25-21 and 25-13.
  Senior Andee Turner and junior Jessica Elkins led the Lady Mavs with six kills each.
  Memorial finished the season with a 16-12 record. Clements advances with a 32-6 mark.
  Two other Pasadena ISD playoff teams, Dobie and Sam Rayburn, were eliminated in first-round action earlier this week.

Memorial sophomore Gwen Christ lobs a shot over Clements' front line.


Mavericks sophomore Kaylee Berkley pitches the ball over the top of Clements' Taylor Nguyen. 

Memorial teammates Kirbee Bowman (1), Jessica Elkins (6), Amy Fuller (7) and Andee Turner (9) let their emotions fly after securing the winning point in the fifth and final game against Channelview.

  Memorial High's volleyball team survived two elimination points in the fifth game of a frantic state playoff opener against Channelview Tuesday night at Phillips Field House and advanced to the next round on an otherwise calm tip at the net by senior Amy Fuller.
  The Lady Mavs scored seven of the final eight points in the contest -- including the final four points -- to steal what looked like a sure victory for the Falcons.
  Memorial will face Ft. Bend Clements in second-round play today at 6 p.m. at Dawson High School in Pearland.  
  Trailing 13-9 and then 14-12 in the 15-point fifth game, Memorial staged a closing kick that resulted in the Lady Mavs claiming the game, 16-14, for a 3-2 match victory.
  After the two teams swapped 25-23 victories, Memorial appeared to take control with a 25-10 pounding of the Falcons in the third game. But Channelview bounced back to take the fourth game in a 28-26 nailbiter.
  Jessica Elkins led the Lady Mavs with 15 kills while Fuller added 13.
The Lady Mavs, runners-up to Deer Park in the District 22-5A race, were the only Pasadena ISD team to survive the first round. Third-place Dobie fell to Baytown Sterling 3-0 (25-14, 25-20, 25-14) in the match preceding the Memorial-Channelview contest.
  Fourth-place Sam Rayburn lost to North Shore on Monday night.


Memorial sophomore Kaylee Berkley flips the ball over Channelview's front line.

Sophomore Gwen Christ scores on a tap over Channelview defenders Malicia Fluellen (5) and Shelby Campbell (7).

Andee Turner (9) and Kirbee Bowman position themselves for the next point.

Memorial junior Kirbee Bowman counters the Falcons' net charge with a soft volley.

Christa Wells (3) Kaylee Berkley (12), Jessica Elkins (6) and Kirbee Bowman perform their volleyball ballet after winning a point.

Dobie sophomore Bre'Shaun Franklin (11) lifts the ball over Baytown Sterling defender Raegan Guidry (12) during the Lady Longhorns' three-game loss to the Lady Rangers.

Dobie senior Courtney Franklin (12) slams the ball home.

Dobie's Amber Nguyen (17), Bre'Shaun Franklin (11) and Sobia Bhatty (4) celebrate a point.

Beverly Hills eighth-grader DeVaughn Pennamon darts 13 yards for the game's first score.

  Beverly Hills running back DeVaughn Pennamon scored touchdowns in each of the first two quarters Tuesday night to lead the Bears to a 20-0 victory over neighborhood rival Thompson Intermediate and the Pasadena ISD's eighth-grade championship.
  Pennamon ran 13 yards for a TD that capped a marathon opening drive for the Bears. Thompson's offense wasn't able to run a play until the final two minutes of the quarter.
  The Bears took a 14-0 lead midway through the second quarter when Pennamon scored from nine yards out.
  Beverly Hills added an insurance score in the third quarter on a 25-yard burst by Jauan Bracey.
  Both teams finished with 8-1 records. The Bears' only loss was a 14-6 regular-season setback to the Lions.
  Bondy Intermediate won the seventh-grade championship with a 30-6 victory over Thompson. Quarterback Sam Zuniga scored two TDs for the Patriots as did teammate Donovan Payton.

Pennamon scores from nine yards out in the second quarter.

Beverly Hills quarterback Isaiah Chaney is stopped short of the goal-line by Thompson's Adan Solis (79) on the final play of the first half.

Beverly Hills defensive back James Washington (9) cuts in front of Thompson receiver Michael Rose to make an over-the-shoulder interception in the fourth quarter.

  Dobie qualified for the Regional III-5A Team Tennis Championships last weekend by finishing second in the District 22-5A tournament.
  Deer Park defeated the Longhorns 10-2 in the finals to claim the district title. The top two teams advance to the regional round.
  Dobie advanced with a 16-0 victory over Pasadena in the quarter-finals and a 10-1 victory over Memorial in the semifinals. Memorial beat South Houston 12-7 in its quarter-final match.
  Deer Park was host of the event.

  Sam Rayburn's girls swimming team finished first at the MacArthur Quadangular Swim Meet on Oct. 20 at Aldine MacArthur High School.
  The Texans' boys team finished second to MacArthur.
  VARSITY RESULTS 
  GIRLS
  1. Sam Rayburn, 89 points; 2. Memorial, 85; 3. Aldine MacArthur, 53; 4. Pasadena, 25.
  BOYS
  1.  Aldine MacArthur, 176; 2. am Rayburn, 113; 3. Pasadena, 31; 4. Memorial 10.

  Sam Rayburn's combined girls and boys swimming squads finished first by a wide margin in the Pasadena Harvest Classic Swim Meet at San Jacinto College earlier this month.
  VARSITY RESULTS
  1. Sam Rayburn, 120 points; 2. Memorial, 54; 3. Pasadena, 29
  JV RESULTS
  1. South Houston, 72; 2. Memorial, 40; 3. Sam Rayburn, 85.

Memorial junior Jessica Elkins delivers the final kill in the second game as the Lady Mavs draw even in the match. Elkins led both teams in kills with 19.

  Memorial's volleyball team dropped the first game but rallied to beat host Dobie 18-25, 25-17, 25-23, 25-22 on Tuesday night in early show of strength in District 22-5A.
  Senior Jessica Elkins paced the Lady Mavs with a game-high 19 kills. Senior Courtney Franklin led Dobie with 11 kills.
  The Lady Mavs are now 2-0 in district play. The Lady Longhorns fell to 1-1.

Dobie's Courtney Franklin slams home a winner as Andee Turner defends for Memorial.

Amy Fuller (7) leads a Memorial chorus of "Out!" as teammates watch and hope.

Dobie's Kristen Stolicki (13) and Bre'shaun Franklin (11) find a moment to work on their choreography as the ball heads the other way.

Memorial's Jessica Santano (8) pushes back at the net against Dobie's Natalie Skaggs (6).

Lady Longhorn sophomore Bre'shaun Franklin (11) pushes a shot over Memorial's Jessica Elkins (6).

Memorial's Kaylee Berkley (12) joins her teammates in celebrating a point in the third game.

  If you walk into Veterans Stadium, you may notice something drastically different on the walls. Local Houston artist Anat Ronen volunteered her Saturday morning to handpaint a mural on the training room door. 
  District athletic trainer Randy Dugas said he first had the idea of revamping the training room door on a visit to Dobie, where Ronen had recently painted a mural for the Longhorns training room.   
  "This is my first year here," Dugas said. "I wanted to do something to make that area nice both inside and out that will be seen by thousands of people each year." 
  Located on the east side of Veterans Stadium, the mural was completed in just six short hours.
  "We are really thankful to Anat for what she's done for us," Dugas said. "We definitely have the nicest training room door in the area, if not the state!"

The Longhorns mural painted by Ronen inside of Dobie High's training room.

For more information regarding Anat Ronen's work click here. 

  The 2011 season for Pasadena ISD varsity football teams will begin on Aug. 25 when Sam Rayburn takes on Summer Creek at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
  Schedules for all five Pasadena ISD schools were released on Monday as were homecoming dates for the five schools.
  Dobie will celebrate homecoming on Sept. 16 against Humble. Memorial's homecoming is set for Sept. 23 against North Shore, Sam Rayburn's is Oct. 7 against Memorial, South Houston's is Oct. 14 against Sam Rayburn and Pasadena's is Oct. 21 against South Houston.
  Dobie, South Houston, Pasadena and Memorial will play five non-district games and then take an off week to finish up September. Sam Rayburn will take a open date the weekend of Sept. 23.
  All teams will begin district play the weekend of Oct. 6-8.
  The regular season will conclude on Nov. 5 when Sam Rayburn and Pasadena battle in a 1 p.m. kickoff.
  Pasadena ISD teams will again compete in a six-team District 22-5A field for the second straight year.
  Last fall Dobie won the district title for the first time in 11 years. Memorial and South Houston also made the playoffs, as did Deer Park the only non-Pasadena school in the district.

DATE............... DAY.................. OPPONENT.............. LOCATION....... STADIUM..................... KICKOFF
PASADENA

  * District 22-5A game
  + Homecoming game

SOUTH HOUSTON 

  * District 22-5A game
  + Homecoming game

SAM RAYBURN 

  * District 22-5A game
  + Homecoming game

DOBIE 

  * District 22-5A game
  + Homecoming game 

PASADENA MEMORIAL

  * District 22-5A game
  + Homecoming game

Dobie second baseman Alyssa Lerma eyes a throw from catcher Ariel Morgan on an attempted steal by Pearland's Leandra Maly in the third inning. The throw and tag cut down Maly for the second out.

Shannon O'Connor exhorts her teammates to keep up the fight after the Lady Longhorns surrendered the go-ahead run in the top of the 12th inning on Thursday night against Pearland.

  MANVEL -- Dobie's Shannon O'Connor retired 13 of the first 14 batters she faced in extra innings, but two Pearland singles and an infield error lifted the defending state champions to a 2-1 victory over the Lady Longhorns Thursday night in a 12-inning opener to the teams' Regional III softball championship series.

Pardon my dust! Dobie's Kellen Gomez steals second ahead of a third-inning throw to Pearland second baseman Lauren Langer, then vanishes in a cloud of dust illuminated by the setting sun.

Amie Gallant slaps a single to center to score Gomez and give the Lady Longhorns a 1-0 lead in the third.

Pearland ties the game in the top of the fourth as Devon Foose scoots home ahead of a throw to Dobie catcher Ariel Morgan with Shannon O'Connor backing up the play.

Dobie players form a dance line in the dugout to rally their teammates.

A real cliffhanger: Dobie third baseman Faith Roberts closes in on a short pop-up while her teammates wait in suspense. Roberts made the catch to end the top of the sixth inning.

Dobie center fielder Amie Gallant is greeted with high-fives as she returns the dugout after make a catch to end the seventh inning and strand a Pearland runner at third.


Dobie third baseman Faith Roberts fires to first baseman Jenna Medina for the final out in the top of the ninth inning.

Robin Rackley, the Lady Longhorns' head coach, fills the ears of the base umpire with her opinion of a close ball that went the other way.

Sam Rayburn's Yezenia Gomez was named the girls most valuable diver in District 22-5A. Pasadena High's Darla Kelly was named the boys and girls diving coach of the year in 22-5A. Robert Kelly, the girls swimming coach at Sam Rayburn and Memorial High, was named the district's top girls swimming coach. (Below) Displaying their awards are Darla and Robert Kelly and Yezenia Gomez.

South Houston senior Andres Molina launches a jump shot enroute to a 24-point performance.

 South Houston senior Andres Molina scored 24 points to carry
the red-hot Trojans to a 67-59 victory over home-standing Dobie Tuesday night and command of the race for the District 22-5A boys championship.
  The Trojans, lightly regarded at the start of the season, hit the
20-victory plateau with still one game to play in the month of January.
  The contest, a showdown of teams with perfect 3-0 district marks, remained close until the third quarter when the Trojans outscored the Longhorns 19-11. Dobie's hopes of pulling even in the fourth quarter faded under weight of foul problems. 
  Four Longhorns fouled out in the fourth quarter, including three starters.
  The Trojans, under first-year coach Patrick McCoy, coasted to
20-9 for the season and 4-0 in district play. The Longhorns fell to 15-10 and 3-1.
  Calvin Mitchell backed Molina's 24 points with 12 of his own.
  Seniors Edward Peabody and Jonathan Vargas paced Dobie with 18 points each.
  The Trojans led by only a 27-25 margin at halftime.
  South Houston closes the first half of district play on Friday night against Memorial High. 

Dobie guards Dominic Simon (13) and Mauri Mark try to control a loose ball as South Houston defenders Andres Molina (3), Anthony Davis (5) and Calvin Mitchell (20) close in.

South Houston's Anthony Davis (5) tries to avoid a trap sprung by Dobie's Mauri Mark (11) and Devonte Banks (15) near midcourt.

Happy Trojans celebrate their 57-44 victory over Deer Park on Friday night at the South Houston gym.

MOSE LEADS THE WAY AS SOHO ROLLS IN 22-5A OPENER

Lacey Mose scored 14 points as the South Houston Trojans, an early-season surprise in District 22-5A, hammered league favorite Deer Park 57-44 Friday night in the district opener for both teams.

The Trojans, now 16-10 for the season, thrilled a home crowd by storming to a 26-17 halftime lead and never looking back as Mose took control of the game in the second half. South Houston stretched its lead to as much as 16 points in the closing minutes.

Anthony Davis scored 11 points for the Trojans while Andres Molina pitched in 10, all in the first half.
  Molina led South Houston with six rebounds.

The Trojans outscored Deer Park in every quarter and held the visitors to an icy 25 percent shooting clip.

The Deer, playing without injured star Thomas Walkup, fell to 17-7 for the season. Darian Banks led Deer Park with 14 points. Cody Meek added 12. 

South Houston guard Elton Dyer (23) takes advantage of a pick by Byron Hodges to drive to the hoop.

(Left) Deer Park's Darian Banks goes airborne to swat away a shot attempt by Lacey Mose (4); (right) South Houston's Travis Hilliard (35) brings the ball up the court.

Andres Molina (3) pushes up a short jumper in the first half.

(Left) The Trojans' Elton Dyer (23) does his best wide receiver impersonation as he hauls in a length-of-the-court pass; (right) Byron Hodges (1) scores for South Houston inside over Cody Meek.

(Left) Patrick McCoy, South Houston's first-year coach, gets clarification on an issue from the referee; (right) Lacey Mose, the Trojans' leading scorer with 14 points, looks for an opening against Deer Park's Cody Meek.

(Left) Trojan seniors Brian Lopez, Aaron Lopez, Daniel Martinez and Vinnie Valadez show up as extreme deer hunters; (right) Trojans Guy Peel and Anthony Davis give fist pumps to the crowd after the game. 
Photos by Al Carter and Vicki Talton

Sam Rayburn senior Jose Ortega works his way out of the pack at the state Class 5A cross country meet. Photo courtesy of the Pasadena Citzen.