Sports

Logan Turner is all too familiar with the rich football tradition here in Graham. Once long-time offensive coordinator Casey Dacus left to take over as the new head coach at Navasota in February, Turner knew Graham was the perfect fit. “As soon as I heard that this job was going to be open I threw my name in immediately,” Turner said. “I have developed a little bit of a relationship with the guys here from when my dad and younger brother were here.

The Graham Lady Blues softball team was well represented on the District 6-4A all district team. A total of 10 players were honored for their hard work all season long. For the second time in as many years, catcher Nicole King was awarded District MVP for her stellar senior campaign. King led the district with a .359 batting average with 14 RBIs, 16 runs in district play and smashed four long balls during the season. She not only brought fear to the opposing pitcher at the plate but was a force behind the plate, by throwing out seven runners on the base paths.

The annual Graham summer volleyball league kicked off this week. For two nights a week, players and families flock to Young County from Bryson, Breckenridge, Jacksboro, Mineral Wells, Wichita Falls, Millsap and Ranger for one of the largest summer volleyball leagues in the state. The only 4A school with a larger high school league is Glen Rose, with 19 teams and seven schools participating during the week. The GHS gymnasium parking lot was completely full Tuesday during the first round of games for the high school.

Eighty young basketball players arrived at the Graham High School gym this week for the start of the Graham basketball camp. This year, both the girls and boys basketball camps combined, with the boys in one gym with Steers head coach Marcus Morris while the Lady Blues held their camp in the other gym with head coach Ky Graham and assistant Sarah Curd. With campers from the ages of fourth grade through ninth grade, Graham said no matter what age, players always need to improve on the basics of the game. “This community has great kids,” Graham said.

Though their season may be over, several Graham Steers were recognized with the best baseball players in the district. The District 6-4A all-district team was released this week after the Iowa Park Hawks were eliminated in the playoffs this past weekend, one win shy of qualifying for the UIL State Tournament. Junior pitcher Luke Stone was selected to the first-team squad. The left-hander led the team with eight wins on the bump and a 2.19 ERA in 54-1/3 innings of work this season with 89 strikeouts. Senior shortstop Tucker Horn also was named to the first-team.

The Graham Steers 7on7 squad will get a shot to defend its 2017 Division II 7on7 title after qualifying for the 2018 state tournament last Saturday. On May 26 in the Hurst DII State Qualifying Tournament, the team defeated Brock in the qualifying round to earn their trip to College Station next month. With the game tied in the closing seconds, quarterback Hunter Lanham dropped back and fired a heave to Daniel Gilbertson.

The Brandon Bailey 3-on-3 Tournament kicked off early Saturday morning on May 26, and concluded Saturday evening with the championship games held in the Newcastle gym. The sixth annual basketball tournament brought together hundreds of athletes from Graham, Newcastle, Haskell, Throckmorton, Olney, Wichita Falls, Tyler and many other places from around the state. There were nine different divisions featured Saturday-elementary, junior high boys, junior high girls, high school boys, high school girls, college boys, adult men and adult women.

Red Bull Cliff Diving returns to Possum Kingdom Lake Friday and Saturday. The event will take place at a remote location on the water at Hell’s Gate Cove. The only viewing is via kayak, stand up paddleboard, personal watercraft, or boat. There is no on-land viewing available for the event. The qualifying round takes place Friday, June 1 at 1:30 p.m. while the championship round takes place Saturday, June 2 at approximately 1:15 p.m. Admission is free and viewing is via water and all spectators must have a watercraft.

After going undefeated all last season on their way to the 7on7 Division II Championship in College Station, the Graham Steers began the 2018 7on7 season last weekend at the Gainesville Division II State Qualifying Tournament. Looking to defend their title from a year ago, the team began the day strong by defeating Godley, but fell in their final two games of the day. The team is having to replace several standouts on their championship team from a season ago due to graduation.

The Graham Lady Blues softball team pushed the top-ranked team in Class 4A like nobody else has done all season. Unfortunately, a two-out two-run single in the sixth inning doomed Graham falling, 2-1, in their best-of-three game series on Saturday at Vernon College. For the second consecutive season, the Lady Blues season ended in the Regional Semifinals. Seniors Aubree Beggs, Elizabeth Routon, Nicole King and Hallie Morgan each played in their final game in a Graham softball uniform.