When the Steers hosted Iowa Park Tuesday, Dec. 13, the rivalry game against the Hawks lived up to expectations. The game was physical, with 48 fouls called and a combined total of 56 free throws shot between both teams. When the final buzzer sounded, the Steers emerged victorious with a 63-55 win over the Hawks.
The Graham Steers soccer team opened its new season with a 2-1 loss Tuesday, Dec. 13 at Granbury High School. Despite the loss and following the team’s scrimmages last week, there is a lot of optimism surrounding the team as it begins its new season.
The Pirates opened the match by challenging the Steers’ defense, which is led by team captain and last year’s district defensive MVP Christian Coyac. Owen Gage returned as the team’s goalkeeper this year and provided the Steers “solid goaltending” according to coach Tim Wankowicz.
The Steers took part in the inaugural Red, White and Blue Tournament Dec. 8-10 at Graham High School. After pool play against Castleberry and Olney, the Steers earned a spot in the White Bracket.
The Lions defeated the Steers in the first game of pool play before the Steers bounced back with a win over the Cubs.
The Lady Blues varsity and junior varsity teams faced a tough task on the road Friday, Dec. 9 when taking on Aledo. Both Lady Blues teams played short-handed in defeats to the JV and varsity Lady Bearcats.
The varsity Lady Blues played short-handed once again with Maddie Franklin unavailable due to an ankle injury.
Lady Blues varsity coach credited his team’s effort through all four quarters of their 55-14 loss to the Lady Bearcats.
The Graham Junior High School Lady Blues bounced back this week after suffering a pair of losses Monday, Dec. 5 against City View. Only the A teams for seventh and eighth grade played Dec. 5 in City View. Both A and B teams participated Dec. 12 with three of the four teams earning victories at home against Iowa Park. All scores and stats were provided by coach Kim Brewster.
City View 54, Lady Blues (Eighth A) 30
Top scorer: Addyson Weaver, 18 points.
Top rebounder: Weaver, five rebounds.
Top defensive player: Ady Pinkston, five steals.
A slow start was too much for the Steers to overcome Tuesday, Dec. 6 while hosting the Boyd Yellowjackets. While able to create opportunities on offense in the first quarter, the Steers struggled to take advantage of those opportunities and fell behind by 12 points. Although the Steers outscored the Yellowjackets in the second and fourth quarters, they could not overcome the deficit to lose 61-54.
Playing a full four quarters has been an issue for the Steers early in the season and it proved to be more than the team could overcome.
It was a tough night for Graham Steers sub-varsity basketball Tuesday, Dec. 6 at Graham High School. After opening with a blow-out loss in the junior varsity game, the freshman team lost on a last-second 3-point basket.
A late first-quarter run brought the junior varsity Steers back into the game after falling behind early. It was perimeter defense that proved to be problematic as the Steers struggled while giving up eight 3-pointers over the second, third and fourth quarters as the team fell to Boyd, 61-28.
It was a night of blowouts Tuesday, Dec. 6 in Bridgeport. The Lady Blues Junior Varsity Red held the JV Sissies without points in two of four quarters in their 41-8 win to open the night. In the varsity game, a short-handed Lady Blues struggled to a 62-21 loss.
The varsity Lady Blues were reduced to six players at tipoff and competed against a Sissies team with 12 players suited for the game. The Sissies outscored the Lady Blues 17-4 in the opening quarter and never looked back.
With the Ariat World Series of Team Roping 2022 finale underway in Las Vegas, for a second straight year, the competition will see representation from Graham. Tyrel Campbell, of Graham, and Mac Fairey, of Moody, will look to defend their #8.5 Ariat World Series of Team Roping championship title when they compete Saturday, Dec. 10.
Campbell, who participates part-time and works in the oil industry by profession, grew up in Ingleside. His love for roping grew on a ranch his father worked on in the town just north of Corpus Christi.
The Steers are in the midst of a turnaround season. After struggling most of last season to find wins, the Steers have won three straight games following the completion of the Haskell Tournament Dec 1-3 at Haskell High School.
After a slow start against Seymour in their first game of the tournament, the Steers were unable to overcome a nine-point deficit against the Panthers. The Steers struggled to hit shots in all four quarters of the 75-33 loss.
