In sports,

 

High School Basketball Playoffs Friday:

 

Class 4A Area Championship (Boys)

Center 73, Mexia 77 2OT

 

The Roughriders led at the end of three quarters in regulation, but the foul-laden game favored the Mexia Blackcats in double-overtime, 77-73 in Jacksonville Friday. The Riders were up, 19-8 at the end of the opening period, and held a 32-29 advantage at half, and were ahead, 49-41 heading into the final period. In the final quarter, the Riders built a 13-point lead with just over 6 minutes to play, to see Mexia cut the advantage in regulation. Center got a lay-up at the buzzer to send it to OT, 68-68. The first over-time ended with the two tied at 73. Mexia will play Palestine in the region quarterfinals at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Fairfield.

 

Class 2A Area Championship (Boys)

Tenaha 63, San Augustine 49

 

The Tenaha Tigers are headed to the region quarter-final round after their 63-49 win over the San Augustine Wolves Friday in Joaquin. Tenaha will play New Summerfield at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Hallsville.

 

Shelbyville 58, West Sabine 68

 

The Shelbyville Dragons saw their season come to an end in the area championship round, as West Sabine takes a 68-58 win. The Dragons end as district and bi-district champions. West Sabine will play Dallardsville-Big Sandy in the region quarterfinals.

 

Class 2A Region Semi-Final (Girls)

Shelbyville 21, LaPoynor 74

 

At the region tournament semis in Jewett Leon Friday, it was all LaPoynor as they defeat the Shelbyville Lady Dragons, 74-21. LaPoynor beat Hubbard, 70-61 for the Region III championship Saturday, and advances to the state tournament.

 

Boys’ Area Championships

CLASS 4A REGION III

Palestine 62, Henderson 53

Tatum 61, Fairfield 60

Waco La Vega 42, Diboll 36

Mexia 77, Center 73 (2OT)

 

CLASS 3A REGION III

Rockdale 100, White Oak 67

Kountze 82, Palestine Westwood 75

Teague 82, Malakoff 66

Newton 75, Buna 69

Crockett 66, East Chambers 59

 

CLASS 2A REGION III

Grapeland 48, Bosqueville 39

Dallardsville Big Sandy 97, Carlisle 40

West Sabine 68, Shelbyville 58

LaPoynor 53, Chilton 41

Tenaha 63, San Augustine 49

New Summerfield 57, Evadale 49

 

CLASS A REGION IV

Laneville 105, Gohlson 37

Mt. Enterprise 55, Lometa 45

 

Girls' Class 2A

Region III Semi-finals:

Shelbyville 21, LaPoynor 74

Evadale 56, Hubbard 60

 

Region III Final

LaPoynor 70, Hubbard 61

 

Class 3A

Region III Semi-finals:

Central Heights 39, Rockdale 51

Franklin 72, East Chambers 28

 

Region III Final

Rockdale 67, Franklin 59

 

Baseball:

 

The Center Roughriders start the season 4-0 after going undefeated at the rain-shortened Palestine/Elkhart Tournament. The Riders beat Athens, 4-3 Saturday to cap-off the weekend. Center outscored their opponents, 38-6 in less than desirable cold weather. The Riders also gets wins against Garrison, 10-2, Cayuga, 14-1 and opened up with a 10-0 shutout of Grapeland in 4 innings.

 

Meanwhile, the JV Riders go 5-1-1 at the Central Heights’ Tournament. Their only loss coming to Lufkin, 1-11 in the final.

 

The Roughriders will be off until Thursday when they are scheduled to start play in the Oil Belt Classic in Kilgore, while the Rider JV will play in the Central JV Tournament beginning Thursday. Center will open district March 10 at Tatum.

 

The San Augustine Wolves are to open their season home against Chester tomorrow.

 

The Shelbyville Dragons go to Hemphill at 5 p.m. Tuesday

 

The Joaquin Rams are home against Elysian Fields at 6 p.m. Tuesday

 

The Timpson Bears will be hosting their tournament Thursday thru Saturday.

 

The Garrison Bulldogs are to take part in the Elysian Fields Tourney later this week.

 

The Tenaha Tigers will open their season Thursday in the Gary Tournament.

 

The Broaddus Bulldogs will open district Tuesday home against Burkeville.

 

The Joaquin Athletic Booster Club is sponsoring the Border on the Bash Baseball Tournament March 5 thru March 7. High school teams from Texas and Louisiana will be playing and are guaranteed four games. Texas teams include Joaquin, Alto, Broaddus and Hemphill. Louisiana teams are Logansport, Mansfield, Stanley and Anacoco. Trophies will be presented to each state champion and trophies to over 1st, 2nd and 3ed place teams. The athletic boosters will offer meals. All games are being played at the Joaquin ISD field.

 

Softball:

 

The Center Lady Riders go to Hudson Tuesday. The Lady Riders will host the Center Tournament starting Thursday.

 

The Joaquin Lady Rams open district at home against Cushing Tuesday.

 

The Shelbyville Lady Dragons have their district opener tomorrow at Burkeville.

 

The Timpson Lady Bears are home to play Wells Tuesday.

 

The Garrison Lady Bulldogs go to Pittsburgh Friday.

 

Soccer:

 

The Riders and Lady Riders get district wins over Diboll, the boys, 8-0, and girls in a penalty kick shoot-out.

 

Center will at Palestine Friday.

 

College Hoops:

 

The SFA Lumberjacks and Lady Jacks get Southland Conference wins over Houston Baptist Saturday in Houston. The men take a 102-87 win to improve to 14-1 in conference. The Lady Jacks get a 69-97 win to clinch top seed in the Southland tourney at 14-2. The Lady Jacks can take the outright championship at home Thursday against Northwestern State.

 

The Lumberjacks host Incarnate Word at 7 p.m. tonight.

 

Track & Field:

 

Stephen F. Austin’s Demi Payne has been named a national athlete of the week three times, broken five meet records, won six individual titles and broken the NCAA women’s pole vault record three times so far in 2015. She can now add U.S. champion to her impressive resume. In a field of the best women’s pole vaulters in the country, Payne claimed gold at the 2015 USA Track and Field Indoor Championships held at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center in Boston, Massachusetts on Sunday afternoon. She cleared 14-11 (4.55m) on her third attempt to edge defending champion Mary Saxer by two inches.

 

SFA Athletics and the Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce have teamed up again with Cram the Coliseum, an event designed to bring more from the community to Lumberjack and Ladyjack basketball games. Free admission tickets are available for Ladyjack and Lumberjack games on March 5 and 7. The tickets come 10 to a page and are available at the Nacogdoches County Chamber, 2516 North St., and online at nacogdoches.org in Hot New. Tickets can be used for entrance to the following Ladyjack and Lumberjack basketball games:  Cram the Coliseum - Thursday, March 5, SFA vs. Northwestern State, Ladyjacks begin at 5:30 p.m. and Lumberjacks at 8 p.m.; and Cram the Coliseum 2 - Saturday, March 7, SFA vs. Sam Houston State, Ladyjacks begin at 4 p.m. and Lumberjacks at 6 p.m. All games will be in William R. Johnson Coliseum.

 

The second annual Great East Texas Outdoorfest is coming up this week. The event is slated for Friday, March 6, from 12 noon to 5 p.m. and Saturday, March 7, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. A concert will follow Saturday’s events. Gates for concert open at 6 p.m. All events are to be held at the Sabine County Rodeo Arena. During the two day event there will be live music, entertainment, food, fun, vendors, silent and live auctions. Lots of raffle prizes will be drawn for, with the grand prize being a pontoon boat. Tickets are available at getoutdoorsfest.com or they can be purchased during the event.

 

Shelby County Ducks Unlimited is preparing for its annual Green Wing event at 10 a.m., Saturday, March 21. The event will be held at Bob & Sheilah Reeves’ residence on County Road 3121 off Hwy. 7 east of Center, right after passing the airport. There will be prizes for all kids, along with Texas Parks & Wildlife Game Wardens providing hunter safety, Mike Hudman with Black Water Retrievers with a dog demo and a free hot dog meal. All kids ages up to 17 are invited to attend. Registration starts at 9:30 a.m. For more information call Clint Tanner at 936-332-4767 or Adam Reeves at 936-332-6420.

 

The 8^th annual Logansport Chamber of Commerce Sand Bass Tournament on the Sabine River in Logansport is scheduled for March 14. First prize is $5,000; second $2,000; and third is $1,500. The prize for “Big Bass” is a pool, dependent on the number of registered teams. Entry fee is $150 per team, with an optional $50 per team for Big Bass. Logansport is recognized as the Sand Bass Fishing Capital of the World. Fishermen can obtain get registration forms online at the Facebook page SAND BASS TOURNAMENT, or on the Town of Logansport Chamber of Commerce website. Participants are urged to register early since it may be necessary to restrict to 200 teams. The Shelby County Bass Anglers will conduct the weigh-in. There will be a pre-tournament Fish Fry on March 13. It’s open to the public and will be held along the Logansport Riverfront with an auction and door prizes included. Tickets for the fish fry, along with tournament shirts are available at Logansport businesses. Call Sissy Morris at 318-697-5489 for more info. Tournament entry forms are also available at Center Broadcasting.