Clay Whittington
@C_Whittington
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Freelance journalist with The Belton Journal, Killeen Daily Herald, Temple Daily Telegram, Copperas Cove Leader Press and MORE!!
Lampasas, Texas
Joined January 2010
CLASS 5A STATE SEMIFINAL FINAL: No. 2 Killeen Ellison 52, No. 11 Mansfield Summit 50. The Eagles are the first team in Killeen ISD history to compete for a boys basketball state championship.
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City rivals Ellison’s Isiah Brown and Killeen’s DJ Dormeus faceoff.
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Ellison holds largest signing ceremony in school history.
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Two of the four head coaches to reach the Class 5A state tournament graduated from Ellison High School. Mansfield Summit head coach Emund Prichett was in 1997, and Eagles head coach Alberto Jones Jr. was in 1998.
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Just received word from Harker Heights head coach Celneque Bobbitt that the Knights will be retiring former standout Royce O’Neale’s (@BucketsONeale00) number on Jan. 14. O’Neale now plays for the Utah Jazz.
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Along with capturing his 900th career victory, it was announced Lampasas head coach Mark Myers (@CoachMyersLB) is being named one of UIL’s top 100 girls basketball coaches of all time.
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BREAKING: Ellison standout guard Jamyron Keller (@JamyronKeller) will announce his college commitment Aug. 14. Offers include VCU, Xavier, Oklahoma St., Kansas St., N. Texas, Wyoming, SFA, St. Louis, ODU, Toledo, Wichita St., Missouri St., Sam Houston St., Oral Roberts and SMU.
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Now that it’s after midnight, my career as a full-time sports journalist is done. Looking forward to working part-time, but it won’t be the same. Thanks to the Lampasas Dispatch Record, Victoria Advocate and Killeen Daily Herald for this 11-year ride. #EternallyGrateful.
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Man oh man, can you imagine how happy Johnny “Lam” Jones would be if he was alive to see Badgermania literally sweeping the nation.
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Happy to announce that I have accepted a position at @beltonjournal, where I will be covering ALL @BeltonHS athletics. @JournalSportsTA is leaving me big shoes to fill, but I am extremely excited for the opportunity.
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FINAL: No. 6 Lampasas 49, Liberty Hill 34. Badgers win Region IV-4A, Division I championship and will play No. 2 Carthage in next week's state semifinals. Ace Whitehead goes 21 of 29 for 401 yards and 6 TDs, while Jaylon Porter has 5 catches for 132 and 3 TDs.
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Can’t wait for the gates to open so I can get a better look at the new tribute to Johnny “Lam” Jones located at Badger Stadium. Bravo, Lampasas!
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Leo Buckley Stadium is playing host to our cover photoshoot for the upcoming @KDHsports annual football preview magazine.
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What a year for Lampasas sports. Among other things, football wins a playoffs game, girls basketball turns the corner, girls golf is heading to state and now baseball is in the area round. Pretty remarkable milestones for the Badgers and Lady Badgers.
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FINAL: Class 4A, Division I No. 3 Lampasas 41, Stephenville 0. Badgers (2-0) host Class 4A, Division II No. 4 Wimberley next week.
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REGION II-6A SEMIFNAL BOYS FINAL: No. 3 Ellison 77, No. 19 Spring Westfield 62. Eagles improve to 35-4 and advance to play either Wylie or Round Rock Westwood for the regional championship and a berth at state tomorrow at 2 p.m. at Dallas’ Davis Field House.
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DISTRICT 27-4A GIRLS FINAL: Lampasas 55, Liberty Hill 46. Lady Badgers defeat Lady Panthers for first time in 20 years.
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At Belton, where a historic evening is on tap as the Lady Tigers (9-26, 2-3 District 22-5A) and Lake Belton (25-8, 4-1) will meet for the first time. First serve is about 30 minutes away. STANDS ARE PACKED!!
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Former Harker Heights (@HHKnightsHoops) standout and current Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) starter Royce O’Neale (@BucketsONeale00) will have his high school jersey retired tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. Then, Class 6A No. 14 Knights host Temple at 7 p.m.
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DISTRICT 14-4A, DIVISION I FINAL: No. 7 Lampasas 47, Fredericksburg 35. Badgers earn first district title since 2011 as quarterback Ace Whitehead accounts for six touchdowns to close out the regular season after Billies scored 14 unanswered points to open the game.
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Lampasas QB Ace Whitehead (MVP), LB Case Brister (Co-Defensive Player of the Year) and HC Troy Rogers (Coach of the Year) earn superlatives, 14 Badgers land on 14-4A, Division I All-District First Team.
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REGION IV-4A, DI SEMIFINAL FINAL: No. 6 Lampasas 66, Needville 44. Badgers (12-1) advance to play district rival Liberty Hill (8-5) next week.
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Here’s one more feather to add to J’Wan Roberts’ cap.
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Former Shoemaker head coach Emund Pritchett leads Mansfield Summit to the Class 5A state tournament, where he reunite with Ellison's Alberto Jones Jr.
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Keturah Taylor steals inbounds pass and finds Alex Wilson for game-winning basket as time expires, giving Cove a 50-48 win over Shoe.
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Offensive Player of the Year Ace Whitehead highlights six Lampasas Badgers on TSWA Class 4A All-State List; pair of Salado players earn recognition
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Lampasas defeats Florence 25-15, 25-21, 23-25, 17-25, 15-13 to improve to 7-9 on the season.
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BREAKING: Ellison head football coach Trent Gregory is stepping down from the position after five years with the team.
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Lampasas Badgers (@LISDAthletics) land on @SportsCenter Top 10 thanks to a 33-yard touchdown catch by sophomore WR Bryson Roberts (@bryson2roberts) that opened the night’s scoring in a 36-28 victory at Pflugerville Connally.
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Following a lap around the town square, Lampasas is on the road for its showdown with No. 2 Carthage tonight at 7:30 p.m. in New Caney. Last one out turns off the lights.
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Thanks to @freshflashash, @KirkWhitehead10 and @kenna_82371 for making this little girl’s day! . GO BADGERS!!
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Here are your 8-6A All-District Volleyball selections and superlative winners. District champion Copperas Cove jr Aidan Chace is named MVP.
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While swimming in the Llano River today, my wedding ring fell off, but my daughter refused to let it be lost, and after feeling like efforts were futile, she somehow found it. #FathersDayMiracle
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Ellison guard Shamir Bogues finishes with game-high 25 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 blocks, while Jamyron Keller has 16 points & 5 rebounds and Nehemiah Nuckolls has 14 points & 6 rebounds.
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Lampasas sophomore QB Ace Whitehead was the only non-Liberty Hill player to earn an all-district superlative, being named offensive player of the year
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Here are the updated standings for District 8-6A:.Midway 4-0.Heights 3-2.Ellison 2-2.Cove 2-2.Belton 2-2.Killeen 2-2.Shoe 0-5.
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People from Burnet, Marble Falls and San Saba in the crowd supporting Lampasas, helping the Badgers to a pretty significant advantage in the stands.
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You can now undoubtedly place Ellison guard Jamyron Keller among Killeen ISD's greatest athletes and Eagles head coach Alberto Jones Jr. among its greatest coaches of all-time. One more win makes probably puts them atop the list, which is a pretty hefty accomplishment.
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Regardless of the outcome, Lampasas went out swinging to cap off the best season in school history. Badgers rallied from 14-0 hole to start the game and put together a game-tying drive late, but it just wasn't enough.
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Lampasas advances to the area round for the first time since 2006.
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CLASS 6A BI-DISTRICT FINAL: No. 3 Ellison 76, Rockwall-Heath 50. Shamir Bogues scores game-high 19 points in win, while Jamyron Keller adds 13 and Matthias Nero finishes with 11.
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REGION III-5A CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL: No. 2 Ellison 66, No. 3 Fort Bend Marshall 50. Eagles (37-3) head to state tournament for first time since 1993 and will play Thursday at either 7 p.m. or 8:30 p.m. inside the Alamodome. Final is Saturday at 3 p.m.
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Belton is honoring the 65th anniversary of its 1958 state championship boys basketball team. The Tigers defeated New London 58-56 in a sudden death double overtime for the 2A title. James Brantley’s free throws clinched the win after Belton trailed by 8 with 2:45 left.
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It’s official - Lampasas head coach Mark Myers named one of the top 100 coaches of the first 100 years of girls high school basketball in Texas.
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Ellison junior guard Jamyron Keller (@JamyronKeller) made 11 of 19 shots for 34 points and had 9 rebounds in 62-57 win against Mesquite Horn. Tuesday, he was 8 of 14 for 30 points and 8 rebounds in a 50-48 win against Waxahachie. He also has seven 3-pointers during the stretch.
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My girls, fighting the good fight today in Lampasas. Small towns need to keep showing big cities what community is all about.
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At Lampasas High School, where the Badgers are taking advantage of their new turf in a scrimmage against Marble Falls.
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Lampasas’ own Ace Whitehead scored Texas’ 12th run against Oklahoma as a pinch runner. That is the freshman’s second run of his Longhorns career after collecting his first hit yesterday.
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Class 4A, DI No. 3 Lampasas continues its high-scoring ways from last season, cruising to a victory against Brownwood.
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With its 13th victory of the season and the program's first trip into the state semifinals, Lampasas cements itself as the best team in school history following its 49-34 victory against Liberty Hill.
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Lampasas QB Ace Whitehead caps off historic junior season by being named The Associated Press Sports Editors Class 4A Offensive Player of the Year. Badgers lineman John Long lands on first team. The pair helped the team average a whopping 51.8 points and 508.7 yards per game.
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Ellison senior Shamir Bogues named District 12-6A MVP, Eagles freshman Jamyron Keller is newcomer of the year and Alberto Jones Jr. is coach of the year. Look for a complete story in Wednesday’s edition of the Killeen Daily Herald (@KDHsports).
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Throwback Thursday to 2008, when the great Gabe Wolf caught this shot during a weather delay in Lampasas. Still one of my favorite pics.
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FINAL: No. 10 Ellison 44, No. 3 Fort Bend Marshall 42. JoJo McIver hits game-winner with 0.3 seconds on the clock, giving him 23 points for the game. Also had 2 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks. Eagles are headed back to the state tournament for the second consecutive season.
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Lampasas quartet of Luke Palacios, Brady Carroll, Ace Whitehead and Cameron Everts place second in the Class 4A boys 1,600-meter relay with a time of 3:20.26.
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Marty Ybarra hits a walkoff single and Lampasas defeats Boerne 2-1 to advance to area round.
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Class 4A No. 6 Lampasas will play Gonzales in a Division I area-round game Friday at Pflugerville’s Pfield. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
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REGION II-6A QUARTERFINAL BOYS FINAL: No. 3 Ellison 74, Mesquite Horn 52. Eagles improve to 34-4 and advance to the regional tournament, playing No. 19 Spring Westfield on Friday at 6 p.m. at Dallas’ Davis Field House. Nehemiah Nuckolls finishes with 24 points and 7 rebounds.
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CLASS 4A BI-DISTRICT FINAL: Lampasas 51, Boerne 30. Lady Badgers (29-6) wins first playoff game since 1999 behind 13 points, 8 rebound, 4 blocks, 2 assists and 2 steals from senior Diane Hurst.
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Daunte Cuffie returns for the Badgers, and proves he’s ready to make an impact.
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New District 8-6A boys standings:.Midway 7-1.Ellison 6-2.Shoemaker 5-3.Killeen 4-4.Belton 4-4.Harker Heights 3-5.San Angelo Central 2-6.Copperas Cove 1-7.
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8-6A BOYS.STANDINGS.Waco Midway 8-1.Ellison 7-2.Shoemaker 5-4.Belton 5-4.Killeen 4-5.Harker Heights 4-5.San Angelo Central 2-7.Copperas Cove 1-8. 1/26.Harker Heights 81, San Angelo Central 54.No. 25 Ellison 65, Copperas Cove 60.Waco Midway 71, Killeen 39.Belton 57, Shoemaker 50.
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From Lampasas to Texas to Tokyo. That is quite the journey!!.
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DISTRICT 11-5A, DIVISION II FINAL: Belton 31, Waco University 2. Cole Chrisman hits a 22-yard FG as time expires. Tigers (8-2, 6-0) claim sole possession of district championship – first outright title since 1999 – and will play Austin Northeast (4-5-1) to open the playoffs.
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Copperas Cove and Midway are both 0-3, and Ellison is 3-0. What the heck is going on in District 12-6A??!?.
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INSPIRED BY A LEGEND: Badgers run hard to honor late ‘Lam’ Jones, collect gold, silver | Lampasas |
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CLASS 6A BOYS REGIONAL QUARTERFINAL FINAL: Ellison 63, Duncanville 56. Eagles move on to face Arlington Bowie in regional semifinals.
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DISTRICT 8-6A BOYS FINAL: Ellison 64, No. 23 Waco Midway 62. Amir Davis hits a buzzer beater for the Eagles.
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Been doing some checking and it appears Copperas Cove's Rashard Odomes (@R_Odomes) is first Killeen area player to ever reach Final Four.
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GOING OUT ON TOP: Belton’s T.J. Johnson caps high school career with 12-6A MVP award
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Lady Badgers remain area's highest-ranked team after posting 20 wins for first time since 1999. via @kdhnews.
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Ellison senior Shamir Bogues and freshman teammate Jamyron Keller land on @Tabchoops II-6A All-Region Team. Yesterday, @ShamirGod1 was named 12-6A All-District Most Valuable Player and @JamyronKeller was named newcomer of the year.
BREAKING: TABC All-Region announced.
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CLASS 6A BI-DISTRICT FINAL: Ellison 54, Cedar Hill 52. Casey Armour wins it with a buzzer beater.
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Kendall Ratliff punches in a 10-yard TD to open the second half, putting La Vega up 28-7 with 9:43 left in 3Q.
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Here are the boys 12-6A All-District superlatives. Congrats to all!
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Belton is one win away from reaching the state tournament for the first time since 2000. Here's how the Lady Tigers got back to this point over two decades.
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Rumor has it tonight's 71-45 win against Shoemaker gives Belton (@BeltonTigerBB) its first share of a district title since 2004. Last shared title before that was 1970. The Tigers' last outright championship was in 1966, but they can do it Tuesday with a win at Harker Heights.
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A dozen years of marriage and it just keeps on getting better!!. Happy Anniversary to the love of my life(@MWhittington). Thanks for putting up with me throughout it all.
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With 6:59 left in the second quarter against Chaparral, Class 5A No. 2 Ellison senior guard and Oklahoma State commit (@OSUMBB) Jamyron Keller (@JamyronKeller) breaks the school’s all-time scoring record, surpassing the previous mark of 2,263 points set by Darius Brown in 1993.
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No surprise here after accounting for 75 touchdowns and almost 5,000 yards of offense.
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Anybody who traveled down 4th Street over the last several decades has undoubtedly seen my neighbor, Mr. Jim Gray, sitting on his porch at some point. In honor of his passing, be sure to honk if you happen drive by his house tomorrow, when his family and friends honor him.
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Behind senior Makenna Morrow's pair of goals, Belton defeats Port Neches-Groves 2-1 to reach tomorrow's Region III-5A championship against Georgetown. Match starts at 11 a.m.
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And the undefeated No. 2 Lampasas Badgers are en route to Fredericksburg for their playoff opener tonight.
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Angelique Morgan finishes with game-high 20 points for Harker Heights, while Sierra Brooks adds 14, Emri Lovell has 11 and 5 assists and Brielle Dorsey tallies 9 points, 6 rebounds in 62-60 overtime win against Plano East in Class 6A area round.
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Lampasas sends pair of football and baseball players to next level | Lampasas |
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That is not a typo. Lampasas is ranked in the top 10 of the latest @AustinTGCA Class 4A poll. Congrats to @CoachMyersLB and @LampasasGBB players.
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OHHHH BOY, it's almost time for a Class 5A super showdown for the state championship!. No. 2 Ellison (37-3) v. No. 1 Dallas Kimball (31-2). Neither team has lost a game in 2023. Buckle up!.
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Here are the 12-6A All-District girls basketball superlatives.
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CLASS 6A BI-DISTRICT BOYS BASKETBALL FINAL: Ellison 50, Waxahachie 48. Eagles (19-14) advance to play either Garland Lakeview Centennial or Mesquite Horn in the area round. Indians finish the season with 20-12 overall record.
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Former Belton head coach David Tidwell throws out the ceremonial first pitch at the Tigers’ stadium, which was renamed Tidwell Field.
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And the realignment bomb has been dropped for @KDHsports area schools. District 12-6A.Belton.Copperas Cove.Killeen.Ellison.Shoemaker .Harker Heights.Temple .Waco .Waco Midway.
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Belton girls soccer has a new all-time scoring leader after Makenna Morrow recorded her 109th goal tonight.
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For the second year in a row, the only team capable of eliminating Ellison from the playoffs was the No. 1 team in the state.
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Diane Hurst finishes with 22 points, 5 rebounds and 5 blocks, while teammate Jelecia Magee-Hodges adds 17 points, 6 rebounds and Kamri Corbin has 15 points, 3 assists and 3 steals in season-ending loss for Lampasas.
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Nate Borchardt’s game-high 34 points puts “The Cherry On Top” of Lampasas’ 10-game win streak.
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Pretty cool scene as the No. 6 Lampasas Badgers take the field.
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