Sports

February 22, 2024 - Center's basketball trailblazer, Retha Swindell, will be inducted into the Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday, February 24, 2024 in Dallas. Swindell is a 1975 graduate of Center High School and is a 2014 Center Hall of Honor Award Recipient.

Why is Swindell getting inducted? Swindell was one of the UT women's basketball program's first All-Americans, and the 1,759 career rebounds that she grabbed from 1975-79 are still a school record. Swindell is one of five Longhorns to record 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in a career.

Swindell was also the first Black woman to play a sport at Texas. During a 2018 interview with the American-Statesman, the Center native downplayed her significant place in UT's history. "I just did what I needed to do to get a degree and get a job," she said. (Source: Black History Month at Texas: Remembering three Longhorns sports pioneers)

To read the announcement published February 19, 2024 on the University of Texas at Austin Athletics website, click the following link - Swindell to be inducted into Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame (texassports.com).

To read an article published February 20, 2024 on The Daily Texan which interviews Swindell, click the following link - Former Texas women’s basketball star Retha Swindell to be inducted into the Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame

Related articles on SCT about Retha Swindell:



(Above) Retha Swindell at the 2014 Center Alumni Hall of Honor Induction Ceremony. (Below) Swindell with family, friends, classmates attending the Hall of Honor ceremony.

February 21, 2024 - The Dragons Boys Basketball team defeated Chireno in the AA Region 3 & 4 Bi-District Playoff round and will play in the Area Playoffs, Thursday, February 22nd in Tenaha versus Douglass at 7pm. Admission is $5 Adults and $3 Students. District and coaches passes accepted.

Gary Bobcats Gymnasium on Tuesday, February 20, 2024 –

(Photo Album)

Shelbyville High School’s Dragons varsity basketball team improved their record to 24-7 with a 51-44 Bi-District Playoff win over the Chireno Owls (14-12). The Dragons came into the Texas UIL State Basketball Playoffs as the second place representative of District 23 2A and the Owls came in as the third seed of District 24. The win advances SHS to the Area round and they will face the winner of the Douglass versus Big Sandy game later this week.

The Dragons led 6-3 midway through the first period and they held an 8-5 point lead going into the second quarter. They led the Owls 23-10 at the midway intermission. The Dragons extended their lead to 32-16 halfway through the third stanza but the Owls went on a 10-1 point run and the Dragons lead narrowed to 33-26 going into the final period.

Chireno fought back during the final period to pull to within a single point, at 45-44 with just 28 seconds left in the game but key buckets by DJ Barnes and JaDavian Mathis helped SHS earn the 51-44 win to advance on to the next round. Mathis led all scorers with 23 points for the day. TaLeon Garner led Chireno with 13 points.

February 16, 2024 - Shelbyville Varsity Basketball will play Tuesday, February 20, 2024 at Gary vs Chireno 6pm in the playoffs. The Dragons are the visiting team. Tickets are $5 Adults and $3 Kids. Coaches Passes and District Passes accepted.

 

February 9, 2024 - The Center Recreation Department is proud to announce that the 2024 Spring Softball, and Baseball signups will begin soon.

Baseball and Softball Signups:
This article is copied from Shelby County Today without permission.
Parents here is the link that will be used to sign up for Spring Baseball and Softball. You must upload the birth certificate even if you have already played. Once you upload the birth certificate once, it will be uploaded for every sport you wish to play. The deadline to register is February 17.
This article is copied from Shelby County Today without permission.
There will not be a spring soccer season this year. Soccer will return in the fall. If you are unable to sign up online, you may visit city hall Monday-Friday 8:30-4:30. Click here to sign up.

Any questions, please call 936-590-7196.

Gary Bobcats Gymnasium on Tuesday, February 13, 2024 –

(Photo Album)

In a very defensive and hard-fought battle the Joaquin Lady Rams varsity basketball team defeated the Woden Lady Eagles by a 31-24 score during a Texas UIL Bi-District elimination playoff game. The Lady Rams came into the game as the third-place representative of District 23 2A with a 18-13 win-loss record. Woden came in with a 15-10 record and was the second-place rep of District 24 2A.

Scoring started slow and the game was tied at 1-1 point midway through the first period. The teams were knotted at 4-4 at the conclusion of the first quarter of play. Woden gained a 10-7 advantage midway through the second period but Joaquin fought back to lead 17-12 by halftime. The Lady Rams led by as many as 9 points in the third stanza and they carried a 23-18 lead into the final period. Joaquin outscored Woden 8-6 points in the final period to earn the 31-24 playoff win.

High scorer for Joaquin was Ke’Maria Wilson with a game-high 11 points. Woden was led by Reagan Jameson with 7. Joaquin advances to play Hawkins later this week in the Area round. Hawkins beat Carlisle 55-14 in their Bi-District game to advance. Details are pending.

Tenaha SEC on Tuesday, February 12, 2024 –

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The Tenaha Lady Tigers took a 98-10 point win over the West Sabine Lady Tigers on Tuesday in a Texas UIL Bi-District Playoff elimination game. Tenaha’s record now stands at 31-5 this season. The Lady Tigers are the first place seed from District 21 2A and West Sabine came in as the fourth seed from District 24.

THS was led by Kayanna Cox with 43 points. Teammate Kennedi Holmes had 25 and Kaedynce Cox scored 14. West Sabine was led by Carlee Winters with 4 points.

Tenaha went on a 14-0 points scoring run to begin the game and led the contest 31-2 at the end of the first quarter. By halftime THS had amassed a 52-4 advantage. The third stanza saw the Lady Tigers cruise to a 74-10 lead on their way to the 98-10 final score win.

Tenaha will advance on to play the Cushing Lady Bearkats (18-8) in an area round playoff with details to be announced later this week. Cushing beat McLeod 50-47. Cushing was the second place representative of District 22 2A.

Center Roughriders Gymnasium on Friday, February 9, 2024 –

(Photo Album)

The Center Roughriders varsity basketball team finished the regular season with a 10-2 District 17 4A record and a 19-9 overall season mark with a 74-34 win over the visiting Carthage Bulldogs.

The Roughriders took a 10-3 point lead midway through the first period and they led 20-8 at the end of the first quarter. At halftime the ‘Riders led 37-17. Center outscored the Bulldogs 37-17 in the second half as well to earn the 74-34 win.

Center was led offensively by Tim Johnson with 21 points, Cash Cross had 14, Caleb Moseley 13, Ja Smith 11, and JaKevin Robinson scored 10 points. Carthage was led by Cale Preston with nine points.

The Roughriders will announce their bi-district playoff opponent next week.

February 9, 2024 - Lady Riders Basketball will play the first round of Bi-District playoffs on Monday, February 12, 2024 in the Hudson ISD Gymnasium, 6735 Ted Trout Drive, Lufkin, TX 75904. Game is set to start at 6pm. Tickets are $5/adults and $3/students. Passes accepted are District, THSCA, and Senior Citizen.

Live Coverage Information

The District Champion Lady Riders face the 4th seeded Palestine Lady Cats from District 18 Monday night in the first round of the State Playoffs. The Roughrider Broadcast Team will be there in Hudson for every play; pregame will begin at 5:45pm with the tip off at 6pm.

Playoff games are the property of the UIL and broadcast rights belong to the National Federation of High Schools (NFHS). Through a generous donation, the Lady Riders playoff broadcast has been purchased so that fans will not have to buy a subscription to the NFHS Network to follow the action.

Find the stream here: https://www.youtube.com/@NETsnLive and click on the Center vs Palestine icon.

Support Gear

Lady Riders Baseball Bi-District playoff shirts are available online at https://gogandy.com/center-gbbpl24. Orders will be taken until Monday, February 12th at 10am.

February 8, 2024 - The Joaquin Lady Rams Bi-District playoff game versus the Woden Eagles is 6:30pm Tuesday, February 13 at Gary High School. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students.

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