Shelby County Today

October 7, 2024 - Tuesday, October 8th the Fall Team Tennis District Champion Center Tennis Team travels to Hudson to face the Madisonville Mustangs in the UIL Bi-District Round. Tournament begins at 1 pm. Chris Watlington will be there to provide play by play coverage while Larry Pierce and Stephen Shires will anchor the coverage and update the scoreboard live.

Pretournment begins at 12:40 (or 20 minutes before the tournament if there are delays).

Find the coverage on your desktop, laptop, tablet or smart phone at the following link: HS Tennis: 4A Region 3 Bi District Team Tennis Madisonville vs Center (https://www.youtube.com/live/WEfSv_C_yUc?si=QOiMlgIkZeV0UKml)

Overton Mustangs Stadium on Thursday, October 3, 2024 –

(Photo Album)

The Tenaha Tigers varsity football team travelled to Overton High School on Thursday to play the teams second District 11 2A-2 conference game of the season. When the smoke had cleared Tenaha’s overall record had fallen to 1-5 and their District 11 mark now stands at 0-2. Thursday’s 65-23 Overton win puts the Mustangs at 5-1 overall this season and they have a 2-0 conference mark. Before kickoff senior students Bri'Kelian Kenney from Tenaha, and Bryce Still from Overton, were presented college scholarship checks from FM 105.7 KYKX Radio and Pigskin Bob & Harlan in the amount of $1005 each to be used in furthering their educations.

The game was close throughout the opening period and Overton scored first when senior quarterback Bryce Still scored on a 5-yard run which gave OHS a 6-0 point advantage after a failed 2-point conversion attempt with 10:12 left in the first quarter.

Tenaha scored next on a 50-yard drive which was capped on a 5-yard quarterback keeper run around the right end by senior Bri’Kelian Kenney with 5:59 left in the opening period. A 2-point conversion reception from Kenney to Makias Morris gave Tenaha their only lead at 8-6.

Just one minute later Still hit sophomore receiver Justin Weir for a 13-yard touchdown reception which gave OHS a 12-8 advantage.

Tenaha cut Overton’s lead to 12-11 with 10:20 left in the second period when senior placekicker Jayden Beatriz nailed a 23-yard field goal.

Overton extended their lead to 18-11 when Weir scored a second time on a 5-yard touchdown run with 8:46 remaining in the second stanza.

It appeared the Tigers would go into the lockerroom at halftime down a couple of scores when Still scored on a 17-yard touchdown run with only 1:35 left in the second frame giving OHS a 25-11 lead. The Tigers fought back to pull to with 25-17 at the midway break after Kenney capped the next THS drive with a 5-yard touchdown keeper run with just a single second left on the clock.

Overton added three scores to their tally during the third quarter and ballooned their lead to 45-17 going into the final period of play.

Kenney scored on another keeper run for a Tigers touchdown early in the fourth quarter but Overton would ultimately outpace THS 20-6 points in the final quarter to take the 65-23 win.

The Tigers will host the Alto Yellowjackets at Raymond Jackson Tigers Stadium on Friday at 7 p.m. on October 11. Alto is 4-0 this season and will host the Grapeland Sandies tonight, October 4.

October 3, 2024 - This is a new year; with new staff, new goals, and most of all a new team. The positive changes that have been made on and off the field are very evident, and only being a few weeks into the 2024 season, a changing culture is on the horizon, and a new era of Timpson Bear Football is beginning to form.

Under the leadership of new head football coach and athletic director, Patrick Gandy, the Timpson Bears are defying the odds, as they jump into their upcoming season. “I am not from Timpson, but I’ve been here 13 years, so I now claim it as home. I have embraced this community, and it is evident what they expect from our kids.,” Coach Gandy said when asked about the changes he has made to the program, “Our kids understand that they are representing something greater than themselves when they go out and compete. They represent this town, community, their families, and their team.” Besides the support from his family, coaching staff, and team, Coach Gandy has a deeper motivation for accepting his position. “My dad. He was an AD/head football coach for 20+ years,” Gandy says, “He was a great leader of men, and an even better father figure to every athlete he coached. He is the main reason my motivation in this business is to ‘build relationships and serve others.’ If I can make an impact on people at every stop, like he has, I know he will be proud.”

This past year, the Bears graduated a significant number of players on both sides of the ball. With the loss of those eighteen seniors, came the new found responsibilities of multiple athletes who have had to step up, not just as players on the field, but as teammates on the sidelines. Unable to see behind the scenes, many people overlook the efforts that these athletes have made trying to fill roles that have been left behind. “Our seniors, along with guys like Mayson Harbison have stepped up and embraced the leadership role,” Coach Gandy said, “Those guys know what it takes to get where we want to go, and are leading by example during practices, while lifting, and in the classroom.” No doubt, the pressure these kids feel is heavy, yet the culture that these athletes are working to establish is far more superior.

Labeled as underdogs, this year's team has taken a hard hit as they battle the feeling of overcoming their first loss. After a 16-0 season in 2023, the idea of losing is unfamiliar. Going into this year, there has been a lot of doubt on the public’s minds questioning the abilities and success of the 2024 Timpson Bears. Ignoring what people say, Coach Gandy and his staff have big plans for the guys, and fully intend to use this experience as positive reinforcement. “I told the kids after the game, ‘losing brings out your true character’,” stated Gandy, “We learned a lot about our kids, because they aren’t used to losing, and seeing how some responded was something we needed to see as a staff and team moving forward.”

With realignment making a few changes to district matchups, the Timpson Bears will be facing a pretty competitive schedule. “I believe we have a solid district with some really good coaches and players,” Coach Gandy said when asked about his outlook on what’s ahead, “Obviously, Timpson and Garrison will be at the front, because of last year's success, but keep your eyes on Shelbyville. They have a solid program along with Joaquin. Hemphill is dropping down from 3AD2, so they will be tough; and San Augustine has a lot of returning starters off of last year’s team. A good team will get left at home when the playoffs start.” The Bears will open district play on October 11th as they face Hemphill at John Herbert Eakin Stadium

This week all five Shelby County varsity football teams competed.

Center took a 17-14 win at home for homecoming. The win puts the Roughriders at 5-0. They will have a bye week for October 4, 2024 and will travel to Carthage High School on October 11. Carthage is 3-1 and beat visiting Jasper by a 58-14 score. This will begin District 8 4A-2 conference play.

The Joaquin Rams took a 56-35 homecoming win over the Corrigan-Camden Bulldogs. Joaquin is now 3-2 and will enjoy a bye for October 4 and will host San Augustine (3-2) on October 11. San Augustine beat Huntington 40-8 on Friday. This will begin District 11 2A-1 conference action.

The Shelbyville Dragons beat the Carlisle Indians last Thursday by a 64-33 score. SHS has a bye for October 4 and will host the Garrison Bulldogs on October 11. The Dragons are 4-1 and the Bulldogs are 3-1 and had a bye on Friday. This will begin District 11 2A-1 action for the Dragons.

The Tenaha Tigers fell at home to the Lovelady Lions by a 41-0 score. They are now 1-4 and 0-1 in District 11 2A-2. The Tigers will face the Overton Mustangs at Overton High School on Thursday, October 3, 2024 at 7 p.m. Overton is 4-1, 1-0 after a 41-36 win at Grapeland on Friday.

The Timpson Bears fell to Wolfe City by a 45-27 score. The Bears are 2-2 and will regroup with a bye on Friday October 4. The Bears begin District 11 2A-1 play on October 11 when they host the Hemphill Hornets. Hemphill is 0-4 and had a bye on Friday.