Sports Shorts - 7/27

Centex Blaze continues to grow

A Cameron based select basketball organization has recently completed their second year of play.  Matthus Lopez, a C.H. Yoe High graduate, launched the Centex Blaze in 2016.  In its inaugural season, there was one lone varsity girls team.  In 2017, that has ballooned up to six total boys and girls teams with players from Cameron, Milano, Hearne and Thorndale.  

“The purpose of the organization is to better develop players' skills and knowledge of the game all while improving life skills such as teamwork, accountability, respect, and triumph,” said Lopez.  Each summer we are able to utilize practice facilities and raise enough money (with the help of our communities) to be able to compete in tournaments mostly in Austin, Georgetown, Round Rock, and San Antonio.”

The Blaze has competed in six tournaments, with the most recent taking place this past weekend to close out the year.  Coaches are Matthus Lopez (varsity girls). Kendrick Pinchback (varsity boys), Devin Hemphill (9th/10th boys), Gerard Goldsby (7th/8th boys), Wynema and Wanetia Adams (6th girls), and Matthus Lopez and Lorenzo Sanford (6th boys).

The varsity girls (2nd), varsity boys (3rd), JV boys (2nd) and sixth boys (2nd) all placed in their final tourney of the season.  

Honor Band Results

The long-awaited results from the state honor band competition have finally been released.  The Yoe High Band finished third in the state in a competition that had over 200 bands participating.  The honor band award is essentially the state’s most prestigious award for concert season.  Jourdanton and Winnsboro were the two 3A bands that finished above Cameron in the final results.  

Youth Playoff Results

All three little league softball teams from Cameron put up strong showings in last week’s state tournaments.  In the 6U t-ball division, the Cameron Lil’ Ladies dropped their opening game to the Belton Outlawz before reeling off wins over Temple, Maypearl, Mart, Troup, Belton and Belton to clinch a spot in the semifinals.  Cameron fell to Mildred in that game, finishing in third place overall.

In the coach pitch division, the Cameron Thunder won opening games over Denison and Ferris before falling to eventual champion Riesel in the quarterfinals.  The Dirt Diamonds dropped their opening game but had wins over Temple and Bosqueville to finish the tournament with a respectable 2-2 record.  

The boys playoffs are underway this week.  Check next week’s edition of sports for results.  

Cheer Camp a success

Approximately 90 campers attended the annual cheer camp on Saturday from Yoe Gym.  The camp had members from as young as pre-kindergarten all the way up to fifth grade.  After a day full of learning, performances were in order to wrap up the evening.  

“I thought the day went great,” said Yoe cheer sponsor Alma Cardona.  “The cheerleaders had fun and the littles one had fun, too.  We had a full day of activities for them with cheers, chants and a few games and crafts as well.  Overall, it was a great experience.”

Cardona also noted how she believes the high school girls are passing down invaluable experience to upcoming cheerleaders.  

“For the high school, a lot of them are returning cheerleaders and they know what is expected of them at the state competition,” said Cardona.  “They are already giving the heads up to the newer ones on how it is going to be and what we are going to work on up until January at the competition.”

All campers that pre-registered received a t-shirt for attending.  All proceeds from the camp will help the cheer program with various expenses leading up to the state championships.  

“It helps us financially for all the items we may need for pep rallies and basically anything we may need throughout the year like paint and paper,” said Cardona.  “Basically, a little bit of everything.  It also helps us when we go to competition and our stay up there.”