Category: Sports

The Trinity Valley Community College Rodeo team didn’t have to go far to find its newest member.

Earlier this week, Cross Roads High School senior Justice Cathey signed on with the team and will begin attending classes at TVCC in the Fall 2014 semester.

“We are very excited to welcome Justice to the team and we’re looking forward to a great year,” Bratton said.

Roping has been a lifelong passion for Cathey, who has attended Cross Roads ISD since kindergarten. He’s been roping since he was 11 and has competed in the LSHSRA, Winners association, THSRA and USTRC. Cathey also attends several team roping events throughout the year, winning cash, buckles, breast collars and trophy saddles along the way.

Cathey has also participated in FFA with ag mechanic projects, plant identification, horse judging and showing animals in the Henderson County Livestock Show and also at events in Fort Worth, San Antonio and Houston. This past year was the first time San Antonio held an FFA rodeo for Texas FFA, and Cathey and his partner Cole Surls won first place in team roping, claiming a monetary prize and a champion buckle.

“I am proud to be a part of the TVCC college rodeo team and very thankful for the scholarship,” Cathey said.

The Trinity Valley Community College Lady Cardinals won their third straight national title tonight by beating Hutchinson, 65-46.

“What a blessing! I couldn’t be more proud of my Triple8Crew and what they accomplished not only this week, but all season,” said coach Elena Lovato. “They came to Kansas on a mission and they all came together put the team before their own personal agendas and what an amazing string of four games!”

This marks the first time an NJCAA team has won three in a row, and this is the 8th title for the ladies. It is also the second straight title for Lovato.

Lady Cards named to all-tourney team were Roddricka Patton, Deborah Meeks and Adut Bulgak. Bulgak was named tourney MVP.

“I love these young ladies more than they’ll ever know,” said Lovato. “This group made history tonight and my six returners have definitely left their legacy in Athens, Texas. They have a 72-1 overall record and back-to-back national champions!”

According to the Trinity Valley sports Twitter account, the Lady Cards have won 108 of their last 110 games (108 of 109 on the court).

“I want to give a special shout out to the administration, faculty and staff for all their support and I can’t leave out the community. The Lady Cardinal basketball program is so special because of you,” Lovato said.

By Benny Rogers/ TVCC Sports Information
 
In just a matter of hours, the Lady Cardinals will step onto the floor the of the Bicentennial Center and attempt to go where no school as gone before.

The Lady Cardinals, playing in the NJCAA title game for a fourth straight year, will be looking for an unprecedented third straight national championship.

Since the NJCAA women’s national tournament began in 1975, just two schools have had a chance to pull off the trifecta — Panola in 1979 and the Lady Cardinals in 1999 — only to be denied. Now, the Lady Cardinals get another chance.

To make history, the No. 1-seeded Lady Cardinals (35-1) will have to take care of No. 3-seeded Hutchinson, which is the nation’s only undefeated team at 35-0. Game time is 7 p.m. after the 5 p.m. third-place game between Central Arizona and Chipola.

The Lady Cardinals, in their 19th national tournament, ran their record in the semifinals to 11-0 Friday night with an 82-63 win against Central Arizona. Hutchinson won its way to the title game, jumping out to a big lead and holding off Chipola for a 78-71 win.

Tonight’s title game will be rematch of the 2012 championship. The Lady Cardinals prevailed 69-55 in that one.

The Lady Cardinals are making their 11th appearance in the title game. They are 7-3 in the previous 10, winning titles in 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2012 and 2013.

The Lady Cardinals bring a 28-game winning streak into the title game and have won 107 of their last 109 games (107 of 108 on the court).

Tonight’s game will be the last as a Lady Cardinal for sophomores Adut Bulgak, Roddricka Patton, Shlonte’ Allen, Dominique Brooks, Julianne Anchling, Kyhonta Doughty, Deborah Meeks and Coco Baker. Bulgak, Patton, Allen, Brooks, Anchling and Doughty are 71-2 (71-1 on the court) in their two years.

In case you’re wondering if the Lady Cardinals’ four straight title game appearances is a record, it is not. But they do hold the record, having played in six straight championship games from 1994-99.
 
KCKL (95.9 FM) will broadcast tonight’s game. You can also listen online at www.kcklfm.com.

You can also watch tonight’s title game online at www.njcaatv.ihigh.com.
 
If you would like to follow the game on Twitter, follow @TVCCsports.

It’s time to go all out all you Lady Cardinal fans back home. Make sure to wear red while you watch the title game online tonight. Also, keep those positive thoughts and vibes coming.

One more to go!

By Benny Rogers/TVCC Sports Information

One great season continues. One great season ended.

Thursday was a day for mixed results for the Lady Cardinals and Cardinals in quarterfinal action at the NJCAA national tournaments in Kansas.

The Lady Cardinals kept their dream of an unprecedented third straight national championship alive with an impressive 94-63 win against Northwest Florida State. The Cardinals dropped a 69-56 to Harcum.

Next up for the Lady Cardinals is rematch of last year’s national title game with Central Arizona in the semifinals tonight at 6. Central Arizona, the tournament’s No. 5 seed, was an 86-74 winner against Blinn in its quarterfinal.

The top-seeded Lady Cardinals, who have won 27 straight games and 10 straight national tournament games, improved to 34-1. Central Arizona is 31-2, including an 80-77 loss to the Lady Cardinals at the WNIT in Midland back in November.

Sylvia Smith-Gatson paced the Lady Cardinals against Northwest Florida with 17 points, hitting 9 of 15 free throws. Shlonte’ Allen had 16, Adut Bulgak 14, Autummn Williams 11 and Jazmine Spears 10. Spears also had 10 rebounds.

The Lady Cardinals are 10-0 in the national semifinals.

In six previous meetings against Central Arizona at the national tournament, the Lady Cardinals are 5-1. The lone loss was in the 1998 national title game.

Tonight’s other semifinal will be No. 2 Chipola against No. 3 and unbeaten Hutchinson. Chipola scored a 64-54 win against Butler. Hutchinson rallied from an early 22-4 deficit to knock off Tyler, 87-77.

The championship game is set for 7 p.m. Saturday after the5 p.m. third-place game.

Though the 12th-seeded Cardinals saw their season end in Hutchinson against No. 13 Harcum, the return home having turned in the their third most wins in school history with 29. They finished 29-7, including a 2-1 mark at the national tournament.

Octavius Ellis led the Cardinal scoring with 18 points. He also grabbed 16 rebounds.

Other top scorers for the Cardinals were Aldonis Foote with 16 and Malcolm Riley nine.

The national tournament appearance was the Cardinals’ first since 1999.

KCKL 95.9 FM will be in Salina for tonight to broadcast the TVCC-Central Arizona game. You can also listen online atwww.kcklfm.com. The game will also be available for viewing online at www.njcaatv.com.

It’s 51 and partly cloudy in Salina this morning. Today’s high is expected to reach 65. It will be cooler tomorrow andSunday with highs in the 40s, but no precipitation is in the forecast.

The Lady Cardinals definitely felt the positive thoughts and vibes sent their way from home Thursday against Northwest Florida. More tonight, please.