High school confidential

Area hockey players taken in national draft

Colleyville Heritage senior Johnnie Searfoss and Arlington Martin junior Jacob Poe were selected in the United States Hockey League Entry Draft on Wednesday.

Searfoss was taken in the fifth round by Fargo (N.D.) and was the 48th overall pick. Poe was taken in the 17th round by Omaha (Neb.) and was 154th overall.

Searfoss played forward for Texas Attack, a AAA midget major under-18 team, and the Texas Tornado of the North American Hockey League this past season. Poe, who has also been tendered an offer by Topeka (Kan.) of the NAHL, was a defenseman for Texas Attack.

— Milenko Martinovich

Newcomers add depth to Arlington Martin pitching

Pitching wasn't much of a concern for Martin entering this season. The Warriors returned three starters--Shane Griffin, Mike Hill and Kevin Winter--and a closer in Jordan Imhoff with playoff experience.
But some newcomers have added even more depth to an already talented pitching staff. Junior Stewart Person and sophomore Brian Ragira are a combined 4-0 with a 1.88 ERA.
"They've stepped up real well for us in these tournaments," Martin coach Curt Culbertson said.

Martin girls/coach poised for soccer win 400

Both Martin coach Ruth Knight and the Lady Warriors are poised for the 400th victory in the teams and the veteran coaches career.
The Lady Warriors sit 7-0 in District 8-5A and face 0-7 Sam Houston on Friday night.

Heavy hitters embark on Lewisville Tournament

Some of Texas’ finest baseball teams and storied programs will participate in the Rawlings Lake Cities Tournament in Lewisville Thursday through Saturday. The 16-team tournament, which features 12 2007 playoff teams, will be played between Lewisville HS, Hebron HS, Marcus HS, The Colony HS, and Carrollton Smith HS.
Headlining the field will be Midland Lee, who came one game short of competing in the 2007 5A state championship game. Arlington Martin, who lost to Lee in the regional quarterfinals, will join Arlington (area round qualifiers) and Lamar in the tournament.
Other playoff teams include: Lewisville (lost in first round), Irving (lost in first round), Amarillo (lost in first round), Odessa Permian (lost in first round), Flower Mound Marcus (Lost in area round to Martin), Plano East (lost in first round), North Mesquite (reached the regional quarterfinals), Frisco (first round) and Wichita Falls Rider (first round).
Arlington opens up against Lewisville at Lewisville on Thursday at 5 p.m. The Colts will then face Lee at 2:30 p.m. (Lewisville HS) on Friday followed by a 5 p.m. game against Irving.
Lamar gets The Colony at 5 p.m. Thursday (The Colony HS) followed by a 2:30 p.m. first pitch against Rider (Colony HS) and a 5 p.m. start versus Newman Smith (Colony).
Martin faces Amarillo at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Hebron HS and will face Frisco at 5 p.m. (Hebron) and Hebron at 7:30 p.m. (Hebron).
- William Wilkerson

Martin girls still undefeated after Cedar Hill win

The Martin Lady Warriors handed Cedar Hill its first district loss on Friday with a 4-2 victory. Michelle Bubenick and Mandy Burgardt each scored twice in the victory.
Martin now sits 6-0 in district while Cedar Hill drops to 4-1-1.

Martin backs in to playoffs

All Arlington Martin needed was a win over rival Lamar on Tuesday to earn a playoff bid. The Warriors garnered that playoff spot, but with help from Duncanville.
Lamar forced 24 turnovers and scored the game’s final 10 points to beat Martin 55-51 at home. Martin counted on district champion Duncanville’s victory over Cedar Hill to get them to the playoffs. “I think it is a tremendous accomplishment for the kids,” Martin coach Jeff Plemons said. “We are in one of the toughest districts in the state, so for them to survive and be able to keep playing is a testament to the kid’s efforts even though we didn’t play very well tonight.” Martin was awarded the fourth playoff spot in District 8-5A because it swept Cedar Hill. The Warriors used a 7-2 run to open the third with their largest lead of the game at 51-45. No one would have figured that to be the last point of the contest for Martin. Lamar was 7 of 9 from the free throw line down the stretch and forced the Warriors into turnovers on their final two possessions to seal the victory.
- William Wilkerson

Bowie holds off surging Martin 60-56 in huge 8-5A bout

Arlington Bowie needed every bit of the 15-0 run its used to begin the game to fend of a hard-charging Arlington Martin team 60-56 at home on Tuesday. Martin tied the game with 3:34 left but was outscored 13-9 from the point. The Volunteers (17-11, 8-4 in District 8-5A) began Tuesday one game ahead of Cedar Hill and Martin (17-12, 6-6) in third place. Bowie, winners of four straight, ends the regular season against the top two teams in the district and two of the state’s best: at Duncanville on Feb. 8 and home against DeSoto on Feb. 12.
Martin just finished it’s back-to-back with Duncanville and DeSoto with an 0-2 record. The Warriors have another monumental game on Feb. 9 at home against Cedar Hill. They’ll end the regular season at Lamar on Feb. 12.
“This is a huge win with us because this gives us a split with Martin, which is what we need,” Bowie coach Allen Gratts said.
- William Wilkerson

Send it in Greg!!!

Here's some visual proof of the aftermath of Greg Wiernas' dunk before Arlington Martin's game with Duncanville on Friday.

Martin coach Jeff Plemons said the main backboard has been replaced with one of the side goals. A new backboard has been ordered.

The backboard wasn't the only thing to get obliterated Friday night. Plemons' dog chewed up his cell phone.

"He destroyed it," Plemons said.

 

More volleyball muscle

The Arlington school district, which features perennial volleyball powers Arlington, Arlington Lamar and Arlington Lamar, added two more playoff qualifers in Mansfield and Mansfield Summit.

Five of the seven teams in the new District 4-5A reached the postseason last year, with Arlington advancing to the 5A Region I finals and Martin reaching the regional semifinals.

Three of the teams posted more than 30 wins, including Arlington (35-8), Martin (38-8) and Mansfield (33-7).

Arlington and Mansfield schools combine to form District 4-5A

The five Class 5A Arlington schools and Mansfield and Mansfield Summit will form District 4-5A as announced by the UIL on Friday.

Arlington, Arlington Bowie, Arlington Lamar, Arlington Martin and Arlington Sam Houston had shared District 8-5A with Cedar Hill, DeSoto and Duncanville. DeSoto was sent out east with the Mesquite and Tyler schools while Cedar Hill and Duncanville joined the Grand Prairie and Irving schools.

Mansfield and Summit are the only holdovers from the original District 4-5A.

"It's kind of what I thought it would be," Bowie football coach Kenny Perry said. "It's good for neighborood rivalries, but I'm going to miss playing the big 3 [Cedar Hill, DeSoto and Duncanville]."

--Milenko Martinovich