BITTERSWEET | Sabine’s boys finish regular season, aim at playoff glory; girls slip to Waskom

Sabine coach Colby Carr (left) poses with seniors Kristian Ferguson, Connor Loveless, Jaydan McPherson, Clayne Simmons and Matt Smith, and — oh, yeah! — the District 16-3A championship trophy! (Photo by KRISTIAN CARR – Special to ETBLITZ.COM)

Sabine High School’s Tuesday night was bittersweet, as the Cardinals were home, honoring their seniors and finishing the 2023 regular season with an unbeaten district schedule run, while the Lady Cardinals were on the road in the playoffs, but were tripped up by Waskom.

Coach Sara Cantrell’s Lady Cardinals were taking on Waskom in the bi-district, or first, round of the University Interscholastic League’s Class 3A playoffs at Longview High School. And unfortunately for the Lady Cards, it didn’t go their way, a 60-44 Waskom win.

The pivotal point in the game, perhaps: a 20-9 run out of the gate in the second half for the Lady Wildcats, turning what had been a three-point game at the half into a 47-33 game headed into the fourth quarter, just too much for Sabine to overcome.

Bailey Pierce led Sabine with 16 points, and Autumn Rhodes and Kaitlynn Sanchez each had seven. Maddy Pierce had six, Caitlyn Stewart and Ella Roberts, three each, and Loren Colquitt, two.

Sabine’s girls finished their season – a good one, second place in district – with an 18-12 overall record that included sweeping everyone in District 16-3A except Gladewater, an 8-3 record at home, a start to the season of seven wins in the first eight games, and wins over seven playoff teams.

The Cardinals, now, have wrapped up their own season, as coach Colby Carr’s team gears up to what they hope will be a fantastic playoff run.

Sabine’s Cardinals are the District 16-3A champions, having ran through the district schedule with an unblemished 10-0 record. They’re on an 11-game win streak now, having completely blown by Hughes Springs at home Tuesday night, 96-49.

Before the game, though, they honored the senior class: Kristian Ferguson, Connor Loveless, Jaydan McPherson, Clayne Simmons and Matt Smith.

And then they got down to business.

Sabine outscored Hughes Springs 21-4 in the first quarter, and led 48-25 at halftime.

Simmons finished with 27 points to lead all scorers. Colt Sparks had 26, and McPherson had 19.

The Cardinals ended the regular season with a 23-9 record, and their playoff opponent is pending – as soon as that announcement is made, we’ll have it here on ETBLITZ.COM.

Congratulations to the Cardinals’ senior class, good luck in the playoffs, and congratulations to the Sabine Lady Cardinals on a great 2023 season.