CARDINALS, LADY CARDS ALL-DISTRICT HONORS | McNatt unanimous; Simmons defensive MVP; three Lady Cards first-teamers

Sabine’s Autumn Rhodes (12) was one of three Lady Cardinals named first-team all-district by the coaches in District 15-3A. (File photo by JENNA LUCAS -ETBLITZ.COM)

When a team owns a district like the Sabine High School Cardinals owned District 15-3A – like deed, locked up in a safe somewhere, or wherever one puts deeds in 2024 – you should take several of the all-district superlative awards.
And that’s exactly what coach Colby Carr’s team did.
Sabine’s Lady Cardinals also made a statement, too, with three starters on named first-team all-district.
Let’s just get to it.
We all know this one: Sabine’s Hudson McNatt was named the district’s overall most valuable player, and it was unanimous, a unanimous vote among the district’s coaches who make the all-district selections.
McNatt averaged 20 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 2.5 steals and a block in district play. And in the Cardinals’ two biggest games against Daingerfield, he had 26 points, 13 rebounds and two blocks in the home game against the Tigers, and on the road: 23 points, 10 rebounds and two steals.
Also for Sabine, Clayne Simmons was named defensive most valuable player, and Carr was named coach of the year for a team that did not lose a single district game.
Other superlatives from the boys side of 15-3A: Daingerfield’s Kenny Mosley was named the offensive MVP, and Daingerfield’s Bryson Franklin and New Diana’s Dejuan Johnson were named co-newcomers of the year.
Both Jayden McPherson and Colt Sparks were named first-team all-district selections for the Cardinals. Others on the first team were Daingerfield’s Chase Johnson and Brayden Williams, Gladewater’s Bryson Woods, Hughes Springs’ Ed Searcy, New Diana’s Jaiydyn Johnson and Austin Kerns, and White Oak’s Scotty Breitenberg and Kaleb Sorgee.
Second-team all-district selections for Sabien were Cason Patterson, Dalton Taylor and Matt Smith. Gladewater’s Caleb Balcorta and Cameron Taylor made the cut. White Oak’s Kanaan Moore and Gavin Sipes are also on the list. From there: Daingerfield’s Trent Boyd and Tristan Smith, Hughes Springs’ Bryson Belk and A.J. Morton, and New Diana’s Tavarus Williams.
And honorable mentions, for Sabine: Myles Bradley and Connor Loveless. For White Oak: Tysen McClain. For Gladewater: Jiebron Ross and Kayson Harris. For Daingerfield: Keagan White, Bryson Franklin, Cameron Wilson, Skylar Smith and Tyler Brown. For New Diana: Chase Woodrum and Ayden Hamilton. And for Hughes Springs: Trenton Pemperton, Chris Collins and Kaleb Williams.
For coach Sara Cantrell’s Lady Cardinals, a trio of players were chosen first-team all-district: senior Ella Roberts and juniors Autumn Rhodes and Caitlyn Stewart.
Joining them on the first team: White Oak’s Elyse Paiz and Kaylyn Hepler; Gladewater’s Karlee Moses; Daingerfield’s La’Nyecia Lewis and Kaidance Mason; Hughes Springs’ Kate McKinney; and New Diana’s Alexis Miller, Starmia Dixon and Karlee Moses.
Sabine’s Loren Colquitt and Kylee Longhofer both made second-team all-district, as did Gladewater’s Ramya Ransom and White Oak’s Graycen Sipes. Joining them were Hughes Springs’ Diamonique Bowles, and New Diana’s Kayleigh Tibbetts and Jolie Ballard.
And earning a spot as honorable mention were Sabine’s Bailey Pierce, Landy Griffith, Madison Pierce and Kaitlynn Sanchez; Gladewater’s Ava Langford, Khera Lincoln and Sarya Miles; White Oak’s Lauryn Rosado, Peyton Thompson, Abby Robertson, Gentry Whittington, Madi Baker, Kate Dusek, and Addy Young; Daingerfield’s Destiny Gholston and Tiara Hooper; Hughes Springs’ Kayden Fortenberry and Fantasi Smith; and New Diana’s Bailey Tennimon, Kinslee Allen and Natalie Manes.
Earning academic all district – girls with a 90 average in classes during district play – were Sabine’s Bailey Pierce, Kylee Longhofer, Ella Roberts, Autum Rhodes, Cailtyn Stewart, Landry Griffith, Taylor Galey, Loren Colquitt, and Kaitlynn Sanchez; White Oak’s Elyse Paiz, Graycen Sipes, Kayln Hepler, Kate Dusek and Peyton Thompson; Gladewater’s Ava Langford, Kyla Lincoln, Kaiden Eeds, Karlee Moses, Adyson Evans, Ramya Ransom, Khera Lincoln, and Paytin Thompson; Daingerfield’s Kaziya Anderson, Destiny Gholston, and Kaidance Mason; Hughes Springs’ Kate McKinney, Shae’leigh Johnson, Lindey Ballesteros, Greenlee Smith, Shelbi Duck, Kylee Duck and Daisy Brown; and New Diana’ Kinslee Allen, Jolin Ballard, Starmia Dixon, Natalie Manes, Alexis Miller, Abbie Shafer, and Kayleigh Tibbetts.