Sports

BASTROP – Taylor High School boys varsity basketball put in work on June 26 as the Ducks headed south down Highway 95 for another week of summer basketball league held at Bastrop Middle School. On Monday evening, Taylor had a much deeper squad for scrimmages against Cedar Creek High School at 6 p.m.

Taylor High School athletic director Earven Flowers proudly announced two new head coaching hires with Kale McQuillen as head baseball coach and Rylee Davis as head volleyball coach. KALE MCQUILLEN McQuillen is a former standout baseball player for Taylor and a Division 2 All-American during his time at Dallas Christian College.

HUTTO – Hutto Independent School District continues to stay busy with athletic camps this summer as the Hippos will again host another boys basketball camp. From 7–8:30 p.m.

COLLEGE STATION – Taylor High School varsity football was in action and braving the intense humidity on June 22-23 at the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football State 7-on-7 Tournament held at Veterans Park and Athletic Complex in College Station. The Ducks took on Panther Creek High School, Midland Christian School and Jasper High School in pool play on Thursday before squaring up against Needville High School on Friday for the championship bracket.

Former Taylor High School alumnus Terrell Reynolds has been very active in his community lately as the former standout quarterback for the Ducks started a threeday youth football camp at the Taylor Athletic Complex.

BASTROP – Taylor High School boys varsity basketball is heading south down Highway 95 to Bastrop High School this Monday for its final summer league scrimmages. The scrimmages, which were supposed to be on Wednesday, were rescheduled to June 26 as Taylor will see some solid competition.

The Taylor Ducks 7-on-7 football team showed there is a bright future after making a run in the state tournament last week. Read the full story about Taylor’s run at state on page 5..

ROUND ROCK – Dell Diamond was the site of the 2A-3A- 4A Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association All-Star Game on Saturday, June 17, with 2023 graduates Cohen Tyree of Taylor High School and Nathan Tucker of Granger High School playing. Tyree of the Ducks and Tucker of the Lions put on their respective home uniforms for the last time as the duo represented the South team together.

COLLEGE STATION – Taylor High School varsity football has a huge couple of days ahead of it this week as Ducks skill position players will head to Veterans Park and Athletic Complex in College Station on June 22–23 for Dave Campbell’s Texas Football 7-on-7 State Tournament.

GRANGER – The Granger High School varsity softball team announced this week that four senior players were honored as Texas Girls Coaches Association all-state selections. The highest honor went to catcher Mattie Wilkie, who was selected to the 2023 TGCA Legacy Softball Team for 1A-2A-3A4A.

THRALL – A trio of girls was honored as all-state selections in their respective sports this past week with Thrall senior Raelynn Johnson, junior Avery Koonce and junior Melaina Grissom. RAELYNN JOHNSON Johnson was an outstanding player for the Tigerettes during the 2023 softball season and the senior was selected to the Texas Girls Coaches Association All-State Softball Team.

ROUND ROCK – Two local boys will have the honor of taking the baseball field one last time for their respective schools at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 17 when Cohen Tyree of Taylor High School and Nathan Tucker of Granger High School play in the 2023 Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association All-Star Game hosted at Dell Diamond.

The Ducks hosted its annual boys’ basketball summer camp on June 12–15 under varsity basketball head coach Stephen Gibson. The camp was considered a success and Gibson is very eager to bring the camp back next year with even greater numbers.

The Taylor High School girls’ varsity basketball team was in action on Tuesday night as the Lady Ducks had scrimmages against Lago Vista High School and Bastrop High School. Head coach Lawrence Bailey’s squad was able to get in plenty of reps for the starters and bench players in the two games, which featured summer league rules and two 20-minute halves with a running clock.

Last week, city officials were in attendance with citizens and soccer players to kick-off the opening of the Murphy Park Soccer Mini-Pitch. The new amentity at the park includes a small, illumiated, customized hardcourt space for individual and pickup soccer games.