Normal Lake Level is 322.00 feet
above Mean Sea Level.
Current level for Cedar Creek Lake is: 314.43
Water Temperature:
63 degrees - top
64 degrees - bottom

Sports in Brief

Birding Basics
Purtis Creek State Park will hold a birding basics information session from 3 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26.
Take a hike and learn about techniques for finding and identifying birds. Wear comfortable shoes, bring binoculars, if you have them, otherwise the park has a few to loan out. Meet at the overflow camping parking lot.
For more information, contact the park at (903) 425-2332.

Upcoming Events

Basketball (boys)

Nov. 15
• Neches @ Eustace – 5 p.m.
• T.K. Gorman @ Mabank – 6 p.m.
Nov. 18
• Eustace @ Cross Roads – 5 p.m.
Nov. 21-22
• TASO Classic tournament @ Mabank
Nov. 29
• Eustace @ Fruitvale – 5:45 p.m.
• Van @ Mabank – 4:30 p.m.

Basketball (girls)

Nov. 8
• Italy @ Kemp – 5 p.m.
• Forney @ Mabank – 6 p.m.
Nov. 11
• Kemp @ Frankston – 5 p.m.
Nov. 12
• Eustace @ Van – 10 a.m.
Nov. 15
• Grand Saline @ Eustace – 5 p.m.
• Kemp @ Canton – 5 p.m.
• Commerce @ Mabank – 4:30 p.m.
Nov. 18
• Nevada Community @ Kemp – 5 p.m.
• Spring Hill @ Mabank – 6 p.m.
Nov. 21
• Kemp @ Eustace – 5 p.m.
Nov. 21-22
• TASO Classic tournament @ Mabank

Lady Bulldogs beat Red Oak Life in three
By Sam Epps
Sports Editor
CORSICANA–The Eustace Lady Bulldogs took their first step to the state volleyball championship by beating the District 13-2A Red Oak Life Lady Mustangs in three games Tuesday advancing from the Region II bidistrict game to the next level. The Lady ’Dogs won 25-20, 25-15 and 25-9.
Game one started close, with both teams scoring and the lead changing multiple times before Eustace pulled ahead, 7-6, and kept the lead.
The Red Oak defense made great plays, but the powerful Eustace offense was too much, wearing down the Lady ’Stangs.
In game two, the Lady Bulldogs started by taking a 2-0 lead early.

Monitor Photo/Sam Epps
Eustace Lady Bulldog Mallory Keeling (in back) blocks a shot by a Life Red Oak Lady Mustang Tuesday. Eustace won the bidistrict round of the playoff match in three games. They advanced to the Area round, where they faced the Grandview Lady Zebras.

Red Oak’s offense cranked things up, taking an 11-10 lead before the Lady Bulldog offense went on a six-point scoring spree to take a 16-11 lead.
Shortly thereafter, with the score 19-15, another six-point run took Eustace to a game two victory.
Game three began much as the previous two games, with a close score and neither team taking command immediately.
That didn’t last long, however. Eustace, with the score 2-2, slowly took charge and pulled ahead of Red Oak.
The score went from a 2-2 tie to a 13-5 Eustace lead in just minutes.
Eustace continued the domination and won the game, and the match, 25-9.
Eustace head coach Chuck Powers noted that Red Oak was a strong defensive team, and Eustace is a powerful offensive team.
Eustace’s depth in the hitting department made a huge impact in Eustace’s win over Red Oak Life.
“Our number two and three hitters are almost as good as our number one hitter,” Powers said.
Last year, the Lady Bulldogs lost in the Area round. This year, however, the Eustace girls have “two levels up” as their motto – meaning they plan on finishing at least two levels higher than the Area round. That would mean they make it to the Regional semifinal round Nov. 11.
The Lady Bulldogs faced the Grandview Lady Zebras Thursday in the Area round of the playoffs. The game was held at Ennis High School.
The Grandview girls were the District 15-2A champions, and had a bye in the first round.
“Grandview is a lot more of an offensive team and they hustle well,” Powers said.
“We will have to play a much more complete game.”
The last time a team coached by Powers played in the state tournament in Austin was the 1987-88 year. Eustace lost to Jewett Leon that year.
Interestingly, Leon’s coach this season, Jason Evans, is the grandson of the Leon coach that beat Powers then.
“I’m hungry for Austin,” Powers exclaimed.

Kaufman wins District 13-3A cross country meet
By Sam Epps
Sports Editor
KAUFMAN–The hosting Kaufman Lions won the District 13-3A cross country meet Oct. 24.
Both the boys and girls teams took top honors, with North Forney taking second in both divisions.
Both the boys and girls teams from Kemp took fourth place at the meet.
The LadyYellowjackets had 89 points, while the boys had 107.
The Mabank Panthers boys team finished third with 97 points.
Mabank Lady Panther runner Kourtney Holyfield finished 17 with a time of 15:37, and Megan Holyfield finished 18th with a time of 15:39.
Sydnee Pottorf placed 21st with a time of 16:07 and Kristina Flatt finished 24th.
Kemp Lady Yellowjacket runner Mikalia Gutirrez placed 19th with a time of 15:44, and Katie Thomas finished just behind her with a time of 15:50.
Brianna Powell placed 27th, Kayla Collum finished 28th, Taylor Day took 32nd, Kayla Hale finished 33rd and Harley Foster finished 34th.
The top spot for girls’ runners went to North Forney’s Yekeshia Royal, who finished with a time of 12:45.
Kemp Yellowjacket runner Jesus Perez finished 11th with a time of 18:26, while Garrett Haley finished 20th with a time of 20:09.
Forrest Summerhill finished 24th, Sebastian Tobar finished 26th, James Kimbrell placed 29th, Luis Baenz finished 33rd and Jeff Gandera finished 36th.
Mabank Panther runner Garrett Graham took 14th place with a time of 19:48.
Korey Roberts finished 18th with a time of 20:06, Justin Smith placed 19th with a time of 20:08, Caleb Massengale finished 21st with a time of 20:28 and Jon Massengale finished 25th.
The top spot in the boys’ division went to Kaufman’s German Lopez, who finished with a time of 16:26.