Normal Lake Level is 322.00 feet
above Mean Sea Level.
Current level for Cedar Creek Lake is: 314.19
Water Temperature:
56 degrees - top
54 degrees - bottom

Sports in Brief

Adult softball tournament
A Guns ‘N Hoses tournament softball tournament. Dec. 10, at the Gun Barrel City Park. The tournament will help raise food for the local food pantry, and half of entry fees will help support the Family Resource Center. For more information, call David Morrow at 903-288-1786.

Geocaching at Purtis Creek
Purtis Creek State Park will hold a "basics of geocaching" program from 3 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17.
Geocaching is a type of treasure hunt using a GPS unit to help you find hidden "caches" placed by people all over the world.
Geocaches are everywhere - from just down the street to the most remote wilderness areas.
The program at Purtis Creek will teach the basics of using a GPS for geocaching and how to get started. Meet at the Amphitheater. For more information, contact the park at (903) 425-2332.

Stargazing at Purtis Creek
Purtis Creek State Park will host an evening of stargazing from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17.
Make a star wheel and learn how to use it, learn about the solar system and view the night sky through a telescope. Weather permitting, meet at the over flow camping parking lot.
For more information, contact the park at (903) 425-2332.

Upcoming Events

Basketball (boys)

Dec. 6
• Rice @ Eustace – 5 p.m.
• Scurry-Rosser @ Kemp – 5:30 p.m.
• Whitehouse @ Mabank – 4:30 p.m.
Dec. 8-10
• Eustace @ Frank-ston tournament – Time TBA
• Kemp @ East Texas Shoot-Out (Brownsboro) – Time TBA
• Mabank @ East Texas Shoot-Out (Brownsboro) – Time TBA
Dec. 13
• Grand Saline @ Eustace – 5 p.m.
• Kemp @ Wortham – 6 p.m.
• Mabank @ Mt. Vernon – 4:30 p.m.

Basketball (girls)

Dec. 6
• Malakoff @ Kemp – 5 p.m.
• Mabank @ Bullard – 4:30 p.m.
Dec. 8-10
• Kemp @ Edgewood tournament – Time TBA
• Eustace @ Fruitvale tournament – Time TBA
• Mabank @ East Texas Shoot-Out tournament (Brownsboro) – Time TBA
Dec. 13
• Buffalo @ Eustace – 5 p.m.
• Mabank @ Mt. Vernon – 4:30 p.m.
Dec. 15-17
• Kemp @ Grand Saline tournament – Time TBA

Walker named Special Teams Player of the Year
Three Panthers named to District 13-3A All-District first team
By Sam Epps
Sports Editor
MABANK–Mabank senior Ryan Walker was named the District 13-3A Special Teams Player of the Year, and three other Panthers were named to the All-District first team.
Austin Craig was named first team quarterback, Jake Raney was named first team receiver and Derek Brill was named first team offensive tackle.
Blake Bolton was selected as second team offensive guard, and Corey Givens was picked as second team running back.
On defense, Cody Kuykendall was picked as a second team defensive tackle, Trevor Chasteen was selected as second team defensive end, Toby Grimes was chosen second team defensive linebacker, Jesse Plunkett was named as second team safety and Hunter Carrico was chosen second team cornerback.
There were five Panthers awarded offensive honorable mention; Cameron Braden - offensive line, Joe Velez - offensive line, Hunter Strebeck - offensive line, Chans Hall - receiver and Tanner Marler - receiver/running back.
Eight Panthers received defensive honorable mention; Adam Penix - secondary, Chans Hall - secondary, Korey Roberts - kicker, Dustyn Cottell - linebacker, Trenton Bailey - linebacker, Colton Thomas - defensive line, Ezekiel Gonzales - linebacker and Justin George - defensive line.

Lady Panthers fall to Martins Mill
By Sam Epps
Sports Editor
MARTINS MILL–The Mabank Lady Panthers lost a close game, 57-52, to the Martins Mill Lady Mustangs in overtime.
Martins Mill took the lead early, and held a 29-22 lead by halftime.
The Lady Panther offense scrambled in the third period, scoring 18 points, while Martins Mill was held to six.
Regulation ended with the game tied at 50-50.
In overtime, the Lady Panthers could only muster two points, while the Lady Mustangs added seven points to secure the win.
The Lady Panthers had won five previous games, beating Kerens, 53-38, on Nov. 21, defeating Spring Hill, 55-40, on Nov. 18 and getting a 53-36 win over Commerce on Nov. 15.
The Lady Panthers beat Pittsburg, 48-36, on Nov. 11, and cruised past Forney, 64-31, on Nov. 8.
The Lady Panthers competed in the Wills Point basketball tournament this weekend, and will travel to Bullard Tuesday. They will compete in Brownsboro at the East Texas Shoot-Out Dec. 8-10.

Panthers beat Vandals, 54-37
By Sam Epps
Sports Editor
MABANK–The hosting Mabank Panthers defeated the Van Vandals Tuesday, 54-37.
The Panthers made 12 of 16 free throw attempts and sank four three-points in the victory.
In the first period, the Mabank offense racked up 19 points, holding Van to just five.
The Panthers added the their lead in the second period, scoring 14 points while Van scored 11.
Coming into the third period of play with a 30-19 lead, Mabank proceeded to 11 points to their lead, scoring 16 points while holding Van to five.

Monitor Photo/Sam Epps
Mabank Panther and Van Vandal players struggle for control of a loose basketball as the Panthers cruised to a 54-37 win Tuesday.
The Van offense tried to rally in the fourth period, but only managed to shave five points off Mabank’s lead by scoring 13 points to Mabank’s eight.
Panther junior David Marler led the Panther offense with 18 points. Brandon Hatfield followed with 13 points. Marler made seven of eight free throws, and sank two treys.
Jordan Allen scored eight points and Garrett Graham scored seven, including two treys.
Ryan Walker added seven points to Mabank’s score, including three of four free throws.
Mabank also competed at the TASO Classic in Mabank Nov. 21-22.
In the tourney, the Panthers defeated the Corsicana Tigers, 58-44, and the Eustace Bulldogs 102-34.
Against Corsicana, Mabank took an early, 24-3, first period lead.
The added 12 points in the second period, while Corsicana scored 15.
Corsicana’s offense took charge in the third period, scoring 14 points, while Mabank added nine points to the board.
The final period was a tight affair, with Mabank scoring 13 points and the Tigers scoring 12.
In the matchup, Allen led the Panthers with 18 points. Walker scored 10 points, while Landon Marshall scored eight points.
Against Eustace, the Bulldog defense could fins no solutions to the Panther offense.
Mabank bounded out to a 31-9 lead after the first period, and ran on to a 48-13 lead by halftime.
In the third period, Mabank added 23 points to their score, while Eustace managed just six.
The Eustace offense showed sign of life in the fourth period, scoring 15 points. However, the Panther offense responded by scoring another 31 points to seal the lopsided victory.
Allen led the Panthers against Eustace with 31 points, including five three-points and a perfect four-for-four free throw percentage. Walker added 16 points and was also four-for-four from the free throw line. Graham and Reese Frosch both scored 10 points for the Panthers.
Marler added eight points and Marshall scored seven for Mabank.
For Eustace, Jordan Foote scored 11 points, including two three-pointers. Kyle Wood scored eight points and Billy Key scored seven points, including going two-for-two from the free throw line.
The Panthers fell to the Lindale Eagles, 58-55, Nov. 19.

Monitor Photo/Sam Epps
Mabank Panther Ryan Walker gets around a Vandal defender as the Panthers defeated the visiting Van boys, 54-37, Tuesday.

Both the Panthers and the Eustace Bulldogs competed in the Cedar Creek Lake Shoot-Out tournament this weekend in Mabank. Mabank will host Whitehouse Tuesday, and will play in the East Texas Shoot-Out tournament in Brownsboro Dec. 8-10.
The Eustace Bulldogs will host Rice Tuesday, and will host Grand Saline Dec. 13.