Normal Lake Level
is 322.00 feet above Mean Sea Level.
Current level for Cedar Creek Lake is: 314.85
Water Temperature:
53 degrees - top
52 degrees - bottom

Sports in Brief

Birding Basics
Purtis Creek State Park will host an afternoon of bird watching from 3 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7.
Take a hike and learn about techniques for finding and identifying birds. Wear comfortable shoes, bring binoculars if you have them otherwise we have a few to loan out. Meet at the overflow camping parking lot.
For more information, contact the park at (903) 425-2332.

Geocaching at Purtis Creek
Purtis Creek State Park will hold a "basics of geocaching" program from 3 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14.
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, Jan. 14.
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. 27-29
• Eustace @ Martins Mills Tournament – Time TBA
• Wagstaff Classic Holiday Tournament (Tyler) – Time TBA
Dec. 28-29
• Kemp @ Kaufman Holiday Tournament – Time TBA
Jan. 3
• Eustace @ Teague – 5 p.m.
• Palestine Westwood @ Kemp – 4:30 p.m.
Jan. 6
• Mildred @ Eustace – 5 p.m.
• Palestine @ Kemp – 5 p.m.
• Mabank @ Quinlan-Ford – 4:30 p.m.

Basketball (girls)

Dec. 28-30
• Mabank @ Idabel Winter Classic tournament – Time TBA
Jan. 2
• Kemp @ Quinlan-Ford – 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 3
• Eustace @ Teague – 5 p.m.

Panthers, Lady Panthers win big Friday
Panthers get 85-40 win over Palestine
By Sam Epps
Sports Editor
MABANK-After the Mabank girls defeated the Canton Lady Eagles Friday, it was time for the boys to show what they are made of.
And show they did, defeating the District 20-3A Palestine Wildcats, 85-40, in a display of offensive dominance.

Monitor Photo/Sam Epps
Mabank Panther Ryan Walker (10) takes the ball up the court against the visiting Palestine Wildcats Friday. Mabank beat the ’Cats, 85-40.
The Panthers started strong and never let up, scoring five points before Palestine managed to score a couple for themselves.
For the remainder of the first period, the trend continued, with Mabank taking a 29-8 lead.
The Panther defense again held the Wildcats to just eight points in the second period, while Mabank added 11 points to their score to take a 40-16 lead into halftime.
In the third period, Palestine was held to a single-digit score, with Mabank allowing them just seven points.
The Panthers extended their lead to 58-23 after scoring 18 points in the period.
Palestine’s offense sputtered to life in the fourth period of play, scoring 17 points – mostly eight of which came on free throws.
Mabank, however, sealed the deal by scoring 27 points after Jordan Allen and Taylor Willeford each hit two treys, and Landon Marshall sank four shots.
Allen was almost unstoppable on offense, scoring nearly as many points as the entire Palestine team did. He had 36 points for the game, including seven three-pointers.
Brandon Hatfield scored 17 points for Mabank, including going a perfect, 8-for-8, from the free-throw line. Marshall scored 11 points for the Panthers, Willeford added nine points and Chans Hall scored six points.
Ryan Walker, Toby Grimes and David Marler each scored two points.
The Panthers will compete in Tyler’s Wagstaff Invitation Holiday basketball tournament at the Tyler Junior College campus Dec. 27-29, before visiting Quinlan Jan. 6.

Lady Panthers beat Canton, 47-36
By Sam Epps
Sports Editor
MABANK-The Mabank Lady Panthers defeated the visiting CantonLady Eagles Friday, 47-36.
The Mabank girls showed strong defense, and the Lady Panther offense kept a step ahead of the Canton girls.

Monitor Photo/Sam Epps
Mabank Lady Panther Kourtney Holyfield (with ball) tries to get past a visiting Canton Lady Eagle defender Friday. The Lady Panthers won the contest, 47-36.
By the fourth period of play, Mabank had mounted a 35-24 lead with around five minutes left in the game.
The Canton ladies pressed on, keeping Mabank from extended their lead, but the Lady Eagles couldn't bring enough offense to close the gap.
Mabank maintained a 10-12 point advantage throughout the remainder of the game, taking a 38-24 lead with 4:40 left in the game, a 3-28 lead with 3:53 left, ending with the final 11-point difference for the win.
The Lady Panthers will compete in the Idabel Winter Basketball Classic tournament Dec. 28-30, and will return to action as the travel to Kaufman to face the Lady Lions Jan. 6.