Abilene ISD -

The boys’ basketball season continues next week with the bi-district round of the playoffs, while the District 4-5A girls’ basketball season ended for all four teams earlier this week in the bi-district round.

The Abilene High boys finished the regular season Tuesday night with a 62-23 win over crosstown rival Cooper. They are 20-12 overall and 5-3, tied for second in the league race. The Eagles put together back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time in recent program history.

Guard Tyson Thompson, one of four AHS seniors, led the Eagles in the win, scoring a game-high 20 points.

The Eagles – the No. 2 seed from the district in the Class 5A Division I playoffs – don’t draw an easy assignment in the bi-district round. They will take on District 3-5A champion Amarillo High – coached by former Cooper standout Jason Pillion – Monday night at Lubbock Estacado. The Sandies are 30-5 this season, won District 3-5A with a 16-0 record, and are ranked No. 13 in the state.

Amarillo is 180-35, with two Class 5A state semifinal trips in the last six seasons. The game will be broadcast on www.aisdlive.org.

With the loss to Abilene High, the Cooper boys finish their season at 8-18 and 0-8.

All four girls teams from District 4-5A were knocked out of the playoffs Monday night in the bi-district round, including Abilene High, which dropped a 69-27 decision to Amarillo High in Brownfield. The Lady Eagles finished 17-16 under first-year head coach Alonzo Franklin.

Soccer: Boys, Girls Teams Continue District Play
District 4-5A soccer play for boys and girls teams continues Friday night, with Abilene High taking on Wylie and Cooper taking the night off.

The Abilene High boys will play at Wylie’s Hugh Sandifer Stadium at 7 p.m. Friday, while the AHS girls will host Wylie at 7 p.m. at Shotwell. The AHS boys are 5-4-3 overall and 2-1 in district play after a 1-0 win Tuesday night over Wichita Falls Legacy. The AHS girls are 5-9-0 and 1-2 after tying Legacy, 1-1, Tuesday but losing on penalty kicks.

The Cooper boys dropped a 3-1 decision against Wichita Falls Memorial on Tuesday to fall to 5-6-2 and 0-3, while the Cooper girls lost to Memorial, 3-0, to fall to 8-7-3 and 0-3.

Softball: AHS, Cooper Back in Action This Weekend
The Abilene High and Cooper softball seasons start in earnest this weekend, with both teams playing in the National Fastpitch Coaches’ Association (NFCA) Texas High School Leadoff Classic in College Station.

Inclement weather has already affected the tournament, and new schedules were put together for round-robin play starting Thursday.

Cooper lost to Cypress Bridgeland, 5-4, early Thursday and was scheduled to play two games Thursday: Houston Northbrook at 1 p.m. and Houston Spring Woods at 3 p.m. Abilene High had one game Thursday, playing Tomball at 1 p.m.

Abilene High and Cooper both started their seasons Tuesday with victories. The Lady Eagles beat Weatherford 14-4 at AHS. Cooper went on the road and beat Colorado City 7-2.

Volleyball: Abilene High Hires New Head Coach
Abilene ISD announced on Friday, Jan. 31, that Emily Gravitt has been named the next head coach of the Abilene High volleyball program.

Gravitt brings more than 20 years of coaching experience to AISD. She recently served as the head volleyball coach and girls’ athletics coordinator in Breckenridge ISD. Before that, she taught and coached for five years in Wichita Falls ISD, leading the volleyball program at Wichita Falls High School to back-to-back bi-district playoff appearances.

“I want to thank Abilene ISD for this amazing opportunity,” Gravitt said. “I plan to continue with Abilene High’s tradition to pursue championships, athletically and academically. I am delighted to lead this group into the future of Lady Eagle Volleyball.”

Football: Several Eagles Earn Postseason Honors
Two Abilene High football standouts, who helped the Eagles to an 8-4 record and a spot in the area round of the Class 5A Division I playoffs, have received more postseason recognition.

Offensive lineman Shetonde Polepole has been selected to the Padilla Poll Coaches Class 5A first team all-state squad, and wide receiver Ryland Bradford earned a second team selection. Bradford, who has committed to UT-El Paso, was also selected to the Super Elite team, as put together by the Texas High School Coaches Association and Dick’s Sporting Goods.

The THSCA Super Elite Teams consist of high school players nominated by current Texas High School Coaches Association professional members. The player must meet the THSCA award criteria to be nominated. The award recognizes student-athletes across Texas for their exemplary athletic achievement in their respective sport.