Sports

By Jason Hoekema / [email protected] The Ava High School Bears basketball team hosted Forsyth Friday at home and sealed the 64-51 win early in each half with high defensive pressure forcing turnovers and the inevitable buckets on the other end.  Double Digits With the number of turnovers going in favor of the Bears, it is…

By Jason Hoekema / [email protected] Around this time last year, the Lady Bears were returning from a road game against last Thursday’s rival, the Fordland Lady Eagles. In December of 2018 the Lady Eagles managed to get by the Lady Bears, 66-60, handing Ava their second loss of the season as well as breaking five-win…

By Jason Hoekema / [email protected] MANSFIELD – Thursday saw three games played in succession with Willow Springs highlighting the competition at the 83rd Annual Mansfield Invitational Basketball Tournament. Triple Threat Thursday Houston was a no-show in the first quarter against Willow Springs which created a deficit the Tigers could not afford. After four quarters the…

By Jason Hoekema / [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – The Ava Lady Bears made a statement of their own on the road at the New Covenant Academy Tournament where they took first place. The ladies’ roster took the title with a perfect, 3-0, record with wins over NCA, Stoutland, and a final win over Billings scoring 53-40,…

By Jason Hoekema The Douglas County Herald was informed by Ava R-I Athletic Director Rex Sawyer that the complimentary “Coca-Cola” basketball season schedules contained inaccuracies and may be incorrect.  The public is encouraged to visit www.mshsaa.org and search for “Ava High School” to seek up-to-date scheduling. Future games are also often discussed in the weekly…

By Jason Hoekema MANSFIELD – Remembering to the beginning of last week the Ava Bears topped the Norwood Pirates 64-34 tying them for first in the pool with the Conway Bears. Ava won that tie with a 52-42 win over Conway on Thursday as the 83rd Annual Mansfield Invitational Basketball Tournament continued gameplay to determine…

By Jason Hoekema / [email protected] The Ava High School senior needs no introduction. She has played basketball for the Lady Bears and is a state-making athlete when it comes to Track and Field.  The campus is located in Hillsdale, Michigan and is touted as a 175-year-old private conservative college with a liberal arts curriculum focusing…

The Ava Lady Bears basketball team, along with coaches Nathan Houk and Brandy Harvill, are shown above after winning first place recognition at the New Covenant Academy Lady Warrior Classic held last week in Springfield.  Game write-up is on page B-4.

By Jason Hoekema / [email protected] The Ava Bears took their first loss of the season to the Fair Grove Eagles, 57-49, at the home court opener Tuesday. With a lagging second half, the Bears were unable to hold on to the big first quarter where they made a run of 13 points. Full court pressure…