The year in BHS sports
2006 was a year to remember for Brownsboro High School athletics

TEXAS STADIUM-- During the 2006 sports season the Bears made school and county history by playing on the same field as Michael Irvin, Troy Aikman and Emmitt Smith. Chad Wilson Photo The Varsity Bears football team finished the 2006 season as Regional Champs with an overall record of 10-4. See page 11 for awards given to the 2006 Bears.

As the year turned from 2005 to 2006 the Varsity Bearette basketball team was in the midst of history. Little did anyone know how the new year would play out.

To conclude 2005 the Bearettes won their second straight TVCC Tournament Championship and seemed poised to control District 15- 3A play.

Control they did as they walked through district play undefeated marking the second straight year winning the district crown.

Once in the playoffs the Bearettes started the 2006 sports year off right by defeating Atlanta. In 2005 it was Atlanta that knocked the Bearettes out of the playoffs.

Gladewater was next on the Bearettes list and with ease the Bearettes rolled into Kilgore and defeated Gladewater 62-46.

Playing in Commerce, for the first time in years, the Bearettes defeated Kennedale 70-61 to set up a rematch against Liberty Eylau in the Region 2 championship game.

FRANK ERWIN CENTER-- For the sixth time in school history the Bearette basketball team advanced to the State Basketball Championships at the University of Texas at Austin during 2006. Brownsboro lost to eventual Chad Wilson Photo State Champ China Springs 60-48. Each player received a medal for making it to the State Finals. The Class 3A Region 2 Champion Bearettes finished the season with a record of 34-4.

Earlier during the 2005 season Brownsboro lost to Liberty Eylau in the Great East Texas Shootout. In a very hard fought game the Bearettes defeated L.E. to advance to the State Finals in Austin.

Reaching the State Finals for the sixth time in school history, first since 2003, the Bearettes faced China Springs in the opening round.

The teams battled back and forth before China Spring controlled the game to win 60-48. China Spring went on to win the Class 3A State Title. Brownsboro finished the season with a record of 34-4.

With the great start to the 2006 sports season one could wonder if anything could top the Bearettes trip to the State Finals.

With a motto of “Taking care of business” to start the 2006 football season the Varsity Bears football team looked to win their first district crown since 1995.

Without four keys players to start the season, the Bears lost two of their first three games. From there the Bears progressed and ended the 2006 year with a bang.

Brownsboro entered newly realigned District 14-3A as the favorite to finished second behind Van. Opening the district schedule on Friday, October, 13 the Bears played the Vandals in Van.

In what many would call an upset, the Bears defeated Van 27-15. Three games and one loss later the Bears defeated Athens to win the district 14- 3A championship.

Accomplishing their goal set from the beginning of the season the Bears also turned heads in the playoffs.

Winning the Bi-District crown with a 44-7 blowout of the Kaufman Lions in Mesquite the Bears then defeated Atlanta 41-29 in Tyler.

Setting a new school record the Bears defeated Pilot Point 28-7 in Mesquite to advance to the State Quarterfinals. No Brownsboro football team had ever made it past the third round of the playoffs prior to the Bears victory.

Setting another area record with their win, the Bears became the first team in Henderson County to play at Texas Stadium.

In their game at the home of the Dallas Cowboys the Bears scored first but were eventually defeated 35-14 by Class 3A State runner-up Celina.

Last football season (2005) the Bears were also defeated by the eventual state champion, Tatum. Brownsboro finished the season with an overall record of 10-4.

In between two trips deep into the playoffs several other notable things happened in BHS sports.

In track and field Brittany Brown advanced to the State meet in Austin. More than 20 Bear and Bearette athletes advanced to Regionals held in Commerce. Three George Cumby relay records were set by Brownsboro athletes.

Oran Lewis was crowned the Class 3A Super Heavy Weight Powerlifting champ with a total lift of 1840lbs. Lewis will look to continue his dominance in powerlifting in 2007.

Other Bears advancing to State in powerlifting were Jason Johnson, Walter Guthrie and Lonnie Edwards.

Four Bearettes advanced to regionals in powerlifting. They were Misty Ellington, Tonya Kiker, Na Anderson and Taylor Green. Improving each season the

Bearette volleyball program shared the district crown with Bullard in 2006. Brownsboro lost in the opening round of the playoffs to Eustace.

On the diamond both the Bears and Bearettes began play on new fields in 2006. Both teams overcame midyear coaching changes and the Bearettes earned a playoff spot with Coach Croley at the helm.

Overall the Bearettes softball team finished with a record of 10-8 losing in the first round of the playoffs to Spring Hill. Lacy Wilkerson hit a game winning homerun during the Bearettes first and only game of the year on their new field.

Jeremy Suggs recorded the Bears first hit on their new field as the Bears finished 8- 11 on the season. With just three players graduating during the Spring the Bears will look to make a playoff run this season.

Needing a change at the helm Brownsboro brought in Coach Jeff Hutchins to lead the boys basketball program. In their final season prior to Hutchins arrival the Bears finished 11-18 overall and 1-9 in district play.

Midway through the 06-07 season Hutchins has the Bears playing very well including a tournament win in Sabine.

Brownsboro athletes were awarded with several awards during the 2006 season including several spots on All- State teams.

Eight times during the 52 weeks of the year a BHS athlete has appeared on the front page of The Statesman. The Bearettes awesome season made the front page 4 times and the Bears football playoff run made the front page three times.

Also new in 2006 was a special preview section for the fall sports season and a special sports section in the paper. Four times in 2006 The Statesman published a Sports section aside from the regular issue.

2006 was a great year for Brownsboro Athletics, congratulations to all the coaches and athletes who made the year a success.