After two chilly scrimmages last week, the basketball team came around to help out on Saturday, to win all five-games in the Fort Worth ‘Tournament of Champions.’

According to head coach, Ronnie Dent, it was a total team effort and some great pitching from several Panthers, that made the difference.

”All the players stepped up in the first tournament of the year,” a gleaming Dent began. “As with most baseball games, pitching is the number one concern, especially playing five games in three days.

“Nick Rumbelow and Tanner Bailey pitched like the veterans they are, in their respective games,” said Dent, “and Nick pitching a no-hitter in his game against Castleberry, and Tanner throwing a shutout against Bridgeport was encouraging, to say the least.

“Also, Cameron Hallford, Trevor Rumbelow, Britt Thomas and Jeremy Welmaker all performed well on the mound, in their first varsity action,” Dent added a welcomed surprise.

“The surprise of the tournament came offensively, “Dent continued. “I knew we could hit, but because of the weather we have not been able to be outside.

“Most of our hitting work has been inside, and the players have really focused on getting better.”

The first game of the tourney started out a little sluggish, after the three hour bus trip, but the Panthers rapidly improved with each game.

Overall in five games, Bullard scored 50 runs on 51 hits, with 12 doubles, two triples, and four homeruns. In conclusion, on the team’s first real test, Dent was pleased to say, “the players all competed at a high level and definitely left an impression in Fort Worth.”

The Panthers get back to action on Tuesday, as they hit the road for a 6 p.m. contest in Canton.

At top left, senior guard, Lance Anding sinks one of his two 3-pointers in the bi-district win over Rusk, at Tyler-Lee’s Varsity Gymnasium in a game moved up to last week by a day, to avoid possible weather problems later in the week. At top middle, Josiah Rosebury knocks down a free throw for the Panthers, for one of his 18 points in the game. Top right, the Bullard students were on hand and making noise for their boys last week, in the 64-56 win over new district opponent in 2010, the Rusk Eagles. (Banner Staff Photos by Doc Smith) North Texas Tournament of

Champions

Game One

Bullard 12, Douglas 8

In the first game of the tournament, Cameron Hallford picked up the win on the mound, while Trevor Rumbelow and Tanner Bailey picked up doubles, in a 12-8 win over Douglas. Bullard pounded out 13 hits, while three Panther pitchers, Hallford (1-0), Jeremey Wellmaker, and Britt Thomas), held Douglas to six hits in the win.

Game Two

Bullard 10, Castleberry 0

LSU-bound Nick Rumbelow tossed a two-hitter, and went 3-for-4 at the plate, in a 10-0 win over Castleberry in the Thursday night game.

The Panthers rattled their bats with nine hits, and another home run, by Tanner Bailey.

Game Three

Bullard 11, Bridgeport 0

Brook Hill transfer, Tanner Bailey went the distance and gave in to only one hit, as the Panthers remained undefeated with a 11-0 win over Bridgeport. Trevor Rumbelow went downtown for his first varsity homer, with one runner on, in the second inning.

Other Panthers with extra base hits included Trevor, Nick Rumbelow, Keaton Boyd, Steven Langston, and Cameron Hallford; each blasted doubles in only nine hits for the Panthers.

Game Four

Bullard 9, Lake Worth 3

Lake Worth was the next victim for the Panthers, as Bullard pounded out 11 hits in a 9-3 win over Lake Worth.

Sophomore, Taft Rose went the distance on the hill for his first win, while extra base hits highlighted the fourth straight Panther win.

Koby Greene and Nick Rumbelow had doubles, while Keaton Boyd added a triple.

Bailey continued his assault at the plate for the classic, with a three-run homer in the fifth inning

Game Five

Bullard 8, Burkburnet 3

Nick Rumbelow started and Trevor Rumbleow picked up his first varsity win, while Britt Thomas and Tanner Bailey mopped up another Panther win, with an 8-3 win over Burkburnett.

Outhitting Burkburnett, 10-5, Nick Rumbelow, Nolan Rose, and Koby Greene added doubles.

Tanner Bailey ‘went yard’ for his third homer of the early season, with two runners on in the second inning.