Sports Update   

TUSCALOOSA -- If he'd have known he would be playing college football at a place like Alabama -- or anywhere for that matter -- Allen alum Alec Morris might have started down the path toward early graduation at the beginning of his junior year.

It would be tough to find a football team more dominant than Celina over the last 20 years.

After taking the district and regional ranks by storm, the Plano East girls track and field team raised the bar a bit further Saturday at the UIL Class 5A State Championships.

Every so often, there are showings at the Class 5A Track and Field State Championships that span superlatives ranging from dominant to elite or even singular.

Saturday was a whirlwind of emotions for the Plano East softball team, tied with Flower Mound, 2-2, in the bottom of the seventh inning of a one-game regional quarterfinal playoff when the Lady Jags appeared to score the winning run.

Whether it's your first or fourth appearance at the meet, the Class 5A Track and Field State Championships is an experience unto itself.

This year's Class 3A State Track Meet was an unusual one for Lovejoy.

FRISCO -- A year ago, the Plano Senior softball team eliminated Hebron in the regional quarterfinals.

PROSPER -- Pilot Point managed just three hits in Friday's one-game regional quarterfinal softball series against Lovejoy, but it was the last of those hits that broke the game open and ended the season of the No. 1 team in the state, 4-1.

CARROLLTON -- Everything went right for the Bobcats during their 6-1 victory in Game 1 of Friday's area-round matchup against Farmersville.

CARROLLTON -- The Plano Senior baseball team was staring uncertainty in the eyes before it even took the field Saturday afternoon against L.D. Bell.

DENTON -- With two on and one out in the bottom of the seventh inning of a tie game in its regional quarterfinal matchup against Plano East, Flower Mound's Emilee Burkhardt laced a single to center field. And when the umpire signaled safe after Kelly Powell crossed the plate, the Lady Jaguars erupted in celebration having punched their ticket to the regional semifinals for the first time since 2008.

MCKINNEY -- The Plano East baseball team drew state-ranked Colleyville Heritage into uncharted waters Friday night.

DENTON -- For about an hour, it appeared Mother Nature was going to allow Flower Mound and Plano East to square off in their highly-anticipated regional quarterfinal softball matchup.

The Plano Senior baseball team's margin for error this postseason just reduced significantly.

The Plano West girls basketball team reached plenty of milestones in 2011-12.

Though the athletic season has ended for Prestonwood Christian Academy, the accolades gained from the field continued Wednesday as the Lions had three athletes sign to continue their careers in college.

DENTON -- For about an hour, it appeared Mother Nature was going to allow Flower Mound and Plano East to square off in their highly-anticipated regional quarterfinal softball matchup.

Flower Mound has named former Killeen boys basketball coach Jason Fossett to the same position, LISD athletic director Randy Mayes confirmed Friday. For more information of Fossett's hiring, see future editions of The Leader.

Track athletes from McKinney and McKinney North took to the blocks Friday for the first day of competition at the state track and field meet in Austin and, led by distance runner Meghan Shea, came away with their share of hardware.

As if having 12 seniors -- including the last two Class 5A State Championship Game MVPs -- graduate from its 2012 state title team wasn't enough, Marcus' boys basketball team will take on an even different look than expected next year.

Familiarity has bred nothing but respect between McKinney and Rockwall, its opponent in the regional quarterfinals.

John Paul II junior Cameron Meziere didn't break the Texas record in the 110-meter hurdles over the weekend at the TAPPS State Meet from Hart-Patterson Track and Field Complex in Waco.

What a difference one year of practice can make.

The Plano East softball team has been on a tear this season, amassing a 31-3 record and No. 15 ranking in USA Today/NFCA national poll.

FRISCO – The last time the Texas Tornado hosted the Roberston Cup was in 2004, with the trophy staying in Frisco for the first of three straight championships.

Success hasn't been an issue for Coppell's boys basketball team during the past two seasons, as the Cowboys qualified for the playoffs in both years and saw coach Brad Chasteen earn his 500th career victory.

After splitting a pair of close games to push its area-round playoff series with Mesquite to a decisive Game 3, the McKinney Boyd softball team swung things their way on Saturday with a comfortable 7-3 win.

GRAPEVINE -- Before the 2010 season, Plano Senior softball had never been past the second round of the playoffs.

GRAPEVINE -- Mansfield Legacy shortstop Briana Walker began Saturday hoping to help her softball team win an area playoff series against Plano Senior.

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