TIGERS READY FOR ROUND 2: Belton head coach Jason Fossett (left), junior guard Trap Johnson and the Tigers pulled out a 57-50 overtime...

PLAYOFF TIME: The Academy Bumblebees (24-9) begin the Class 3A boys basketball playoffs with a bi-district game against the Fairfield...

REMATCH TIME: One year ago, guard Darion Franklin (2) and Academy defeated Hayden Helton (4) and Franklin 69-47 in a Class 3A Region III...

By GREG WILLE TempleBeltonSports.com gwille2@hot.rr.com GATESVILLE – After charging past Fairfield in its Class 3A playoff opener, the...

PRODUCTIVE PERFORMER: After Belton shared the District 12-6A championship with Harker Heights, Lipscomb-signed senior forward TJ Johnson...

PLAYOFF TIME: Academy senior point guard Darion Franklin (left, shooting) and the 10th-ranked Bumblebees (24-7) begin the Class 3A state...

By GREG WILLE TempleBeltonSports.com gwille2@hot.rr.com BELTON – Ellie Erwin outscored cold-starting Troy 8-2 in the first quarter...

FULL SPEED AHEAD: Senior-to-be receiver/quarterback/safety Mikal Harrison-Pilot and the Temple Wildcats will defend their District 12-6A...

FROM WAY DOWNTOWN: Belton sophomore Trap Johnson takes a 3-point shot over Austin Northeast Early College defender Manny Jaimes during...

LET IT FLY: Academy senior point guard Darion Franklin takes a 3-point shot over Lake Belton junior Devin Gossett during the host...

RISE AND FIRE: Temple College sophomore Marlaina Spearman (right) takes a contested jump shot over Weatherford defender Adreanna Waddle...

By GREG WILLE TempleBeltonSports.com gwille2@hot.rr.com The Temple College basketball teams finished the regular season in much different...

GETTING A HAND UP: Sophomore guard Tyler Watkins (1) of Temple College contests a 3-point shot by Weatherford sophomore guard Aaron Heft...

TOO HOT TO HANDLE: Collin sophomore guard Orion Virden (4) takes a 3-point shot over Temple College freshman defender Brandon Monroe...

SEMIFINAL SHOWDOWN: San Antonio Cole junior guard Silas Livingston takes a jump shot over Academy senior defender Tanner Rambeau during...

JUST LIKE OLD TIMES: Jared Hunt is Academy ISD's athletic director, but 19 years ago he was a backup junior guard on coach Alex...

DRIVING FORCE: Junior point guard Darion Franklin has helped lead Academy to the Class 3A state semifinals by averaging 18.2 points in...

NET PROCEEDS: Academy head coach James Holt celebrates with his players after cutting down the net following the Bumblebees' 68-58 win...

SENIOR MOMENT: With 16th-ranked Academy trailing No. 7 New Waverly 60-58 with 3 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter Friday night,...

POSTSEASON APPAREL: Academy head coach James Holt (wearing tie) and assistant coaches Jason Rankin (holding paper) and Chuck Mann wear...