Sports Shorts and High School Football for the week of December 2

Nikita Krylov vs Ryan Spann UFC
Dre'lon Miller
Jonathan Cernek, Tiger Woods and Notah Begay Jr

YMBL

The 69th annual YMBL South Texas Shootout is one of the premier high school boys’ basketball tournaments in the state of Texas. Currently underway at West Brook and Beaumont United gyms, this year’s tournament includes 6A No. 12 Beaumont United, West Brook, Channelview, Aldine Nimitz, Pasadena Dobie, Aldine, Lake Charles LaGrange, Angleton, Fort Bend Willowridge, Goose Creek Memorial, 4A No. 3 Silsbee, West Orange-Stark, 3A No. 1 Dallas Madison and Grace Academy.

The championship is slated for Saturday, Dec. 3, at 5 p.m. at West Brook High School.

UFC

Beaumont Ozen graduate and professional MMA fighter Ryan Spann will headline UFC Fight Night on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, at a location to be determined.

The 31-year-old Spann, who is ranked No. 10 in the light heavyweight division, has won his last two fights to improve to 21-7 overall. He will step into the octagon to fight No. 7 Nikita Krylov (29-9) of Russia and will be shown on ESPN+.

Spann is 7-2 since signing with the UFC in 2018.

Football

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football in conjunction with the TaxAct Texas Bowl announced the 25 semifinalists for the Mr. Texas Football High School Player of the Year Award, which included Silsbee’s Dre’Lon Miller.

In December, 10 finalists will be announced and fans can then cast their votes as to who should be named Mr. Texas Football. The winner of the 2022 Mr. Texas Football Award will be announced prior to the TaxAct Texas Bowl, which will be played at NRG Stadium on Dec. 28 in Houston.

Previous recipients of the award include 2018 Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 overall pick QB Kyler Murray (2013 and 2014, Allen High School), 2012 Heisman Trophy winner QB Johnny Manziel (2010, Kerrville Tivy), former Texas Longhorns RB Johnathan Gray (2011, Aledo), former Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Jacquizz Rodgers (2007, Lamar Consolidated), current Oklahoma State QB Spencer Sanders (2017, Denton Ryan) and former Dallas Cowboys QB Garrett Gilbert (2008, Lake Travis). Former China Spring quarterback and current Lamar University RB Major Bowden took home the award in 2021.

Former West Orange-Stark standout K.J. Miller was named the All-American Southwest Conference Special Teams Player of the Year. Miller, a senior for Mary Hardin-Baylor, broke the NCAA record for punt return yards as a Crusader with 1,680 total punt returns in his four years with the Cru. He averaged 20.27 yards per punt return this season with a longest of 64 yards.

Miller also received First Team Offense honors at slot back as he had 702 yards receiving with eight touchdowns.

MHB (11-1) is in the midst of the NCAA Division III playoffs and will host Bethel University (10-2) on Saturday, Dec. 3, at noon in Belton, Texas.

Golf

Koasati Pines at Coushatta Casino Resort in nearby Kinder, Louisiana, hosted the third annual Notah Begay III Junior Golf National Championship, which featured the nation’s best junior golfers competing for the top honors in their respective class.

One of the participating golfers was Charlie Woods, the son of legendary golfer Tiger Woods.

“It was inspiring to see Tiger Woods embrace his role of being a proud father to Charlie during his visit to the Coushatta Tribe,” said Coushatta Tribal Chairman Jonathan Cernek. “The importance of family and the strength of the bond between father and son could be felt throughout the three-day tournament.”
The Notah Begay III Junior Golf National Championship also provided Cernek the opportunity to present Tiger Woods with a cultural handwoven pine needle basket from his tribe. Woods thanked Cernek for the artifact as they discussed the love and dedication that goes into the handiwork, as well as the similarities of the basket to the work of other tribes around the country.

“It was a surreal moment to know that I was meeting and having a conversation with the greatest golfer in the world. There was a level of reverence that is hard to put into words after having watched Tiger dominate the golf world his entire career.” Cernek said.
“As parents, we put such a high emphasis on teaching our children the valuable tools they need to grow into adults. It was in this moment that I saw Tiger Woods as a dad doing the exact same thing for his son. The inclusion of family, mentorship, and competition with one of the greatest athletes of all-time made for an exciting week at the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana,” he concluded.

The younger Woods finished 11th in the Boys 12-13 Division with a three-round score of 1-under 212.

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High School Football regional finals

Friday, Dec. 2

Silsbee (13-0) v. Cuero (12-1)

NRG Stadium, Houston, 1:30p

PN-G (11-2) v. Fort Bend Marshall (12-1)

Galena Park ISD Stadium, Galena Park, 7p

Newton (12-1) v. Big Sandy Harmony (8-5)

Bryce Stadium, Nacogdoches, 7p

Scores – Regional Quarterfinals

Longview 51, PA Memorial 7