Official site of Tribune News serving Tomball, Magnolia and Waller

The Tomball Memorial Wildcats recently upended crosstown rival Tomball in basketball play. The Wildcats jumped out to a 17-2 lead and held on for the 50-48 overtime win. Pictured is Wildcat guard D.J. Thomas defending a shot by Tomball's Marqueese Grayson.

Tomball High School student, Joseph Coumos, recently signed a scholarship to dive for the University of Notre Dame. Coumos was a gymnast, but started diving two years ago. His specialties are the one meter and the three meter spring board.  He plans to study mechanical or aerospace engineering in college.

Tomball High School recently celebrated the news that several baseball players have signed to further their careers in college. Pictured are (front row, from left) Anthony Lucas, who signed with Northwestern State University; Dillon Menville, who signed with Angelina College; Austin Gryder, who signed with Cisco College; Josh Horton, who signed with Louisiana Tech and Robert Dugger, who also signed with Cisco College; (back row, from left) Tomball head coach Doug Rush and assistant coach Tim Dyson.

The Tomball High School Cougar baseball team takes time out to pose with area little leaguers during a recent Cougar game. The Cougars recently defeated Houston Reagan to move on to the area round of the playoffs. Tomball took on Friendswood in the area round last weekend. Tomball defeated Friendswood in a rain delayed game 4-3, to advance to the regional quarterfinals against Ridge Point this weekend.

He had pitched just 14 innings all season.

Tomball senior Nick Banks was lights out nonetheless, hurling a two-hit shutout in leading the Cougars (33-4) to a 10-0 mercy rule victory over Foster May 30, in the Region 3 championship baseball game.

As a result, the 2013 Boys of Spring have accomplished a first in the history of Tomball baseball – a trip to the state tournament later this week.
The game was scoreless through two innings, before the Cougars got rolling with two in the third. An Anthony Lucas sacrifice fly plated Vince Hammonds and Ishmael Edwards followed with an RBI double.

Tomball would open the game up in the fifth inning. After Josh Covery led off with a bunt single, the next four hitters would reach base. Banks, Anthony Lucas, Edwards and Dillon Menville all hit singles, plating five runners in the process and opening up a 7-0 lead.

The same sequence would play out in the sixth inning, as the same Cougar hitters reached base in the exact same fashion, plating three runs for a 10-0 lead.

Banks sealed the victory in the bottom of the sixth. He finished his night with nine strikeouts and did not allow a Foster runner to get into scoring position all night.

The Cougars advanced to the regional championship by getting past Montgomery in the regional semifinals, in two games.

In the first game Tomball found itself down 2-1 heading in the bottom of the final inning, with the outcome starting to look bleak.

Then the drama started.

A Montgomery error put the first Tomball runner on base. Banks immediately followed by drawing a walk, with one out.

After a Tomball strikeout, Edwards walked to the plate to take his final at bat.

The Montgomery pitcher hung a breaking ball and Edwards swung. Everyone in the stadium knew that the ball was heading over the fence.

Tomball head coach Doug Rush sprinted down the third base line, immediately behind lead runner Banks, with his fist high in the air, cheering what he had just witnessed.

The entire Cougar squad was at home plate to greet Edwards, after his trot around the bases had given Tomball the dramatic 4-2 walkoff win.

The next day called for no drama, as the Cougars cruised to a 16-4 win, taking the series in two games.

Next up for Tomball is the 4A state semifinals at Dell Diamond in Round Rock, this Thursday.

The Tomball Cougars baseball team pose with their championship trophy, following their 6-1 victory over Corpus Christi Moody in the Texas 4A State Championship June 7.

Tomball pitcher Robert Dugger celebrates after striking out the final Moody batter, giving Tomball the state title. Dugger was named MVP of the state tournament, following a 3-4 night at the plate, which included an inside-the-park home run, as well as a complete game victory on the mound.