Investigation continues

Business Hwy. 37 on the outskirts of Clarksville remained closed as of 1 p.m. Thursday as crime scene forensics continued relating to the shooting Thursday morning. Here, a state trooper makes measurements at the scene.

Officer involved shooting Thursday morning in Clarksville

Official Statement from The City of Clarksville:

“On Thursday, February 27, 2020 there was a multi jurisdictional response to a 911 call in the City of Clarksville. Unfortunately, it resulted in an officer involved shooting. The Texas Rangers have taken over the investigation and no names will be released at this time.

"The City of Clarksville does not have any further information on this incident. All questions will need to be deferred to the Texas Rangers office. Our thoughts and Prayers are with the families involved.”

Tigers glide past Union Grove

By BRUCE E. WILLIAMS

Sports Correspondent

The Clarksville Blue Tigers opened the 2020 playoff run in impressive fashion as Coach Willie Coulter's team charged past the Union Grove Lions 83-51 in a Bi-district game played on Tuesday night at Pittsburg High School.

Clarksville moves on to face Number 1 ranked Martins Mill in Area round action later this week. The Tigers improve their season record to 21-9, while Union Grove ends their season with a 24-9 mark.

Clarksville never trailed in the game, but the Tigers did allow the Lions to hang around for a while, however, behind the play of senior guard Jalen Scott in the first quarter, Clarksville managed to find some breathing room before the Tigers moved to the second frame leading 21-11.

Union Grove, the third seed from District 16-2-A, would manage just four points in the second quarter as the Tigers defense was overpowering. The Lions would record only 15 total points in the initial half, as Clarksville was in control 45-15 at the intermission.

Clarksville senior guard Daquavian Griffin came off the bench to lead the charge to victory with 22 points. Twenty one of his total arrived thanks to Griffin's seven three point field goals. The Tigers had 10 three point hits in the game, with Scott contributing the remaining three. 

Clarksville proved to be relentless on the boards as the Blue Tigers held the Lions to limited shot opportunities. The Clarksville lead was 62-25 when the teams entered the final period.

The Tigers moved to a commanding 79-38 advantage when Griffin chipped in a free throw with 2:34 left. That was the greatest advantage in the game and it would spell the end for Clarksville starters on the playing floor, as Union Grove closed with a 26 point fourth quarter. 

Clarksville, the second seed from District 15-2-A, held double digit advantages at the end of all four quarters. Scott added 14 points for Clarksville, while R.J. Owens contributed 11 points, and Neo Scales, who had a strong performance, joined Olajuwon Woodberry by adding 10 points each.

Lady Tigers’ impressive playoff run ends

By BRUCE E. WILLIAMS

Sports Correspondent

The Clarksville Lady Tigers bid to advance to the UIL class 2-A Region II basketball tournament this weekend in McKinney came to an end on Tuesday night in Commerce, as first year Head Coach, LaTisha Hearne's team fell 55-48 in a tough battle to Hawkins.

Clarksville ends an exceptional run with a 20-13 season record. Hawkins improves to 30-1 and will play on Friday in the two day regional event. At stake will be an opportunity to advance to the State Tournament in San Antonio the following week, should Hawkins be able to secure a pair of wins.

The surprising Lady Tigers, champion of District 15-2-A, pulled ahead 30-29 at the intermission, but with all-state point guard LaQuisha Clark in foul trouble during the night, Clarksville went scoreless in the third quarter, while Hawkins answered the call in the frame by scoring 12 points to move to the fourth leading 41-30. The Lady Tigers outscored their opponent 18-14 in the fourth period.

Perhaps one of the telling stories in the game was that Clarksville was outscored 30-12 as far as points in the paint is concerned, and Hawkins pulled down 13 offensive rebounds, while Clarksville grabbed just five. The game was tied just once, but there were five lead changes according to the official statistical UIL Box Score report.

Hearne's team was led in scoring by Clark who finished her outstanding high school career with a game high 22 points. She was the lone Lady Tiger to reach double figures in scoring. Tyteanna Rosser added nine points for the Lady Tigers, who finished their district run with a perfect 12-0 record.

Hawkins was led by Jaco Logan with 17 points. She was one of three players to score in double figures for Hawkins as Lynli Dacus added 12 points, while Jordyn Warren contributed 11 points. Makaiya Owens, a senior, canned six points for Clarksville but also hauled down 11 rebounds to lead the Lady Tigers.

The list of senior athletes who will not be a member of the Clarksville team next season  includes' Makiyla Bradley, Laura Faulkner, Dee Jackson, and Owens in addition to Clark.

Score by Quarters

Clarksville  10  20  0  18  48

Hawkins 14 15 12 14 55

Lady Tigers advance to area round

By BRUCE E. WILLIAMS

Sports Correspondent

Clarksville Lady Tigers first year Head Coach LaTisha Hearne received her first playoff win on Tuesday night as the Lady Tigers earned a bi-district basketball championship with a 49-37 win over the Beckville Ladycats in a game played at Queen City High School.

The win lifts the Lady Tigers season record to 19-13, while Beckville, the fourth seed from District 16-2-A,  ends the year with a 15-15 mark. Beckville was 7-5 in district play.

Clarksville, the champion of District 15-2-A with a perfect 12-0 record, never trailed in the game after senior Dee Jackson nailed a jumper after almost three minutes of game action. Clarksville held Beckville without a field goal in the initial period, and led 15-3 when the teams moved in to the second quarter.

The Lady Tigers would move to a 21-3 advantage with 6:33 left in the opening half, when Madison Gill canned the first two buckets in period two, and Makaiya Owens contributed a basket off the break, after recording a blocked shot. With 3:06 left in the period, Ashley Rosser drained a three pointer as the Clarksville lead moved to 30-8, before the Lady Tigers ended the first half with a 32-15 lead.

LaQuisha Clark, a senior, joined Madison Gill, a junior, in sparking the Lady Tigers win offensively, as Clark scored a game high 14 points, and Gill contributed 11 points.

Owens had several key block shots in the game that also helped pave the way to the win, and Makiyla Bradley contributed with baskets off the break, and defensive pressure.

The contest appeared to be out of reach in the third period when Clarksville built a 39-17 advantage with 4:29 remaining, when Clark capped a 7-2 run with a free throw. However, the Lady Tigers would not be heard from again during the quarter, as Hearne's team entered the final period leading 39-25.

The Clarksville lead dropped to 41-30 with 6:48 left in the contest, but Tyteanna Rosser stepped up to deliver a three point bomb with 6:21 left giving the Lady Tigers a 44-30 advantage. Beckville managed to again cut into the deficit, closing to within 44-35 with 4:09 left. Clark delivered a pair of beautiful drives into the lane for buckets, and Owens produced a key block down the stretch as The Lady Tigers charged to victory.

The Lady Tigers will face Honey Grove in the area round of post season play later this week.