Friday’s Sports

OLYMPICS

China, which used its first Olympics to amplify its international aspirations, invited the world back Friday. So it was for the pandemic era’s second games, and this time as an emboldened and more powerful nation whose government’s authoritarian turn provoked some countries’ leaders into staying home. It opened to empty stands.

NBA

Thursday

Heat (33-20) 112 – San Antonio (19-34) 95

Friday

Houston at Spurs 7:30 pm

New Orleans at Denver Nuggets 8:00 pm

76ers at Dallas 9:00 pm

Oklahoma City at Portland Trail Blazers 9:00 pm

NFL

Doug Pederson, who won a Super Bowl with Philadelphia, has been hired as the new head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

COLLEGE

Coaches canceled the Northeast Texas Community College Baseball game at Arkansas Rich Mountain. No make-up date has been announced for the Thursday home game or Saturday road game of the home and away series with Arkansas Rich Mountain. NTCC Baseball plans to travel to Grayson College on Monday, Feb 7, and the first home game will now be Friday, Feb 11, against Cowley Community College from Kansas. The games will begin at 1:00 pm for the doubleheader contest.

Northeast Texas Community College Softball vs. North Central Texas College has moved from Saturday, Feb 5 to Monday, Feb 7 at 1:00 pm here at NTCC. The game will be a doubleheader, with game two starting 30 minutes after the conclusion of Game One.

HIGH SCHOOL

Harts Bluff has made the district alignment list for the first time in school history. In Region 2 District 16 basketball, they are with Clarksville, Detroit, Rivercrest, James Bowie, and Maud. They landed in Region III District 17 with Clarksville, Detroit, and Rivercrest for volleyball.

Sulphur Springs Wildcats drop to 4A Division I in Region II. They will be in District eight, including Anna, Kaufman, Mabank, Community, and Paris.

Mt Pleasant’s district remains the same without Jacksonville, who drops to 4A, which means Pine Tree and Hallsville remain district foes with Marshall, Mount Pleasant, Nacogdoches, Texas High, and Whitehouse. The district changed 9-5A Division II to 8-5A Division II and moved from Region III to Region II.

Coaches moved Mt Pleasant’s Friday game vs. Marshall to Saturday. As a result, the Tigers will host only the varsity game beginning at 1:00 pm.