Sports Texoma

SHERMAN — Denison set foot on the Bearcat Stadium grass in need of a win to put itself in position to make a late surge toward the playoffs.
Sherman was trying to help pad its lead in hopes of securing the fourth and final playoff berth in District 17-4A. The game was going down to the wire until the floodgates opened for the Bearcats with less than 13 minutes remaining in an eventual 4-0 win.
“I liked the way we played, especially late in the second half,” Sherman coach Chico Aleman said. “We were a heck of a lot better with our passing but lost our focus for most of the second half until we scored our second goal.”
Tanner Wall had two goals and an assist for Sherman (7-9-4, 3-4), who could cement a playoff berth with a win in one of its final three games against McKinney North, Prosper and McKinney.
The Bearcats completed the daily double following the junior varsity’s 2-0 win, outshooting Denison (5-13-1, 1-6) 13-2, and the Yellow Jackets were unable to take advantage of what could have been a golden opportunity.
“Anytime you lose a game you’re upset and disappointed,” Denison coach Scotty Voight said. “I didn’t get the kind of performance I expected from my team tonight. Our guys didn’t stay focused.”
Ben Pressley’s left-footed shot at the 13:41 mark seemed to have nothing in front of it but net until Carlos Chavez made a sliding kick save to keep Denison’s chances alive. Pressley had numerous chances to score but couldn’t capitalize.
“I don’t think anybody can keep up with Ben when he gets in the open field because of his speed,” Aleman said. “The one thing he needs to work on is his ball control.”
Wall took a crossing pass from Adrian Salinas and scored with 12:51 remaining for an insurance goal. Chavez picked up his second yellow card after fouling Julio Torres in the box at the 10:02 mark resulting in a red card and subsequent ejection.
Wall scored on the penalty kick, and Raul Sibrian added the final goal less than two minutes later off a Robert Fallon throw-in. Aleman was pleased with his team’s play on both sides of the ball.
“I think we wore them out the last 15 minutes of the game, and I thought we did a good job of pressuring them,” Aleman said. “Our midfielders Julio, Cruz (Ramirez) and Harris (Vick) all made some good plays for us to allow Ben and Tanner to get open.”
Sherman goalkeeper Joan Torres made a diving save off a rebound of a Yellow Jacket corner kick, and the Bearcats took advantage shortly after when Wall assisted Freddy Menjivar for a 1-0 lead at the 20:26 mark.
Joseph Hefner picked up the first of Denison’s yellow cards with 7:24 left in the half after aggressive play resulted in Torres getting kicked in the mouth. Counterpart Polo Molina kept the game in check with a save two minutes later, allowing the Yellow Jackets to enter the break with only a 1-0 deficit.
“I had a group that seemed to be pumped up and ready to get after it in the second half and get the ball down the field,” Voight said. “I was expecting a better performance because of it, but it didn’t happen.”
Torres had to leave the game in favor of Menjivar after feeling dizzy from his facial injury.
“I told our guys if they allowed just one goal, it could change the course of the game,” Aleman said. “If Denison found a way to sneak one in, it could have turned ugly, and they did a good job of pressuring us in the first half.”