Junction Wins Pool on Opening Day of 7-on-7 State Tournament

COLLEGE STATION, TX — The Junction Eagles sure didn’t look like a team making their first-ever appearance at the 7-on-7 state tournament Thursday.

Junction won all three games to claim first place in Pool B. The Eagles defeated Kountze (20-13), East Bernard (24-20) and Hearne (21-15).

Junction will now play Coahoma, the fourth-place finisher in Pool F, at 8 a.m. Friday to kick off play in the Division III elimination bracket.

Brady narrowly missed winning its pool as well.

The Bulldogs won their first two games over Haskell (21-19) and Kenedy (33-6), but they lost their final game of the day to Rio Vista (20-19) to finish as the runner-up in Pool D.

Brady will take on Sonora in an all-Concho Valley battle Friday, and the winner will meet Junction-Coahoma in the next round.

Sonora was the third-place finisher in Pool H. The Broncos lost to Lexington (25-15) and Wallis Brazos (34-28), but they defeated Sunray 21-12.

Eldorado was the runner-up in Pool A after wins over Bosqueville (26-14) and Grapeland (32-28), along with a loss to Poth (29-20).

The Eagles will play Iraan in a meeting of West Texas teams in an elimination game Friday.

It will take five wins for a team to claim the championship in the 32-team elimination bracket. 

Defending champion Gunter won all three of its games Thursday and will play Grapeland to begin its title defense Friday.