Clark Basketball

Clark girls basketball players had an opportunity to meet their new coach this week when Richard Herbst stopped by the school for a visit. Coach Herbst brings a wealth of experience to the Clark program with 27 years as a head coach in both the college and high school ranks compiling a 563-294 record. A native of Boerne, Coach Herbst played basketball at Boerne High School and then at Howard Payne University. He was an assistant at Colorado State University and was head men’s coach at Schreiner University and Mary Hardin-Baylor  for several years before returning to Schreiner as the head women’s coach.

From there he took over the Boerne High School girls basketball program from 1999-2007, and was able to coach his two daughters. His time in Boerne included several district titles and a state tournament appearance. More about that from sasports.com .

For the last three years Coach Herbst has been in Copperas Cove serving as head girls coach. Right beside him during that time was his wife, Michele,  as an assistant coach.  Read about it in the Killeen Daily Herald.

The Herbst’s  two daughters are Rebecca, a medical school student at the A&M Health Science Center and Jessica, who just graduated from Southwestern University in Georgetown. With lots of family in Boerne they are looking forward to their return to the San Antonio area.

Welcome Coach Herbst!

Senior class sings alma mater

On a night when the baseball team clinched a playoff spot and the softball team won their game giving them a playoff spot and the best ever season in Clark history, the Clark athletic community celebrated a year of great accomplishments.  The annual Clark Athletic Booster Club Sports Banquet was a phenomenal success with accolades for players and coaches alike.

Highlights included a moment to recognize Coach Lloyd Alexander and his role in shaping a culture of winning in competition and in life, a parade of athletes and coaches that also included each player and teams successes and the awarding of $15,000 in scholarships to Clark seniors.  The $15,000 was a new record for scholarships awarded by the Booster Club and was made possible by parents and their membership fees, cap/tshirt and etc. sales, ad sponsorships by advertisers and volunteers at concession duties and the ATT golf tournament.

The Booster Club has also given over $30,000 this year directly to the athletic department for their needs.

SASports.com’s Jay Tope emceed the event and as usual did an outstanding job.

All Region teams announced

Congratulations to Elhad Emerllahu and Jason Brickman, Clark Cougar varsity basketball seniors.  Both were named to the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches All Region team.

Brickman is headed to Long Island University following graduation and Emerllahu is currently deciding where he plays next.  Congratulations, Cougars and thanks for the great years at Clark.

Congratulations to several Clark Cougars as the spring edition of the Express News all city awards were announced. Seniors Elhad Emerllahu and Jason Brickman made the Express News Super Team in basketball.  Junior Johnny Lawson made the Express News Super Team for soccer as did Gabrielle Santorio.  Several athletes also made all area teams and all district teams.  All can be found at mysanantonio.com.

ALL AREA

From the court to showtime!

Catch Clark Cougar Elhad Emerllahu and Coach Steve Sylestine on Great Day SA tomorrow morning at 9am on KENS-TV.  Local high school sports expert Jay Tope of SASports.com will be talking to them about this past season and what’s ahead.

9am – KENS 5 TV Tuesday morning!  Positive coverage from a great voice for local high schools and athletes.  Thanks, Jay! and GO COOGS!

Jason Brickman

Clark guard Jason Brickman has been named to the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches 5A All State team for the 2009-2010 season. Brickman averaged just over 19 points a game for the Cougars this season. A senior,  Brickman has committed to play for Long Island University.

It was a busy weekend in Clark sports.  Here’s what happened if you missed it:

Miller places at State meet

SWIMMING

Chelsea Miller, a senior who was the lone Cougar represented at the state meet, placed 8th in the 100 yd. Breast Stroke.  Following graduation, Chelsea can next be seen swimming for Boise State.

BASKETBALL

Cougar seniors end season in Buda

The Bi-District champion boys basketball team finished their season with a tough loss to Austin Bowie 69-56.  The Cougars lead after the 1st qtr. 14-11 after jumping to a 9-2 start.  The 2nd qtr. was mostly Austin Bowie until a flurry of  three pointers by Manny Paz y Puente and Sam Perez brought the Cougars from a deficit to taking the lead into halftime.  The second half, however, was all Bulldogs.  The Cougars finish with a District Championship, a 15-1 district run, a 29-7 overall record, and a bunch of fans who were proud of their efforts.

• PHOTOS
• Austin American Statesman

SOCCER

The boys team came back from a 0-1 halftime score to defeat Jay in the final seconds of the game, 2-1.  They are now 10-1-1 in district and nationally ranked at #34 in the nation by ESPN Rise and #10 in Texas.  The girls team also defeated Jay 1-0.  The win puts them in the playoff chase still, although a couple of other dominoes have to fall their way in order for them to make it to the playoffs.  With four games left, a loss or tie would most likely eliminate them from the first round of playoffs.

BASEBALL
Playing in the Northside tournament, the Cougars went 2-3 against opponents.  The culprit seemed to be cool bats after an 18 run explosion in a win against Roosevelt.  Their record is 3-3 and 1-0 in district.

SOFTBALL

The girls went 1-1-1 against competition in the NEISD tournament.  Overall, Clark Cougar softball is 6-5 and 0-1 in 28-5A.

The Clark Cougars varsity basketball team takes on Austin Bowie  in the 2nd round of playoffs.  Read about the Cougars next foe here.

Clark Cougars

The Clark boys basketball team goes after an Area Championship against Austin Bowie on Friday night at 8:00 in Buda at  Jack C. Hays High School. Bowie defeated Reagan 57-45 on Wednesday night. The Bulldogs finished the regular season in second place in District 25-5A and ranked #14 in the statewide TABC rankings. Clark finished #12 in that same poll.  You can take a look at the Bowie team on their website.

So gas up the car, call your friends and neighbors and head to Buda!

Jack C. Hays H.S. address is 4800 Jack C. Hays Trail , Buda, 78610

Traveling North on I – 35, take the Kyle Parkway/1626 exit, # 215. Travel west on FM 1626 for 1.3 miles. At stop sign turn left onto Kohler’s Crossing and travel 1 mile to stoplight at Jack C. Hays Tr. (FM 2770).

Elhad carries the Cougars to victory

Behind senior Elhad Emerllahu’s 37 points, the Clark Cougars blew out the East Central Hornets in the first round of the 2010 basketball playoffs 91-66.  Playing at St. Mary’s University on the court he might call his college home, Emerllahu had his way with an over-matched Hornet team.  Jason Brickman posted 25 and Ansley Benjamin added another 18.

The Cougars jumped ahead early but the Hornets shooters heated up and they took a 15-7 lead with three and a half minutes in the 1st quarter.  The Cougars put their own run together and tied the game 18-18 before East Central closed the quarter with a 3 point shot to make it 21-18 Hornets at the end of the 1st.

Clark regained its composure in the 2nd quarter, outscoring the Hornets 25-18 and went up 43-39 into halftime.  The second half was all Cougars as they scored the first 7 points on their way to a 21 point quarter, holding East Central to just 7 points in the 3rd.   With a 64-48 lead starting the 4th, the Cougars kept up the scoring and shut down the Hornet defense for the victory.

Next up for the Cougars, now Bi-District Champs is the Area game against Austin Bowie.   Clark vs. Austin Bowie will take place Friday or Saturday at a site to be determined.

• PHOTOS
• PHOTOS Express News
• ANALYSIS
• EXPRESS NEWS article