Hoop fight

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Ozen's Breon Johnson (No. 11, left) tries to take a rebound away from Central's Gavin Donald (No. 32, right) at Ozen High School in Beaumont on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2008.

Super-sizing committments

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Ozen senior wide receiver Chris Raggett poses for a portrait at the high school on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2008. Many major universities are trying to recruit him for their programs due to recent coaching shuffles.

Please read, "Coaching changes reopen the recruiting process..." by Chris Dabe.

UPDATE: Feb. 5, 2008 - Raggett has committed to Arkansas.

Cross-town hoops rivalry

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Basketball players Adrienne Minor (from left to right) and Jacoby Joseph from Ozen and Jarmar Gulley and Katrina Harris from Central pose for a portrait in Beaumont on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2008. The teams will tip off against each other on Friday.

Beaumont Bowl kickoff

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Football fans for both teams (clockwise from top, left) Kayla Bridges, Paige Nealy, Kiera Bridges, Teria Lavergne and Chelsea Carrier huddle under an umbrella before a high school football game in Cardinal Stadium at Lamar University in Beaumont on Friday, Aug. 31, 2007.


Ozen's Cory Lewis (No. 11) gets facemasked by West Brook's Adorian Underwood (No. 44, left) during a high school football game in Cardinal Stadium. Beaumont has two 4A and one 5A team.


West Brook's Jordan Garrett (No. 4, top) leaps for extra yards while Ozen's Jimmy Johnson (No. 99, left) and Justin Isadore (No. 42, center) hold on during a Beaumont Bowl football game in Cardinal Stadium. Each team plays against the others before regular season to improve skills and garner bragging rights for the year by winning the annual Beaumont Bowl.


West Brook's David Falgout (No. 9, left) leaps for a touchdown while Ozen's Desmond Wilcox (No. 4, right) tries to prevent the score during a high school football game in Cardinal Stadium. West Brook won 26-6 and faces Central today.

Ozen state championship game

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Ozen's Breon Johnson (No. 11, left) and Dallas' South Oak Cliff's Michael Berry (No. 3, right) dive for a loose ball during the Texas state high school championship basketball game in Austin on Saturday, March 10, 2007.


Ozen's Jacoby Joseph (No. 24, top) gets pushed in the back by Dallas South Oak Cliff's J'Mison Morgan (No. 25, right) as he tries to block the shot of Michael Berry (No. 3, center) during the Texas state 4A high school championship basketball game.



Ozen's Decarlos Frank (No. 23, left) gets pushed back by Dallas South Oak Cliff's Michael Berry (No. 3, right) as Ty Shaw (No. 5, bottom) grabs a loose ball and calls for a time out during the Texas state 4A high school championship.



Ozen players hold up the state runner-up trophy after being defeated in the Texas state 4A high school championship basketball game. South Oak Cliff won the game for the third year in a row while Ozen took the silver medals.


Ozen junior Kris Richard (No. 0, left) reflects as senior Ronnie Fontenot (No. 21, right) suffers after being defeated in the Texas state 4A high school championship basketball game.


Ozen senior Ronnie Fontenot (No. 21, right) looks at the scoreboard as he suffers after being defeated in the Texas state 4A high school championship basketball game.

Ozen wins 4A semifinal game

Ozen's Ronnie Fontenot (No. 21, left) intercepts a ball intended for Fort Worth Dunbar's Darious Jones (No. 5, right) during a 4A state high school semifinal basketball game in Austin on Thursday, March 8, 2007.

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise



Ozen's Jacoby Joseph (No. 24, right) takes the ball to the hoop as Fort Worth Dunbar's Brandon Criss (No. 15, left) tries to block during a state high school semifinal basketball game. Ozen won the game 68-56 and advances to the Texas state basketball championship on Saturday.



Ozen's Kris Richard (No. 0, left) keeps a bad pass in play as Fort Worth Dunbar's Brandon Criss (No. 15, right) gives chase during a 4A state high school semifinal basketball game.


Ozen's Jacoby Joseph (No. 24, right) denies the shot attempt of Fort Worth Dunbar's Darious Jones (No. 5, left) during a state high school semifinal basketball game.


Ozen's Willie Jefferson (No. 33, right) takes the ball to the hoop over Fort Worth Dunbar's Joseph Brumfield (No. 42, left) during a state high school semifinal basketball game.



Ozen's Willie Jefferson (center) hugs assistant coach Wilbert Andrews after a state high school semifinal basketball game against Fort Worth Dunbar in Austin. Ozen won the game 68-56 and advances to the Texas state basketball championship on Saturday.

Championship bound

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Ozen basketball players load a bus at the high school in Beaumont on Tuesday, March 6, 2007.


Ozen basketball freshman Xavier Holmes loads a bus at the high school. The team has made the 4A final four and will play Fort Worth's Dunbar High School at 7 p.m. on Thursday in Austin.

Ozen's starters

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Ozen's championship starting line, featuring (from left to right) Jacoby Joseph, Ronnie Fontenot, Kris Richard, Fred Merchant and Breon Johnson, poses for a portrait at Ozen High School in Beaumont on Thursday, March 1, 2007. The team has made the Texas state final four and plays their semifinal game against Fort Worth's Dunbar High School on Thursday in Austin.

Ozen leaps over Lamar Consolidated

Ozen's Fred Merchant (No. 15, right) runs over Lamar Consolidated's Justin Piper (No. 25, left) during a high school regional quarterfinal basketball playoff game at Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2007.

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Ozen stuffs Lamar Consolidated

Ozen's Jacoby Joseph (No. 24) stuffs the ball through Lamar Consolidated's goal during a high school regional quarterfinal basketball playoff game at Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2007. Ozen won the game and advances.

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Free throw goal

Ozen's Willie Jefferson (No. 33) sinks a free throw against Friendswood during an area playoff basketball game at Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu on Friday, Feb. 23, 2007.

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Twister basketball

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Ozen's (No. 33, right) Willie Jefferson and PN-G's (No. 11, left) Damon Kerr scramble for a loose ball during a high school basketball game at Ozen High School in Beaumont on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2007. Ozen won the game 87-31.

Ground attack

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Ozen's Fred Merchant (No. 15, right) and Central's Jaaron Edwards (No. 5, left) scramble for a loose ball during a high school basketball game in Beaumont on Friday, Jan. 12, 2007.
 

Ozen blocks

Ozen's Jacoby Joseph (No. 24, right) tries to block the shot of Central's De'Mond Chambers (No. 22, left) during a high school basketball game in Beaumont on Friday, Jan. 12, 2007.

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise
 

Fans support their teams

West Brook High School junior Juan Pelaez watches as Central High School gains ground against the West Brook Bruins during a football game at Lamar University in Beaumont Friday, Sept. 8, 2006.

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise



Ozen High School junior Kayla Bridges wears her face paint the last regular season game against Central High School at Lamar University in Beaumont on Friday, Nov. 10, 2006. Central advances into the playoffs while Ozen is done for the season.


Each week during football season, we had a "Fan of the Week." These were some of the better ones.

Basketball battle

Memorial's Charles Wise (No. 15, center) and Matt Smith (No. 3, right) fight the ball away from an Ozen's Stephen Moton (No. 32, left) during a basketball game at Ozen High School in Beaumont on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2006.

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise
 

Central lateral

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Central High School's Brandon Williams (No. 5, left) laterals the ball to Derrick Hall (No. 3, right) as he's hit by Ozen's Darron Wilkerson (No. 28) during the last regular season game at Lamar University in Beaumont on Friday, Nov. 10, 2006. Central advances into the playoffs while Ozen is done for the season.

West Brook catch

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

West Brook's Jordan Garrett (No. 4, left) pulls down a pass as Ozen's Ben Wells (No. 1) moves in for the tackle during a football game at Cardinal Stadium at Lamar University in Beaumont on Friday, Sept. 1, 2006.
 

Football season opener

West Brook defensive players crush Ozen's Ronnie Fontenot (No. 14) during the season-opening high school football game at Cardinal Stadium at Lamar University in Beaumont on Friday, Sept. 1, 2006.

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Neches River Festival Parade

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Bands, floats and participants get organized before the Neches River Festival parade in Beaumont on Saturday, April 22, 2006.


(Left) JaNasea Stoker, 2, of Beaumont runs after some overthrown beads during the Neches River Festival parade.

(Below) Ozen High School students lead the band down Calder Avenue during the Neches River Festival parade in Beaumont.




Kelly High School junior Lauren Munro (right) prepares to board the Beaumont Heritage Society float before they ride in the Neches River Festival parade.