From the hardwood to the gridiron and beyond, taking a look back and ahead at the San Antonio-area high school sports landscape:

By the numbers
1,000: Career rebounds for Smithson Valley senior Gabby Elliott, who reached the milestone during the Rangers’ game vs. Buda Johnson on Dec. 31. Elliott, who had 24 points and 21 rebounds in the contest, is the first Smithson Valley player with 1,000 rebounds. A St, Mary’s signee, Elliott is also the Rangers’ career scoring leader.

24: Consecutive matches played without a loss by the LEE boys soccer team before Thursday’s 1-0 setback vs. Fort Arlington Heights at the Alamo Heights Invitational. The Volunteers, the defending Class 6A state champion and No. 5 team in Prep Soccer’s Fab 50 national rankings, had gone 23-0-1 since a 4-0 loss to Austin Vandegrift on Jan. 15, 2021, at the Austin Lakes Elite Showcase. It was only LEE’s second loss since the start of the 2020 season. The Volunteers are 45-2-2 during that span.

7: Goals scored by Saint Mary’s Hall senior Hunter Hoelscher during the Barons’ 8-2 win vs. Austin Brentwood in a TAPPS 3-II opener on Tuesday. The total is believed to be the second-most goals scored in a game by an area girls soccer player, equaling Roosevelt’s Jessyca Figueroa Delgado (vs. St. Anthony and TMI in 2017) and Schertz John Paul’s Emilie Rompel (vs. New Braunfels Christian in 2021). Madison’s Suzy Derby holds the top mark with eight goals in a playoff contest vs. Edison in 1985.

7: Days until the UIL allows high school softball team around the state to conduct their first after-school practice. The season opener is Jan. 15 and the state tournament is May 31-June 4. Judson (Class 6A) and D’Hanis (Class 1A) were state finalists in 2021 and Boerne was a Region IV-4A finalist. TAPPS schools can start working out on Jan. 17 and begin their season on Jan. 31. The state tournament is May 18-21. Holy Cross is the defending Division III state champion and Antonian is the Division I finalist.

Notebook
National spotlight: Stevens High School junior Elicia Meairs earned a spot on the U.S. Paralympics track and field All-American list. She was one of 25 recognized for her performance in the 100 meters, javelin and shot put. Meairs won a silver medal in the shot put at the UIL Class 6A state meet in 2021 and recorded personal bests in the 100 and 400.

Area commitments
Melanie Torres, Madison soccer: Sul Ross State

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