BHS Adding Basketball, Girls Softball Tourneys

Bourbon High School is adding a boys and girls basketball tournament along with a girls softball tournament and Activities Director Devon Payne said he is hoping to have a tournament for each sport at the middle school and high schools.

Payne said they are a high school baseball and middle school girls basketball tournament away from achieving that.

He said it is a point of pride that Bourbon will be active with so many athletics tournaments and that it will be a benefit for students, parents the community.

“They won’t have to travel an hour and a half for sports,” he told board members on June 20.

The baseball tournament is still at least three years away since Bourbon will be the host for the Gasconade Valley Conference tournament the next two seasons.

“I know it’s a ton of work for administrators, but I’m looking forward to being able to say that we can do it,” Payne said.

BHS will be changing from a junior varsity volleyball tournament to a varsity one and Payne said that he has given those participating schools a heads up for the 2020-2021 year.

Payne wrapped up his first year as activities director and he provided a report to the board.

Last year, Bourbon decided to add spring softball since participation in the fall was low. The plan was to do one final fall season in 2018, but only six girls tried out and the season was canceled.

Payne reported that there were 17 girls who originally came out for the program this past spring and they were able to get nine games in.

Weather reduced the schedule from 16.

In 2020, Bourbon will be at 17 games and have two tournaments. Payne said they are one game away from an official full schedule.

Track

This is the first year Bourbon used its new track. With it came a new high jump system and Payne said they were able to purchase 76 new hurdles.

He thanked the maintenance team with all the work that was performed in getting the track back in good condition. Aeration and seeding had to be done on the infield.

“That was a ton of work,” he said. “We’ll do another re-seeding in the fall and one more aeration.”

Payne said they are looking to host a track meet, but they are short a pole vault system and the shot put area needs to be completed.

There have been two dates set aside and they are looking to fill openings.

He told the board that by making it a medal meet, he might be able to draw in more schools. 

“Once schools find that out, they’ll be interested,” he said, noting that he is looking for eight to 10 schools.