Around the Rim in Anderson County

By Will Johnson

Messenger Reporter

EAST TEXAS –– With the holiday season now over, basketball season in Houston and Anderson County is in a full court press. Several of the area teams have already started district play and those that haven’t should begin jockeying for a shot at the postseason by the end of next week.

At the Class 4A level, the Palestine Wildcats fell to 9-9 on the season after a 61-52 loss to the Van Vandals. The Wildcats took on the Hudson Hornets on Friday night but as of press time, the score was unavailable. Palestine opens District 18-4A competition on Friday, Jan. 13 with a road game against the Athens Hornets.

The Palestine Lady Cats took on the Henderson Lady Lions on Tuesday night, left Henderson with a 59-52 victor and gave the Lady Cats a mark of 12-10 on the season. On Friday, the Lady Cats welcomed a travel team from Australia to the Dogwood City but as of press time, the score was unavailable. Palestine opens District 18-4A competition on Tuesday, Jan. 10 with a home game against the Athens Lady Hornets.

In Class 3A basketball in Anderson County, district competition is underway. The Elkhart Elks and Lady Elks hosted the Buffalo Bison and Lady Bison on Tuesday and fell in both games. The losses move the Elks and Lady Elks to 0-2 in District 18-3A. The two teams looked to get off the schneid as they hosted the Leon Cougars and Lady Cougars on Friday, Jan. 6 but as of press time, the scores were unavailable.

The Frankston Indians are having a rough year and sit at 1-14 on the season after their 76-32 loss to the Teague Lions on Tuesday. The Indians travelled to Buffalo on Friday for a game against the Bison but as of press time the score was unavailable.

The Maidens were also in action against the Teague Lady Lions on Tuesday but met with the same fate as their male classmates as they fell to the Lady Lions by a final score of 54-36.

Both teams were back in action on Friday as they hosted the teams from Buffalo, but as of press time the scores were unavailable.

Rounding out the Class 3A schools in Anderson County, the Westwood Panthers were in action against the Malakoff Tigers on Tuesday but fell by a final score of 67-53. The Panthers were back on the court Friday for a game against the Leon Cougars but as of press time, the score was unavailable.

The Lady Panthers took on the Lady Tigers of Malakoff and also fell by a final score of 52-29. They faced the Leon Lady Cougars on Friday but as of press time, the score was unavailable.

The Cayuga Wildcats are now 2-3 on the season and played in the Fruitvale Tournament this weekend. As of press time, the scores were unavailable.

At the Class 2A level, the Cayuga Wildcats lost to the Cross Roads Bobcats by a final score of 76-40. The loss, coupled with their December loss to Kerens drops the Wildcats to 0-2 in District 19-2A. Cayuga had a bye on Friday but returns to action on Tuesday, Jan. 10 with a home game against the La Poyner Flyers.

The Lady Wildcats Cayuga defeated the Cross Roads Lady Bobcats 53-47 on Tuesday to improve to 3-1 in district play. The Lady Wildcats are also off on Friday before they return to action next Tuesday with a game against the La Poyner Lady Flyers.

The Neches Tigers moved their season record to 19-1 after they defeated the Groveton Indians on Tuesday by a final score of 86-64. The Tigers played the Tenaha Tigers on Saturday but as of press time, the score was unavailable. After a bye on Tuesday, Tigers open play in District 21-2A against the New Summerfield Hornets.

The Lady Tigers travelled to Latexo on Tuesday for a matchup of Green Tigers but it was the green Lady Tigers from Latexo who came out on top by a score of 48-37. Neches opens district play on Friday, Jan. 6 against the Alto Lady Yellow Jackets but as of press time the score was unavailable.

At the Class 1A level, the Slocum Mustangs have been in a funk as of late. After they cracked the top 10 rankings, the Mustangs have now lost five straight with their latest defeat coming at the hands of Normangee Panthers by a score of 45-41.

The Mustangs were off on Friday and had a chance to regroup before opening District 27-1A competition against the Oakwood Panthers on Tuesday, Jan. 10 in Oakwood.

Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].