The Road to San Antonio

By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter

EAST TEXAS – The journey towards San Antonio and a chance to hoist a state championship trophy in girls’ basketball begins on Monday, Feb. 13.

With the end of the regular season on Tuesday, Feb. 7, several of the area squads punched their tickets to the postseason.

The postseason action gets underway on Monday, Feb. 13 as the Grapeland Sandiettes take on the Cayuga Lady Wildcats at 8 p.m. from the Johnson Activity Center on the Fairfield High School campus.

The Sandiettes won the District 20-2A championship with a 9-1 district record, a 29-6 overall record and enter the game ranked #23 in the Feb. 6 Texas Association of Basketball Coaches’ (TABC) poll.

The Lady Wildcats finished fourth in District 19-2A with a 5-7 district mark and a 14-17 overall record.

Also on Monday, the Palestine Lady Cats take on the Gatesville Lady Hornets. The Lady Cats finished fourth in District 18-4A with a record of 2-6 and overall record of 14-17.

The Lady Hornets, meanwhile, finished first in District 17-4A with a record of 10-2, an overall record of 30-3 and a #18 ranking in the latest TABC poll.

The two teams will play at the Groesbeck High School Gym with tip-off at 8 p.m.

The action continues on Valentine’s Day, Tuesday, Feb. 14 as the Crockett Lady Bulldogs travel to Hudson High School to take on the Hemphill Lady Hornets for the Bi-District Championship.

The Lady Dawgs enter the contest as the champs of District 21-3A after going 11-1 in league play. They finished the regular season with an overall record of 21-7 and despite beating several ranked opponents, the Lady Dawgs are unranked as they enter the postseason.

The Lady Hornets finished fourth in District 22-3A with a district record of 6-6 and an overall record of 10-12.

The Lovelady Lady Lions are also in action on Tuesday as they travel to Leon High School for a Bi-District matchup against the Italy Lady Gladiators. The Lady Lions finished third in District 20-2A with a district record of 7-3 and an overall record of 19-13.

The Lady Gladiators finished as the runners-up in District 19-2A with a district record of 10-2, an overall mark of 22-4 and a #25 ranking in the Texas Association of Girls’ Coaches Feb. 6 poll.

The Lady Lions and Lady Gladiators tip-off at 8 p.m.

The Slocum Lady Mustangs also punched their ticket to the post-season, but have a first round bye. They will begin their journey down the road to San Antonio in the Area Round of the playoffs on either Feb. 20 or 21 against an opponent to be determined.
Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].