Around the Rim – Jan. 14

Area Boys’ Basketball

By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter

EAST TEXAS – With the start of district competition in District 19-2A and 19-4A, all the area boys teams are in the midst of league play. For those teams which have been playing for a while, however, we are beginning to see a separation between contenders and pretenders.

After one game in District 19-2A, there is a three way tie for first as Cayuga, Cross Roads and Italy all have 1-0 records. The first game for these teams was on Friday, Jan. 11. The results showed: Cayuga defeated Kerens 45-37; Cross Roads took down Frost 65-44; and Italy defeated Itasca.

Moving to District 20-2A, the Grapeland Sandies continue to roll as they sit atop the district – with a 4-0 record – after two big wins last week against both Centerville and Lovelady. The Sandies defeated the Tigers by a score of 79-21 and took care of business against the Lions by a final score of 99-67.

Lovelady and Slocum are tied for second with identical 3-1 marks. The Lions defeated the Latexo Tigers on Tuesday, 104-46, before losing to the Sandies on Friday, Jan. 11. The Mustangs were 2-0 last week after they defeated the Groveton Indians, 62-53, and also the Latexo Tigers, 68-50.

The Leon Cougars are in fourth place with a 2-2 record. The Cougars were off on Tuesday of last week but returned to action on Friday with a 52-39 win over Centerville.

By virtue of a bye, Groveton is in fifth place with a 1-3 record while Centerville and Latexo are both 1-4.

At the Class 3A level, District 20-3A shows Teague perched atop the district with a 4-0 record. The Lions beat Groesbeck on Tuesday, Jan. 8, by a score of 57-47 and also took out Frankston by a final of 68-47.

The Crockett Bulldogs and Buffalo Bison are tied for second with 3-1 records. Crockett defeated the Westwood Panthers last Tuesday, 67-52, and had a bye on Friday. Buffalo, meanwhile, was off on Tuesday and defeated Groesbeck on Friday by a final score of 58-37.

Westwood sits alone in fourth with a 2-2 district record. The Panthers fell to Crockett early in the week and lost a close one to Elkhart, 78-76 (OT) on Friday.

The Elkhart Elks are just a half game behind Westwood with a 2-3 record. The Elks went 2-0 last week with a 47-44 win over Frankston and a 78-76 (OT) heart-stopping win over Westwood.

Groesbeck is in sixth place with a 1-4 record while Frankston is in seventh place with a 0-4 mark.

District action in District 19-4A began on Friday, Jan. 11 with a pair of games. Palestine eeked out a win over the Mexia Black Cats, 58-47, while Madisonville defeated the Rusk Eagles 55-46. The Fairfield Eagles had a bye on Friday.

Moving to Region IV and District 28-A, La Poynor is perched atop the standings with a record of 8-0 after they defeated Chireno on Tuesday by a score of 54-34. On Friday, they took down the Little Centerville Bulldogs 75-28.

Neches is in second place with a 6-1 mark. The Tigers were off on Tuesday but returned to action on Friday with a 49-47 win over the Oakwood Panthers.

Laneville went 2-0 last week and sits a half-game behind Neches in the standings as they defeated Oakwood and Wells.

Oakwood had a rough go of it last week as they fell to Neches 49-47 and to Laneville by a final score of 74-66.

Rounding out the district: Chireno is 4-4; Kennard is 2-6; Wells is 2-6; Apple Springs is 2-6; and Little Centerville is 0-8.

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