Around the Rim

Girls’ Area Results and Regional Quarterfinals Preview

By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter

EAST TEXAS – The 2019 Girls’ UIL Basketball playoffs are in full swing as Area Championships have been decided and the Regional Quarterfinals beckon several teams.

Starting in Districts 19-2A and 20-2A, the 20-2A teams fared well as they took three of the four Bi-District matchups. Grapeland defeated Frost last Monday, 78-38, Lovelady blistered Itasca, 65-22, and Centerville beat Cayuga, 50-23.

The lone win for District 19-2A came when the Kerens Lady Bobcats took down the Slocum Lady Mustangs, 48-37. The win moved the Lady Bobcats into the Area round where they defeated the Mart Lady Panthers, 66-34, to advance to the regional Quarterfinals against the Grapeland Sandiettes on Tuesday. As of press time, however, that score was unavailable.

District 20-2A saw Grapeland, Lovelady and Centerville advance to the Area Round. The Sandiettes blew out the Moody Lady Bearcats by a score of 90-27 while the Lady Lions squeaked by the Crawford Lady Pirates, 38-36. Unfortunately, the Centerville Lady Tigers fell to the Marlin Lady Bulldogs, 49-35.

As mentioned earlier, Grapeland will take on Kerens in the Regional Quarterfinals while Lovelady will take on Marlin.

From District 20-3A, the Buffalo Lady Bison are the lone remaining team in the postseason. In the Bi-District round, the Frankston Maidens fell to the Little River Academy Bumblebees, 50-30. Buffalo defeated the Rogers Lady Eagles, 46-38 and the Franklin Lady Lions defeated the Crockett Lady Bulldogs, 62-49.

The Teague Lady Lions won their Bi-District game against the Lexington Lady Eagles, 53-50, but fell in the next round to the Keene Lady Chargers, 62-43. The Lady Bison, meanwhile, defeated the Scurry-Rosser Lady Wildcats, 52-33, to advance to the Regional Quarterfinals where they took on Franklin. As of press time, however, the score was unavailable.

Just like in District 20-3A, District 19-4A only has one team remaining in the postseason. The Bi-District round of the playoffs saw the Huntington Lady Red Devils defeat the Palestine Lady Cats by a final of 52-47 while the Jasper Lady Bulldogs defeated the Mexia Lady Black Cats, 60-57.

The Fairfield Lady Eagles destroyed the Carthage Lady Bulldogs, 79-33, and the Rusk Lady Eagles took down the Center Lady Rough Riders, 35-30.

Both Fairfield and Rusk moved into the Area Round where the Lorena Lady Leopards defeated Rusk, 40-21. At the other end of the spectrum, Fairfield beat the Venus Lady Bulldogs, 43-39.

The win moved Fairfield into the Regional Quarterfinals where they took on the Connally Lady Cadets. As of press time, the score was unavailable.

Moving to the Class 1A level, the LaPoynor Lady Flyers, the Chireno Lady Owls and Neches Lady Tigers all qualified for the postseason and all three are now in the Regional Quarterfinals.

LaPoynor had a first round bye while Chireno defeated the Milford Lady Bulldogs, 49-17, and the Lady Tigers beat the Coolidge Lady Yellowjackets, 45-28.

In the Area Round, Chireno handled the Iredell Lady Dragons, 46-28, Neches beat the Bartlett Lady Bulldogs, 45-23, and the Lady Flyers opened their postseason with a 40-26 win over the Blum Lady Bobcats, 40-26.

The wins sent all three teams to the Regional Quarterfinals where Chireno took on the Abbott Lady Panthers and LaPoynor faced off against Neches. As of press time, the scores were unavailable.

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