Around the Rim – Jan. 10

Area Girls’ Basketball

By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter

EAST TEXAS – The area girls’ basketball teams are nearing the midpoint of their district season and those who are looking for a playoff berth are beginning to widen the gap between those who are just waiting for the season to end.

Beginning in District 19-2A, the Itasca Lady Cats and Kerens Lady Bobcats are tied atop the district with records of 2-0. The Cayuga Lady Wildcats and Frost Lady Polar Bears are tied for third with 1-1 records. The Italy Lady Gladiators and the Cross Roads Lady Bobcats are bringing up the rear with records of 0-2.

District play began on Friday, Jan. 4 as Cayuga defeated Italy, 45-30; Itasca defeated Cross Roads, 43-18; and Kerens defeated Frost 43-26.

On Tuesday, Jan. 8, the scoreboard showed: Itasca beat Cayuga, 62-34; Kerens took down Cross Roads, 69-15; and Frost defeated Italy, 36-29.

Moving to District 20-2A, the Grapeland Sandiettes are still in the lead with a 5-0 record. The Centerville Lady Tigers and Lovelady Lions are tied for second with identical 4-1 records. The Groveton Lady Indians, Leon Lady Cougars and Slocum Lady Mustangs are tied for fourth place with records of 1-3. The Latexo Lady Tigers sit in seventh place with a record 0f 0-4.

The District 20-2A standings do not reflect two games on Dec. 21. The scores between Latexo/Leon and Centerville/Groveton are not known at this time.

On Jan. 4, Centerville defeated Latexo, 73-15; Grapeland defeated Leon, 76-31; and Lovelady took out Groveton, 54-28.

The Tuesday, Jan. 8 games saw: Grapeland defeating Centerville, 61-41; Lovelady hammering Latexo 89-19; and Leon defeating Neches in a non-district game, 43-29.

In District 20-3A, the Buffalo Lady Bison lead the way with a record of 5-0. Frankston is in second with a record of 4-1. Groesbeck and Teague are tied for third with records of 2-2, Westwood is 2-3, Crockett is 2-4 and Elkhart is 0-5.

Last Friday, Buffalo defeated Teague by a score of 50-35. Elkhart fell to Groesbeck, 58-20 and Frankston survived a scare in Crockett, 48-45.

On Jan. 8, the Lady Bulldogs returned to the win column with a 64-48 win over Westwood. Frankston beat Elkhart and Buffalo defeated the Aussie Travelers in a non-district game.

At the 4A level, District 19-4A is led by the Fairfield Lady Eagles with a 2-0 record. Mexia is currently second with a 1-0 mark while Palestine, Madisonville and Rusk are 0-1. The final score of the Jan. 8 game between Mexia and Rusk is not known at this time.

On Jan. 4, Fairfield defeated Rusk, 46-24 and Mexia defeated Madisonville, 58-41.  The Jan. 8 games saw Fairfield defeating Palestine, 52-49, while Mexia took on Rusk.

Moving to Region IV and dropping to the Class A level, La Poynor sits in first place with a 7-0 record. Chireno is second with a 5-1 record, Neches is in third with a 6-2 mark and Little Centerville is in fourth with a 4-3 mark. Oakwood sits at 0-4, Kennard is 1-5 and both Apple Springs along with Wells are 0-5.

These standings do not include the Dec. 21 game between Wells and Kennard or the Dec. 31 game between Wells and Apple Springs.

On Jan. 4: La Poynor defeated Apple Springs, 52-17; Chireno defeated Wells, 66-14; and Little Centerville defeated Oakwood, 41-40.

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