Around the Rim – Jan. 24

Area Boys Basketball

By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter

EAST TEXAS – Most of the area boys’ basketball teams have reached the mid-point in their district season and for those that haven’t, their games on Friday, Jan. 24 will put them on the down slope as the contenders begin to separate themselves from the pretenders.

Starting in District 19-2A, the Cayuga Wildcats are in first place with a district record of 4-0 – a game clear of the Cross Roads Bobcats in second. Itasca and Kerens and battling it out for third and fourth place with identical 2-2 marks. The Italy Gladiators are still in contention for a playoff berth with a 1-3 record while the Frost Polar Bears sit in the cellar with a 0-4 record.

Last week, Cayuga squeaked out two wins by a total of seven points. The Wildcats defeated Cross Roads on Friday by a score of 51-50 and beat Italy in OT by a final of 75-69. Kerens also went 2-0 on the week as they defeated Italy on Friday and then beat up on Frost last Tuesday by a final of 57-35. Despite losing a heartbreaker to Cayuga, Cross Roads bounced back to defeat Itasca 60-53 on Tuesday, while Itasca took down Frost on Friday, Jan. 18 by a score of 59-44.

Moving to District 20-2A, the Grapeland Sandies remain in first place with a 7-0 record. Just behind the Sandies are the Lovelady Lions in second with a 5-1 mark. The Slocum Mustangs currently sit in third with a 4-3 record while Groveton is in fourth with a 3-4 record. Leon and Centerville are in fifth with 2-5 records while Latexo is seventh with a 1-6 mark.

The Sandies had an easy go of it last week as they defeated the Groveton Indians 81-32 and the Latexo Tigers by a score of 79-29. The Lions beat up on Centerville last Friday by a score of 74-47 and had a bye on Tuesday. Slocum went 1-1 on the week as they used a buzzer-beater to defeat Leon by a score of 38-35 while the Tigers from Centerville edged the Mustangs 55-53. In addition, the Groveton Indians beat the Leon Cougars 65-49.

At the 3A level, the Crockett Bulldogs and Teague Lions sit atop the standings with 6-1 records. The Buffalo Bison are in third with a 5-2 mark while the Westwood Panthers are holding on to the final playoff spot with a 3-4 mark. Elkhart is still alive in the playoff race with a 2-5 record. Frankston sits at 1-5 and Groesbeck is bringing up the rear with a 1-6 record.

The Bulldogs put their stamp on District 20-3A as they took down the top two teams to climb to the top of the standings. Crockett defeated Teague last Friday by a final of 70-55 and then went to Buffalo on Tuesday where they defeated the Bison 58-52 (OT).

On Friday, Jan. 18, Frankston defeated Groesbeck 65-50 while Buffalo eked by Westwood 52-51. Tuesday night action saw the Panthers bounce back to defeat Groesbeck 59-43 while Teague handled the Elks of Elkhart, 71-43.

At the Class 4A level, the Palestine Wildcats and Fairfield Eagles are perched atop the district with 3-0 records. Madisonville is 1-3, Mexia is 1-2 and Rusk is 0-3.

On Tuesday, Jan. 18, Palestine hammered Rusk 90-34 while Fairfield took care of Madisonville, 52-36. The Tuesday, Jan. 22 games saw Mexia defeating Madisonville, 74-40, while Fairfield handled Rusk, 70-33.

Changing to Region IV and moving to Class 1A, the La Poynor Flyers remain in first place with a 10-1 mark. The Neches Tigers sit at 9-1 while the Laneville Yellowjackets are 9-2. Oakwood and Chireno are tied for fourth with 6-4 records, while Kennard and Apple Springs are tied for fifth with 3-8 marks. Wells is 2-8 and Little Centerville is 0-11.

The Flyers were 2-0 last week as they defeated the Neches Tigers 62-5 on Tuesday and then took down Oakwood, 54-51. Laneville was also 2-0 on the week as they beat Kennard on Friday, 93-44, and then demolished Apple Springs on Tuesday, 119-83.

Also on Friday, Jan. 18, Oakwood defeated Wells, 50-48 and Apple Springs defeated Little Centerville, 65-45. On Tuesday, Jan. 22, Neches defeated Kennard, 79-58 and Chireno handled Little Centerville, 59-47.

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