TABC Preseason District Picks
Grapeland, Crockett Picked to Win District
By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter
EAST TEXAS – As football and volleyball seasons are entering the playoffs, basketball season is just about ready to tip-off. According to the UIL, Friday, Nov. 8 is the first day the girls can play an official game while Friday, Nov. 15 is the first day for the boys.
Even though there is a lot of basketball to be played before the district championships are handed out, the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches (TABC) has released its preseason picks as to who will finish first, second, third and fourth.
In Class 1A, local teams can be found in Region IV District 28. These teams are: Apple Springs; Chireno; Groveton-Centerville; Kennard; La Rue La Poynor; Laneville; Neches; Oakwood; and Wells
At the Class 1A level, only three teams qualify for the playoffs. For the District 28-1A girls, the TABC picks the Chireno Lady Owls to finish first, the La Poynor Lady Flyers to finish second and the Neches Lady Tigers to finish third.
For the boys in District 28-1A, the TABC believes the Oakwood Panthers will win the district while the La Poynor Flyers will finish second and the Laneville Yellowjackets will finish third.
Moving to Class 2A, four teams qualify for the playoffs and most of the teams from Anderson and Houston County find themselves in Region III District 20. These teams are: Centerville; Grapeland; Groveton; Jewett-Leon; Latexo; Lovelady; and Slocum.
On the girls’ side of things, the TABC picks the Grapeland Sandiettes to finish as the champs while the Centerville Lady Tigers are picked second. The Lovelady Lady Lions are picked to finish third and the Leon Lady Cougars are expected to nab the fourth playoff spot out of District 20-2A.
For the boys in District 20-2A, the TABC picks the Grapeland Sandies to finish first and the Slocum Mustangs to finish second. The Lovelady Lions are expected to finish third and the Groveton Indians are expected to fill the fourth playoff spot.
Cayuga finds itself in District 19-2A along with: Frost; Italy; Itasca; Kerens; and Malakoff Cross Roads.
The coaches association picks the Kerens Lady Bobcats to finish first while the Cayuga Lady Wildcats are expected to finish second in District 19-2A. The Frost Lady Polar Bears are expected to finish third and the Itasca Lady Wampus Cats are picked fourth.
The TABC expects the Kerens Bobcats to win District 19-2A while the Cross Roads Bobcats are picked second. The Cayuga Wildcats are expected to finish third and the Italy Gladiators are projected to be fourth.
At the Class 3A level, area teams are grouped into District 20-3A. These teams are: Buffalo; Crockett; Elkhart; Frankston; Groesbeck; Teague; and Westwood.
The Buffalo Lady Bison are projected to win District 20-3A while the Teague Lady Lions are expected to finish second. The Crockett Lady Bulldogs are expected to finish third while the Westwood Lady Panthers should finish fourth, according to the TABC.
On the boys’ side of District 20-3A, the TABC projects the Crockett Bulldogs to finish first. The Elkhart Elks are picked second, the Westwood Panthers are picked third and the Teague Lions are expected to finish fourth.
At the Class 4A level, Palestine is in District 19-4A with: Fairfield; Madisonville; Mexia; and Rusk.
The TABC believes the Fairfield Lady Eagles will finish first while the Rusk Lady Eagles are expected to finish second. The Mexia Lady Black Cats are projected to finish third while the Palestine Lady Cats are expected to finish in fourth place.
For the boys in District 19-4A, the Palestine Wildcats are expected to win the district. The Fairfield Eagles are projected to finish second, the Mexia Black Cats are picked third and the Madisonville Mustangs are expected to finish fourth. Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].
