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Playoff Preview
2A Region 1
Nicole Sears and the Dillos hope
to shake things up in region 1.
| San Saba Coach Tony Taylor says, "We need to do a better job of taking care of the ball and minimizing turnovers. Also, a little bit of luck wouldn't hurt either as we prepare for rugged Region 1, which is always loaded and there are some really great teams out there again. In the bottom of the bracket is Wall, Jim Ned, Shallowater, Cisco, and Panhandle. Other tough teams are Early, Ballinger, Bangs, Merkel, Spearman, and Floydada. All I know is that come playoff time you better have your "A" game because there are no patsies out West. We've learned that "taking care of the ball" is very important in big ballgames. In the second round we lost a tough game at Early in overtime. We led most of the game and had a lead late but had two crucial turnovers down the stretch that cost us. Early picked up the intensity and we didn't do a good job of handling it. The three Early games were very much like playoff games so we've been battle tested already.We really have a nice TEAM. We're not really flashy but we play hard and compliment each other. Haylee Oliver has been big for us all year as she is averaging a double/double in points and rebounds. Nicole Sears has been the "glue" that has held us together on the floor. She's a four year player and these two need to continue to play well for us to have a run in the playoffs. Our other players look to these two during big games and hopefully they can continue to lead us to some victories.The best team we have played this year is Burnet. We were fortunate to beat them in the finals of our tourney. We kind of caught them at the right time as a few of his basketball players were just coming out of volleyball. The Lady Bulldogs play extremely hard and with a great deal of intensity. Their guard play is outstanding and their posts are very physical. They are hitting on all cylinders as the playoffs approach and I look for them to make a deep run in 3A. Mike Cavender and Doug Messer do a great job with the Lady Bulldog Program. What makes my current group special is that they have great TEAM CHEMISTRY!! They genuinely care about each other and they don't care who gets the credit during games, they just want to WIN!! This crew also has a great work ethic and because of their work ethic they are going to be SUCCESSFUL at whatever career they choose down the road. Our motto for our team is MOE which stands for Matter of Effort and these gals give great effort at whatever they're doing. Every team member will make a contribution to society in some way, you can "take that to the bank!!" |
Current Top 5
1 Wall (#3)
2 Shallowater (#6)
3 Ballinger (#8)
4 Nocona (#12)
5 Early (#14)
Our Darkhorse: San Saba (#15)
Why? Haylee Oliver is the bomb!
Our preseason rankings were pretty solid thanks to the top two.
note: (#) indicates team's current 2A state ranking
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Our Pre-Season Top 5
1 Shallowater
2 Wall
3 Panhandle
4 Jim Ned
5 Abernathy
Bangs Dragons celebrate
their district championship!
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Bangs Head Coach Rex Beck says, "To find post-season success our shooting needs to be more consistent from the field and from the free throw line. You have to realize region 1 is loaded with Wall and Shallowater at the top and our first round opponent is Ballinger with only 3 losses. Some of our losses this year have brought important lessons. We learned how important free throws are, when we missed 9 in a last second loss to Early. And after a one point loss to Llano, where we had led by 10 starting the fourth quarter, we had a little meeting after the game that has proven to be a turning point for us. If we are going to crank it up a level we need our bench to step up. I already know what my starters are going to give me every time out, so the player that could make the biggest difference is Drea Evers who has the athletic ability to do special things. Sometimes Drea has trouble focusing and playing up to here abilities and we need her at the top of her game. When Drea is focused it makes us a better team. We've played a lot of good teams but Aubrey stands out as the best, because they had a strong inside and outside game. Our district's other playoff teams San Saba and Early also have strong teams and the rivalry makes those games special. When the season is over I will remember the fun drag race at the Fantasy of Lights Tournament and of course this groups ability to press." |
Playoff Preview
2A Region 2
Kamy Cole is one of the main reasons the Brock Eagles
like their chances to defend the STATE title
McGregor Head Coach Kimberly Johnson says, "As far as improvement is concerned, everyday in practice is crucial. Especially at this time of the year, when the kids have been going since October, you have to find ways to motivate and still stress fundamentals. Improving on fundamentals daily, has always been one of our biggest points of interests.When you get to playoffs, every team in your region is strong. We ran into Winnsboro last year in the Area game and they were very good. There are a lot of teams in Region 2 that can contend for a state title. I only allow my kids to watch film on the teams that they have lost to. I want them to learn from their mistakes. We have learned that we cannot let up until the final buzzer goes off. When we relax, we tend to make mistakes and turn the ball over. We must keep our intensity throughout the entire contest. I think we are starting to come together as a team at the right time. Every player that steps out on the floor at any given time could make a huge difference in the success of our team. Every player at every minute is important to us. There are so many things about this group of players that make them incredibly special. The senior class of this group has been with me since I took the head job 4 years ago. They have won over 100 games. Their personalities are great. This team has good chemistry. I will remember their work ethic, desire to win, and the WHATEVER IT TAKES attitude." |
Current Top 5
1 Winnsboro (#1)
2 Brock (#2)
3 Peaster (#5)
4 Krum (#7)
5 McGregor (#9)
Our Darkhorse: Honey Grove (#11)
Why? Jessica Brigham and Warriors have only lost two games all year.
note: (#) indicates team's current 2A state ranking
Honey Grove Head Coach Kathy Clark says, "We need to continue to work on our shooting, press, turnovers and handling pressure. Aubrey, Krum, Peaster, Brock & Winnsboro all in one region, need I say more? We have lost two times, and both times we didn't come to play and had no energy. If we step on the court with any of those previously mentioned teams it will be over in the first quarter if we aren't ready. Point guard Jessica Brigham can make a huge difference for us down the stretch, she is the energy source of our team and the others feed off her.Our kids like to run and play defense, and when they are on they are good, when they come out flat, they are only an average team. We just have to manage to kick it up a bit."
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Our Pre-Season Top 5
1 Brock
2 Peaster
3 Winnsboro
4 Hico
5 Godley
Looks like our pre-season poll was right on back in October.
Hico Head Coach Larry Holder says, "We will have to really play well and have a little luck to get to Austin. We have learned that we need to play solid defense and handle the ball better. We have two girls (Cara Finstad and Cassi Stegall) that have been named to all-state teams that can get going and carry our team. The best team we have seen this year so far is San Saba, in our non-district game during Christmas break. They really are good defensively and they have a potent offense as well. When this season is over I will look back at our team chemistry which is probably the most impressive thing about us." |
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Playoff Preview
2A Region 3
Samantha Gilder will lead the Eagles back to the promised land.
Current Top 5
1 Woodville (#4)
2 East Chambers (#10)
3 Hughes Springs (#NR)
4 Daingerfield (#NR)
5 White Oak (#NR)
Our Darkhorse: Sabine Cardinals (#NR)
Why? Ashley Gadson is the real deal!
Our preseason rankings in region 3 got the only part that counts right.
note: (#) indicates team's current 2A state ranking
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Our Pre-Season Top 5
1 Woodville
2 Hughes Springs
3 New Waverly
4 Marlin
5 Elysian Fields
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Playoff Preview
2A Region 4
Brennan Boydstun and the Salado Eagles looked like a lock to return to Austin, but somehow they have become the underdogs.
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Current Top 5
1 Nixon-Smiley (#17)
2 Poth (#NR)
3 Salado (#NR)
4 George West (#NR)
5 Harper (#NR)
Our Darkhorse: Hitchcock (#NR)
Why? Jasmine Beard can flat GO!
note: (#) indicates team's current 2A state ranking
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Our Pre-Season Top 5
1 Salado
2 Poth
3 Nixon-Smiley
4 Weimar
5 Harper
Our pre-season poll had most of the correct answers.
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