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Playoff Preview
4A Region 1
Keena Mays is a great passer and one of the big reasons
the Timberview Wolves are favored to return to Austin.
| Timberview Coach Candi Harvey says, "I'm asking my team to stay in the present and literally take one game at a time. The competition in 4AAAA is extremely tough and we cannot afford at any time to look past anyone. It is a brand new season and everyone throws out records and on any given night, anything can happen.We played Canyon in the championship of our Meredith Hatch Rotary Tournament and they were everything they were billed to be. West Mesquite is an extremely good basketball team and on that night was definitely the better of the two teams. We learned a lot about ourselves on that night and if there is such a thing as a good loss, it needed to happen to us at that point of the season.When you coach kids every day, I think you somewhat get used to their level of talent because you are always striving to get better and may even become a little blinded to just how good they are as individual players. When I watch film quietly, I see how special they are as individuals and as a team. I hope that I will have more opportunities in the future to coach young ladies that buy into our system the way that this group has for the past four years. Defense first and foremost!" |
Current Top 5
1 Timberview (#1)
2 Canyon (#2)
3 Dunbar (#8)
4 Colony (#10)
5 Stephenville (#13)
Our Darkhorse: Aledo (#14)
Why? Logan Mittie is a force!!!!
Our preseason rankings were easy with Timberview & Canyon hanging around.
note: (#) indicates team's current 4A state ranking
Springtown Head Coach Ken Thompson says,
"We have to be really focused and prepare ourselves for each game and to make it to Austin you have to be really good and have a little luck on your side to get that far.I think everyone in our region is really good. Mansfield Timberview, Everman, Stephenville, Dunbar, The Colony, Denton Ryan, there are a ton of great teams in our region. I'm so proud of The dedication this team has had and all the extra hard work they have put in." |
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Our Pre-Season Top 5
1 Timberview
2 Canyon
3 Palo Duro
4 Plainview
5 Dunbar
Joe Lombard
Canyon Eagles
| Canyon Head Coach Joe Lombard says, "Obviously, Timberview is the best team probably in the state. There are several others in the Panhandle that will give us all we want: Palo Duro, Frenship, Randall, Plainview.Our team gained confidence from our play in the Mansfield tourney. Our last 3 games in that tourney were against Summit, North Crowley & Timberview. This is one of the smallest teams we have had in recent memory and our emphasis since the first day has been on rebounding. I will always remember this group as a great bunch of young ladies to coach. High character and fun to be around." |
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Playoff Preview
4A Region 2
The Rockwall Jackets know they can win any game
thanks to the state's best outside shooter Peyton Adamson
Rockwall Head Coach Jill McDill says, "To get to Austin in this tough region we will need to play together as a team and do the things that we do well each and every night. We need to be able to play sound, fundamental, team defense and stop the other team's first few options. Early on, some adversity can end up helping a team, but at this time of year, you want to be peaking . I am going to remember this team as a group that stuck together and were a really fun group. Practices are competitive, but the girls care about each other and don't let any "drama" detract from the team. I am proud of the Seniors and how they have kept us focused and ready to play every night. We only had two returning starters from last year, so this group has bonded quickly.Playoffs are an exciting time of year. We want the girls to
have fun and make memories."
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Current Top 5
1 Midway (#3)
2 Frisco (#4)
3 West Mesquite (#5)
4 Rockwall (#6)
5 Wakeland (#9)
Our Darkhorse: Cleburne Yellowjackets (#15)
Why? Jacqueline Chandler is a scoring machine!
note: (#) indicates team's current 4A state ranking
Frisco Head Coach Bob Rose says, "We need to pull together even tighter as a team and play more focused on defense as we enter the playoffs.When this season ends, I will remember the District play of this years seniors, they are 53-3 in four years of varsity play and won four straight district titles."
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Our Pre-Season Top 5
1 Frisco
2 West Mesquite
3 Longview
4 Waco
5 Waxahachie
If Midway pulls this thing off they sure will have caught us by surprise.
Wakeland Head Coach Darilyn Krempin says, "We are working on being more consistent.......the entire team must be focused, do the little things, and play hard the entire time especially when it comes to defense and rebounding! There is no time to rest or relax....everyone you play is good, that's why they are in the playoffs. Yes, we lost by one point to Irving MacArthur in the DISD Coca Cola Tournament.....even though it was a loss....it seemed to help us realize that when we want to play hard with confidence we are a very good basketball team that can play with top ranked teams like MacArthur. I think the thing that stands out to me that I will look back on about this team is having 2 sets of sisters......a set of twins and a junior and freshman that are sisters. I also have 2 cousins that are pretty much like sisters! Makes for some crazy practices when they go against each other all the time!" |
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The Cleburne Yellowjackets are in the house
behind the slashing play of Chasity Ward
Cleburne Head Coach Mitzi Marquart says, "To pull off the cinderella role and make the drive to Austin our team would have to continue playing disciplined team basketball. Focus on defense and rebounding with effort for four quarters. One team that has caught our eye as being outstanding and putting a lot of points on the board would have to be Longview. We would have to face them in the Area round. There is no doubt that the losses we have had this year have been learning situations for us.We have lost to ranked team such as Duncanville, Irving McArthur, Stephenville, and Waco Midway.They were all tough teams and our schedule has helped our team to face close and physical gamesand never give up.This team has had great chemistry, scrappy with relentless effort, and have been extremely coachable. They have been such a fun group to coach."
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| Midway Head Coach Todd Monsey reports, "For us, playoffs is about adapting to new venues, officials, and opponents that the team has never seen before. It is about focusing in on the minor details both of our game and the opponents. Finally, it is about effort. We feel that if we work as hard as we can, it will put is in a good position to be able to win the ball game. We are not thinking about rankings or tradition or even our past. We are simply focusing on our goals, our team and our next opponent. The losses we have experienced this year have taught us quite a bit about ourselves. Struggling early with losses to good teams has given us an opportunity to see what we have to do to become one of those "good teams." It also showed us weaknesses in our games but it gave us time to work on them. And it rekindled a fire and a distaste for losing. Out of all the things from this year, I will remember the energy they bring everyday. It is overwhelming to think about the amount of energy and passion they have for each other, for the game and for our common goals. Graduating 5 seniors, 3 to division 1 universities will hurt any team and any program. But it has also has given us an opportunity for new leadership, new stars to emerge and upperclassmen to take on the challenge of finding a new way to win. We are no longer the high-low team with "2 superstars" we are now a collective unit with each player providing us with their ability and effort. We have adjusted to what we do have, which is speed, toughness and experience. We returned 3 key players from last years team and along with them the team has decided that we are a program that will continue to be strong no matter who graduates." |
Playoff Preview
4A Region 3
Nobody controls the tempo of the game like
Joslinn Douglas and the Del Valle Cardinals
Del Valle Head Coach Tawni Angel says, "We have to continue to work hard on a daily basis. We have to be able to outwork our opponents and continue to focus on one game at a time. I am really impressed with the talented players and teams in Region 3 this year. In District 18AAAA, you have Willis and Huntsville, both experienced play-off teams. In District 20AAAA, there are three very talented teams, Beaumont Central, Beaumont Ozen and Livingston, all fighting for a district crown. District 24AAAA is also in a three-way dogfight for first between Angleton, Friendswood and La Marque. I have especially been impressed with Barbers Hill and Yates as well because both have dominated in district play and have outstanding overall records. All of these teams can make a successful run at the Region 3 title. I always hate to lose any games, but losses can point out areas on your team that need improvement. Both of our losses (Springtown and Hays) helped us to focus even more on continuing to improve each day in order to make ourselves a better team. I love my team's Heart and Work Ethic!! These players “Get it!” They know and understand that they have to make sacrifices and work harder than everybody else in order to be successful, and they are willing to do that every day. They never quit. They have bought in to what we are trying to accomplish this season. With only eight players on our roster, you have to truly believe in and trust in each other, and they do."
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Current Top 5
1 Yates (#7)
2 Barbers Hill (#18)
3 Del Valle (#20)
4 Huntsville (#NR)
5 Angleton (#NR)
Our Darkhorse: Hays Rebels (#NR)
Why? Hays has been a bit off this year but they are the regional champs and they know how to turn it on come playoff time.
Our preseason rankings in region 3 seem to be way off and show how wide open this race has been from the beginning.
note: (#) indicates team's current 4A state ranking
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Our Pre-Season Top 5
1 Hays
2 Willis
3 Angleton
4 Kingwood Park
5 Beaumont Central
Jessica Peralez
Del Valle Cardinals |
Playoff Preview
4A Region 4
Meighan Simmons of the Steele Knights
is the best offensive player in Texas!
| Steele Head Coach Kari Wallace says, "To return to Austin we must find another level of intensity in practice and execute a game plan as a team. We have really stepped up our level of play the last few games and that is the direction we need to continue. Our overall team defense must continue to improve in order to return to Austin. Our offense is coming around as well and more girls are finding their roll and contributing to our success. Playoffs are funny though you have to be prepared mentally and physically in order to win. I think our team is going to make a great run for three trips in a row. I think you need to look at LBJ, Corpus Christi Ray, Killeen and Pflugerville Hendrickson as real threats to stop us. I think the loss we had against Boerne Champion first round of district did help us because we had to re-group as a team and we had to re-focus on our goals as a team which in turn has allowed us to increase our intensity in practice and in games. The loses in the early season and the Christmas tournament were against quality teams so they most definitely helped us down the road. I'm proud of the way my team has come together late in the season."
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Current Top 5
1 Champion (#11)
2 Steele (#12)
3 LBJ (#19)
4 Hendrickson (#NR)
5 Killeen (#NR)
Our Darkhorse: CC Ray Texans (#NR)
Why? Undefeated in district and 25-7 on the year.
note: (#) indicates team's current 4A state ranking
Champion Head Coach Jonathan Tate says,
"For us it’s pretty simple, we just need to do what we do at a high level. There is not a team in the region we can’t beat. We will need to take care of the ball against some of the really athletic teams as well as rebound. I still haven’t seen Pflugerville Hendrickson or LBJ. I think those teams along with Killeen will be the toughest in the region outside of our district. I fully expect Steele to be at the regional tournament though. We had a lot of early close losses this season that kept us from getting overconfident. It also exposed weaknesses early so we could deal with them. Our loss to Steele Friday could help refocus us. I definitely do not think we hung our heads after that loss. I love my team just for how they play. They are fun to coach and fun to watch. They get after it. When we walk in the gym we look like a freshman or JV team. I love it when teams kind of look at us funny and then we proceed to take it to them. I also love the fact that our kids see teams much bigger and more athletic and it doesn’t phase them one bit. |
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Our Pre-Season Top 5
1 Steele
2 Marble Falls
3 Clemens
4 CC Ray
5 Killeen
Hilary Lumpkins
Champion Chargers
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