H.S. Hoops Lookahead: District titles at stake for several South Plains teams
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Just three scheduled dates remain for the girls high school basketball regular season, which means district champions will be crowned this week.
There is one team that has already locked in an outright title. Littlefield (18-9 overall, 9-0 district) outlasted Muleshoe in overtime on Friday and, thanks to Lamesa's win over Denver City, the Lady Cats will head into the playoffs with some hardware out of District 3-3A.
New Home (25-4, 9-0) has already secured at least a share of the District 5-2A title and the No. 1 playoff seed. The Lady Leopards can claim the outright title with a victory over Seagraves on Tuesday.
Sudan (21-8, 10-1) can get the No. 1 seed and at least a share of the District 4-2A title if the Nettes upend Hale Center (22-9, 8-3) in their rematch on Tuesday. A win Tuesday and a victory over Smyer, which is in last place, on Friday gives Sudan the outright title.
Seminole (25-7, 7-0) and Levelland (27-3, 7-0) each have a one-game leads in Districts 3-4A and 5-4A, respectively. They'll be pitted against the two teams currently in second place — Greenwood and Estacado, both at 6-1 — on Friday. Assuming all four teams win on Tuesday, Seminole and Levelland can get outright titles with Friday-night wins while Greenwood and Estacado will try to create some chaos.
After falling to San Angelo Central, Frenship (23-6, 6-1) finds itself in a precarious position. The Tigers still hold a one-game lead in District 2-6A but will host Odessa High (5-2) in a crucial game on Tuesday night. Frenship won the first meeting 66-44. Winning out is advised for the Tigers.
Finally, there's plenty of intrigue in District 4-5A. Monterey (25-3) and Lubbock-Cooper (23-6) have clinched playoff berths and remain tied atop the standings at 9-1. Both teams will play two more regular-season games. Neither team can afford to slip up in pursuit of a district title.
Should the two teams finish the season tied, it is expected that a coin flip will determine playoff seeding, with the winner of the flip deciding which seed they want.
Coronado (21-10, 5-4) and Lubbock High (20-12, 4-5) are next in line for playoff berths, though neither has clinched anything yet. Abilene Cooper (19-12, 3-6) is closest to a playoff spot and will host Lubbock High on Friday and visit Coronado next Tuesday.
GIRLS GAMES TO WATCH
➤ Shallowater (22-9, 5-2) at Idalou (19-12, 6-1) — The Lady Cats won the first meeting handily but are tied with Childress (6-1) atop the district standings. Shallowater can put itself back into the district title conversation with a win over Idalou on Tuesday and taking the rematch against Childress on Friday.
➤ Muleshoe (14-13, 6-4) at Denver City (16-13, 6-4) — Aside from Littlefield, there's a lot to figure out in District 3-3A. Denver City and Muleshoe enter the week tied for second in the district, with Lamesa (16-15, 5-4) and Brownfield (13-18, 5-4) — which play on Tuesday — tied for third.
➤ Sands (23-5, 7-0) at Klondike (17-3, 6-1) — Fourth-ranked Sands, the reigning Class 1A state champions, will try to widen the gap when facing 24th-ranked Klondike. The Lady Mustangs came out with a 56-51 victory in the first meeting at home.
BOYS GAMES TO WATCH
➤ Abilene Cooper (15-10, 5-2) at Monterey (20-8, 8-0) — A key game in a key race sees the Plainsmen trying to add separation atop District 4-5A when they welcome the Cougars to town Tuesday. Cooper and Coronado (16-9, 5-2) are tied for second in the district, with Abilene Wylie, Lubbock-Cooper and Abilene High all tied for fourth with 3-5 district records.
➤ Greenwood (20-8, 4-1) at Seminole (20-7, 5-0) — Seminole has a one-game lead in District 3-4A entering the week, with Greenwood scheduled to visit on Tuesday. The last meeting was a one-point game that came down to the final seconds and the return has even higher implications.
➤ Childress (17-7, 4-1) at Shallowater (20-2, 5-0) — Shallowater was put to the test against Abernathy on Friday and will get another challenge when the Mustangs host Childress.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: HIGH SCHOOL HOOPS LOOKAHEAD: District titles at stake for several South Plains teams
