AT THE TURN: As temps drop, Austin-area Boys Basketball playoff races heat up
As you’re reading this, Central Texas is likely enduring its first serious arctic freeze of the year. That’s right on cue as temperatures usually plummet right about the time the area’s boys high school basketball playoff races get hot. Let’s take a look at where the postseason battles stand as teams reach – or in some cases just pass – the halfway mark.
District 25-6A
Top 4: Stony Point (10-0); Westwood (9-1); Round Rock (8-2); Vandegrift (5-4)
On the Bubble: Hutto (5-5); Vista Ridge (3-7)
12th ranked Stony Point (TABC Coaches Poll) has been on a tear since dropping two holiday tournament games in overtime last month. The Tigers (23-4 overall) have run the table thus far in district play, knocking 16th ranked Westwood (27-1) from the ranks of the undefeated in convincing fashion in the process. They did struggle a bit in recent road games at Round Rock (19-8) and Vandegrift (18-9), both good teams in contention for the playoffs, but will face them again at home. Speaking of rematches, Westwood gets another crack at the Tigers at home on 2/4 in what promises to be an epic matchup. The Warriors appear to be in pretty good shape as does third place Round Rock. Vandegrift defeated all the teams behind them in their first pass through the district but will have to face dangerous Hutto (12-14) and Vista Ridge (13-17) squads on the road to preserving their postseason berth.
Bottom Line: It’s hard to imagine Stony, Westwood and Round Rock dropping out of the playoffs entirely – although position changes are definite possibilities. Vandegrift can still move up as well and will at least nab the final spot if they can replicate their first half performances. As the district’s smallest school, the Vipers would be Division 2 should they make it in. Hutto especially has a legitimate shot at displacing Vandegrift and punching their way in. The Hippos would be D1 if they pull it off.
District 26-6A
Top 4: Westlake (6-0); Dripping Springs (4-2); Del Valle (3-3); Lake Travis (3-3); Bowie (3-3)
On the Bubble:
At first glance, undefeated in district Westlake (19-6 overall) appears to be rolling. A closer look, however, reveals a more nuanced race: the Chaparrals’ average margin of victory over the 2nd through 5th-place teams was just over six points. Second place Dripping Springs (16-11), for instance, took the Chaps to overtime on 1/10 before Westlake prevailed at home. However, some of the luster dimmed on their 2/4 rematch in the Hill Country when the Tigers inexplicably fell at home to Austin High (7-18) Friday night. Del Valle (15-12), Lake Travis (12-16) and Bowie (15-13) are all jammed into a 3-way tie for third and hovering at or around the .500 mark overall. They seem destined to join in this district’s game of playoff musical chairs.
Bottom Line: Westlake still has all the tiebreakers and the inside track for the district title, especially in light of Drip’s stumble vs. the Maroons, which created some cushion. Assuming the Chaps hold onto the top spot, it’s easy to imagine a play-in game or two between the rest of the top five teams.
District 23-5A
Top 4: East View (6-0); Pflugerville Connally (3-3); Georgetown (3-3); Hendrickson (3-3); Pflugerville (3-3)
On the Bubble: Weiss (2-4)
East View (20-7 overall) won the first “Battle of Georgetown” over their crosstown rival Georgetown Friday night (1/17) to take firm control of the District 23-6A race at the halfway mark. Behind them, it’s a mess. Literally everyone else still has a shot at the playoffs. Connally (19-10) and Georgetown (18-10) have impressive non-district records but nonetheless find themselves deadlocked in the district race at 3-3 with Pflugerville (15-11) and Hendrickson (8-19). Weiss (11-17) sits just one game off the pace. Heck, with a respectable 12-11 overall record, it’s even too early to scratch off Elgin.
Bottom Line: Barring a massive second half collapse, East View seems poised to win the district and would be Division 1 as the largest school in 23-5A. All bets are off behind them.
District 24-5A
Top 4: McCallum (6-0); Austin LASA (5-1); Cedar Creek (4-2); Anderson (3-3)
On the Bubble: Crockett (2-4)
McCallum (17-7 overall) has dominated this district thus far, winning all six of their first half district games by an average of 28.3 points. That includes a 19-point road win at second place Austin LASA Friday (1/17) to close out the first half of district play. LASA (12-12) holds the tiebreaker over Cedar Creek (15-13), who holds the tiebreaker over Anderson (8-20). The Trojans nabbed a clutch road win at Crockett Friday (1/17) to grab the tiebreaker over the Cougars for the final playoff spot.
Bottom Line: Again, based on the scoring margins in the first half of district play, McCallum seems to be a lock for the district title. While a game in the standings separates each of the teams in 2nd through 5th behind the Knights, most of the games between those other teams were competitive. If any of those teams can somehow swipe a game from McCallum, that would be huge. Otherwise, it’s all about winning the rematches. Anderson is the largest school in this district so they would be D1 should they hang on while LASA, the smallest school, would be D2. Beyond that is TBD.
District 25-5A
Top 4: Liberty Hill (6-1); Leander (6-1); Rouse (5-2); Glenn (5-2)
On the Bubble: Hays (3-4)
With a four-team breakaway, District 25-6A is the rare boys basketball district that appears to have settled on its playoff teams – with the usual “lots of basketball yet to be played” disclaimers in place. Still, unlike the wide open 25-5A girls’ race, Liberty Hill (22-5 overall), Leander (19-6), Rouse (18-9) and Glenn (10-13) all have at least a two-game cushion over the 5th-place team (Hays 11-16) at the turn. Despite their relative safety, look for the competition between the top four teams to remain fierce as they battle for the title. Leander’s only district loss, for instance, was to Liberty Hill by just two points; the Panthers’ only district loss was to Glenn – by two points. It took two overtimes for Liberty Hill to finally put away Rouse Friday night (1/17). You get the idea.
Bottom Line: Glenn, Leander, Liberty Hill and Rouse should continue to crack each other’s skulls as they fight for the district title. Hays (11-16) has been within range of Liberty Hill and Rouse in their first meetings but it’s hard to imagine the Hawks stringing together enough second half upsets to reach the playoffs.
District 24-4A
Top 4: Lampasas (5-1); Gateway College Prep (5-1); Marble Falls (4-2); Burnet (3-3)
On the Bubble: Taylor (2-4)
It looked as if there was going to be a 3-way tie atop District 24-4A., with Lampasas (19-8), Gateway College Prep (13-7) and Marble Falls (14-9) all knotted atop the district at 5-1 and all 1-1 against each other. But Jarrell had other ideas last Friday night (1/17), upsetting Marble Falls and dropping them to third. Lampasas dispatched Gateway handily in their first meeting and can clinch the district title outright if they run the table and handle the Gators in the regular season finale. Then there’s the battle between Burnet (14-13) and Taylor (11-10) for the fourth and final playoff spot. While Burnet still harbors hopes of picking off the Mustangs ahead of them, the Bulldogs nabbed the first matchup against the Ducks by nine points a couple of weeks ago; barring one of them knocking off one of the top 3 (or Salado or Jarrell playing spoiler), their rematch on 1/28 looms large.
District 25-4A
Top 4: Lago Vista (6-0); Austin LBJ (5-1); Eastside Early College (4-2); Manor New Tech (3-3)
On the Bubble: Northeast Early College (2-4)
Lago Vista (22-3 overall) has lost just three times this year, all to private schools. With a gaudy record like that, one would think the Vikings are crushing the rest of the teams in District 25-4A. One would be wrong. While the Vikings went undefeated in their first pass through the district, it wasn’t easy. They defeated the three teams chasing them – Austin LBJ, Eastside Early College and Manor New Tech -- by an average of just five points. Considering they’ll now have to face all three of those teams on the road, this district race remains wide open. As does the battle for the final spot where New Tech clings to a one-game lead over Northeast Early College.
