GAMES
RANKINGS
Road to SA: Regional Quarters Boys Hoops
The girls are off for a couple more days before ramping up the State Tournament in San Antonio. In the interim, the boys playoffs get back underway with the regional quarterfinals, which technically started on Monday, but most games taking place on Tuesday night. We'll take a look at the bigger games of this round within each region.
CLASS 6A
REGION I
No. 1 Duncanville (28-3) vs. No. 9 Grand Prairie (27-2) is the premier matchup in this area for sure. The teams have combined for just five losses this year and feature some big names, including Micah Peavy (Duncanville) and Jaylin Posey (Grand Prairie). Tip off is at 7 p.m. from Wilkerson-Greines in Fort Worth with the winner meeting the winner of Wolfforth Frenship and Arlington Bowie in the regional semifinals on Friday, March 6.
No. 11 Waxahachie (30-6) vs. No. 6 Richardson (34-3) is another big tilt that just so happens to be in our backyard. Playing at 7:00 p.m. at Colleyville Heritage are two teams that could easily make a state run. Richardson has knocked off Duncanville recently and Waxahachie has a 17-point win over Grand Prairie. The winner meets the winner of No. 17 Odessa Permian and Arlington Martin on Friday.
REGION II
Down in Fairfield is a matchup of district champions between Mesquite Horn (26-10) and No. 3 Killeen Ellison (33-4). The winner will meet the winner of No. 19 Houston Westfield and Klein.
CLASS 5A
REGION I
No. 16 Mansfield Timberview (26-8) vs. Mansfield Legacy (27-9) square off for the third time this year with Timberview - the reigning 5A state champs - winning both games by 4 and 11 points, respectively. Game starts at 7 p.m. from Mansfield High with the winner playing either Wichita Falls Rider or Amarillo.
REGION II
No. 10 Sulphur Springs (28-8) vs. No. 1 Lancaster (33-1) is a 5A Top 10 matchup that should not disappoint. Lancaster is looking to get back to the regional semifinals and hopefully avenge getting knocked out in that round last year while Sulphur Springs is trying to get back to the state tournament after falling in the semifinals. Tip off is at 7:30 p.m. as the winner will meet the winner of Highland Park and Dallas Wilson.
No. 8 Kimball (30-6) vs. No. 6 Carrollton Newman Smith (29-0) is an intriguing matchup as Smith is in pursuit of a perfect season. This game tips off at 7:30 p.m. from Garland Naaman Forest. The winner will play the winner of Kaufman and Mt. Pleasant on Friday.
CLASS 4A
REGION I
No. 11 Krum vs. No. 8 Argyle meet for the third time this year, each winning on the opponent's home court. Tip off is at 7 p.m. and the winner will meet the winner of Clint and Levelland on Friday in the regional semis.
REGION II
In Region II, there's a double dose of Top 25 matchups starting with No. 2 Dallas Carter (27-7) vs. No. 17 Celina (27-6), which tips at 7:30. Winner meets the winner of Henderson and Paris on Friday.
The other big game is No. 3 Oak Cliff Faith Family (21-13) vs. No. 12 Dallas Lincoln (19-16) at 7 p.m. with the winner taking on the winner of Quinlan Ford and Tyler Chapel Hill.
REGION III
Top 25 matchups everywhere in our area as No. 13 Waco Connally meets No. 20 Waxahachie Life at 7:00. The winner will play the winner of Silsbee and Houston Washington.
CLASS 3A
REGION II
The big game in area for 3A is No. 23 Mineola (25-7) vs. No. 1 Dallas Madison (19-11) with at 7 p.m. tipoff. Madison is looking to repeat as state champs. The winner will play the winner of Arp and Jefferson on Friday.
CLASS 2A
REGION II
No. 6 Muenster (24-4) vs. Lindsay (16-11), 7:30 p.m. at Bowie High School
Alvord (21-17) vs. Poolville, 7 p.m. at Bridgeport High School
CLASS 1A
REGION III
No. 17 Saltillo (32-4) vs. No. 5 Slidell (28-8), 6:30 p.m. at Trenton High School
4 Things to Ponder as the Boys Playoffs Begin
The girls playoffs are in full swing as the second round draws to a close on Friday and Saturday, which means it's time for the boys playoffs to get into gear. Last year, the DFW-area teams took home five of the six boys state titles and are poised to repeat that effort again in 2020.
Wire-to-Wire?
Can Duncanville A) start the season No. 1 and finish on top of the mountain, and B) win back-to-back state crowns in the state's largest classification? The pieces are certainly there for both of those to be a resounding yes. Micah Peavy and Ja'Bryant Hill have led Duncanville to a 25-3 record and another district title.
Undefeated Run?
Can it be pulled off - a perfect season? That's what staring Carrollton Newman Smith in the face as the playoffs open up. Seven games remain for Smith to complete that journey, which completed the regular season 27-0 and sit ranked No. 6 in the state. The journey starts with Dallas Samuell. An undefeated season hasn't happened at any level since Houston Yates back in 2009-2010 when it went 34-0, which Smith could match.
5 of 6 Again?
Last year's five state titles out of the six classifications was unprecedented, but can it be repeated or even surpassed? In past years, there have been two or three DFW-area champions a season, but the DFW takeover really stood out last year. It could definitely happen again this year as there are plenty of area teams in the Top 10 of each classification. Nineteen as a matter of fact. In the three largest classes, there is an average of five teams ranked within the Top 10.
Slidell Version.2020?
Last year, Slidell won its first state title in 75 years. We even asked earlier this year which team with a championship drought of 20-plus years had the most realistic chance of getting off that schneid. Out of that list, there are three teams in the playoffs with a chance. In 6A, Waxahachie (36-year drought) enters as the 12th-ranked team in the state. Also in 6A is Lake Highlands which is 17-16 and sports a 51-year state title drought. The other is in 4A with Krum checking in at No. 10 in the state and a 21-year championship drought.