District Shakeups Take Effect Next Season
Monday, February 6th, 2012
Every two years, coaches around the state of Texas receive either a pleasant surprise or what can only be percieved as a cruel joke. That day came on Thursday, when the UIL (University Interscholastic League) announced the 2012-2014 realignment figures. While there were a couple of big surprises in the state, the Houston County area saw very minor changes.
Crockett and Elkhart will see the biggest change in their district despite losing just two teams from last year as Malakoff and Troup head off in different directions. Now the Bulldogs will see former 3A district rival Westwood make the drop to 2A, after falling a half student under the 449 cutoff mark. The Franklin Lions will jump up from the other end of the spectrum, as the Lions will bump up from class 2A Division II to join the Division I ranks.
The Grapeland Sandies district was shaken up with the departure of Garrison, who returned to class 2A, and Timpson, who joined another 1A district. Now, the new look district 10-1A DI will feature familiar foes in the Sandies, Alto Yellowjackets, Cushing Bearkats, and Shelbyville Dragons.
New to the district will be the West Sabine Tigers, who were a member of district 11-1A DI last year, and finished second in district play the past two seasons, as well as the San Augustine Wolves. San Augustine, coached by former Grapeland Head Coach and Athletic Director Donald Hubbard, will make the drop from class 2A after turning in an enrollment of 183. San Augustine won district 10-2A DI last year before bowing out to Franklin in their Area Round matchup.
The Lovelady Lions enrollment of 138 was enough to drop them down to Division II in class 1A, where they will take on the likes of the Bremond Tigers, Chilton Pirates, and Normangee Panthers. Bremond and Chilton were both members of district 10-1A DII last year, but will welcome Lovelady and Normangee to the small school ranks.
Chilton finished second in the district last year and reached the Region III Semifinals before bowing out to the Mount Enterprise Wildcats. Bremond was also playoff bound as the district’s third place team, but lost out in the Area round to the eventual state champion Tenaha Tigers.
Lovelady will look to build upon a Region III Finals appearance, as they make the transition to Division II, while Normangee will look to roll after winning district 12-1A DI. The Panthers lost their Area round matchup against the Big Sandy Wildcats.
When basketball rolls around the Houston County teams will see changes as well. Grapeland, Latexo, Lovelady, and Slocum will remain together in district play, but will bid farewell to the Alto Yellowjackets. Instead they will welcome the Leon Cougars, fresh from a drop to class 1A, and the Normangee Panthers to district 20-1A.
Kennard will also see changes to their district. The Tigers will see Apple Springs, Chireno, and Groveton-Centerville remain in their district, but will see the addition of Oakwood along with 1A powerhouses Douglass and Laneville.
The Crockett Bulldogs will see a much different basketball district. Only Groveton will remain from their previous district as they will face off against Elkhart, Westwood, Woden, Garrison, and Central Heights. Garrison makes the transition back to 2A after dropping to 1A for the last two years, while Westwood looks to bring their high octane basketball team into the 2A ranks from class 3A. Central Heights, a 2A power, will look to lock horns with the Bulldogs for district supremacy along with another basketball only school in Woden.
District 10-1A DI (Football): Alto, Cushing, Grapeland, San Augustine, Shelbyville, West Sabine
District 12-1A DII (Football): Bremond, Chilton, Lovelady, Normangee
District 11-2A DI (Football): Crockett, Elkhart, Franklin, Teague, Trinity, Westwood
District 20-1A DI (Basketball): Grapeland, Latexo, Leon, Lovelady, Normangee, Slocum
District 25-1A DII (Basketball): Apple Springs, Chireno, Douglass, Groveton-Centerville, Kennard, Laneville, Oakwood
District 19-2A (Basketball): Central Heights, Crockett, Elkhart, Garrison, Groveton, Westwood, Woden
