Around the Rim in Houston County – Dec. 15
By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter
EAST TEXAS – A the month of December hits the midway point, basketball has taken center court. The majority of teams have been on the road the past two weekends in tournament play. While some of the area teams have fared better than others, the Pool Play and Bracket Play has helped give some of the younger players some valuable experience as the season nears district action.
Since it’s Thursday, it’s time to take a look back at the week in Houston County hoops.
Starting in Crockett, Crockett Bulldogs are just now getting their basketball legs under them after going three rounds deep in the football postseason. The Bulldogs took on the Grapeland Sandies on Tuesday and fell to their neighbors to the north by a final of 68-60.
On Thursday they travelled to Brownsboro for the Great East Texas Shootout. In their first game, they defeated the Van Vandals, 48-30. In their next game they defeated the Gladewater Bears, 61-27. Unfortunately the Dawgs lost their last two games of the tournament to the Athens Hornets, 94-59 and the Brownsboro Bears, 48-49.
The Grapeland Sandies are 12-1 on the season after their win against Crockett on Tuesday of last week and their 5-0 championship performance in the Crossroads Tournament. The Sandies defeated the Elkhart Elks by a score of 77-64, the Coolidge by a score of 69-31 and the Pineywoods Community Academy Timberwolves by a score of 60-50in Pool Play.
In Tournament Play, Grapeland defeated the Crossroads Bobcats in the semifinals by a score of 70-46 and defeated Pineywoods in the finals by a final score of 80-56.
The Kennard Tigers took on the Chireno Owls on Tuesday, Dec. 6 and fell to the Owls by a final score of 89-39.
The Latexo Tigers were off last Tuesday and then traveled to Zavala to compete in the Zavalla Tournament. The Tigers fell to the Warren Warriors in Pool Play on Thursday by a score of 70-62. In Latexo’s next game, they took on the Garrison Bulldogs and fell by a score of 51-26.
On Friday the Chester Yellowjackets forfeited the game and Latexo was awarded the 1-0 win. In their last game of the tournament, the Tigers played hard but were unable to overcome the Zavalla Eagles and went down to defeat by a final score of 54-43.
The Lovelady Lions also went three rounds deep in the playoffs and began their season on Tuesday, Dec. 6 against the Westwood Panthers. The Panthers defeated the Lions by a final of 99-79. This weekend saw the Lions travel to take part in the Centerville Tournament
On the girls’ side of the court in Houston County, the Crockett Lady Bulldogs defeated the Navasota JV Lady Rattlers on Tuesday of last week before travelling down State Hwy. 7 to take part in the Centerville Tournament.
In the first game of the tournament, the Lady Bulldogs defeated the Troy Lady Trojans by a final of 53-50.
The Grapeland Sandiettes traveled to Trinity on Tuesday to take on the Lady Tigers and won. Over the weekend they competed in the Crossroads Tournament.
The Sandiettes were 3-0 in Pool Play with wins over Athens Prep and Robert E. Lee on Dec. 8, as well as a 22 point win over the Elkhart Lady Elks on Dec. 9.
The tournament resumed on Dec. 10 with Bracket Play. The Sandiettes defeated the Eustace Lady Bulldogs on Saturday morning by a score of 56-44 to move into the championship game against the Crossroads Lady Bobcats and the Sandiettes walked out of Crossroads with the championship trophy following their 62-42 win.
The Kennard Lady Tigers lost a heartbreaker to the Apple Springs Lady Eagles 45-44 on Tuesday. The Lady Tigers were ranked #17 in Class 1A according to the Dec. 5 TABC poll but the loss caused them to fall out of the polls this week.
The Latexo Lady Tigers were on the road Tuesday as they faced the Iola Lady Bulldogs. Unfortunately, the Lady Tigers fell by a score of 54-35.
On Thursday, Latexo was back in action in the Zavalla Tournament. In Pool Play, the Lady Tigers fell to the Huntington Devilettes by a score of 55-27. In their next game, Latexo defeated the Spurger Lady Pirates 44-30. They also fell to the Shelbyville Lady Dragons by a final score of 50-41.
The Lovelady Lady Lions took on the Westwood Lady Panthers last Tuesday and defeated the Lady Panthers by a final score of 63-54.
On Thursday, the Lady Lions hit the road to play in the Centerville Tournament. In their first game they fell to the Slocum Lady Mustangs by a final of 38-28. In their next game against the Leon Lady Cougars, Lovelady played well but fell once again, 54-48. They also fell against the New Waverly Lady Bulldogs but ended the tournament on a positive note by defeating the Chilton Lady Pirates 81-51.
Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].
5