Now begins district for area teams

With the new year comes the all-important district basketball games for many teams in the Gonzales County area. While Gonzales and Waelder have already begun their district games due to UIL realigning their respective districts with seven teams, Nixon-Smiley, Luling and Shiner St. Paul have some more time before they begin district play.

District 30-4A Boys Basketball

The Apaches sit at 1-1 in District 30-4A after an impressive victory over the Cuero Gobblers. The team travels to Poteet this Friday and if the boys basketball team wants to make it to the postseason for the first time since the 2010-11 season, a victory over Poteet is much needed. The Apaches then host Pleasanton, currently ranked 23^rd in the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches Class 4A state poll. Both games are scheduled to play at 7:45 p.m.

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District 30-4A Girls Basketball

The Lady Apaches are in the thick of things early on, giving Navarro their first district loss of the season last week. Due to the state football game, La Vernia and Cuero rescheduled their game for Saturday, Jan. 5. Meanwhile, Gonzales travels to Poteet for a 6:15 p.m. game before hosting Pleasanton on Tuesday for a 6:15 p.m. game. Results for those two games will show if the Lady Apaches are on the road to another postseason run. Currently, only La Vernia is state ranked in the TABC polls. This week they’re ranked 15^th.

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District 30-1A Boys Basketball

It is early but Waelder has started out their district bid with a 56-44 victory over Round Top-Carmine last week. District 30-1A is going to be tough yet again for the Wildcats with an expected three-way fight for a title between Dime Box, Moulton and Waelder. Currently, Moulton is ranked 10^th in Class 1A while Waelder is ranked 11^th and Dime Box is ranked 14^th. The rivals meet up for the first time this season on Friday, Jan. 4 in Moulton. The boys are set to play at 7:15 p.m. Waelder then hosts Fayetteville on Tuesday, Jan. 8.

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District 30-1A Girls Basketball

Waelder has had a tough start to their district due to injuries. The short-handed Lady Cats lost 47-6 against Round Top-Carmine at home last week. “All our key players are hurt right now,” Waelder head coach Ronnie Ellis said after the game. “We’re shorthanded, it’s going to be tough until our key players get back.” The team hopes their core players are healed up over the holiday break. They’re going to need them as Waelder travels to take on state-ranked Moulton on Friday. The Bobkittenz are ranked fifth in Class 1A. Waelder hosts Fayetteville on Tuesday, Jan. 8.

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For District 27-3A, the boys basketball teams do not play against each other until Friday, Jan. 11. Nixon-Smiley opens district with a home game against Stockdale while Luling travels to take on Karnes City. The Mustangs and the Eagles play a week later on Jan. 18 in Nixon.

District play for the girls begin this Friday, Jan. 4. The Lady Mustangs host Karnes City while the previously-state ranked Lady Eagles travel to Yoakum. None of the teams are currently ranked in the TABC state polls.

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In TAPPS 5-2A, Shiner St. Paul are in a district with three other teams. The Cardinals do not begin district play until Jan. 22, where both teams host Victoria Faith Academy. The Lady Cardinals are currently ranked second in the TABC Girls Private School Rankings for 2A Private Schools. Meanwhile, the San Antonio St. Gerard boys team, one of the three district opponents for Shiner St. Paul, is currently ranked eighth.