Plenty at stake for area basketball teams as district finales near

There’s plenty at stake this late in the season for Gonzales County area teams. From trying to find a district win to leading the pack, Friday night will be a big one for Gonzales, Nixon-Smiley, Luling, Waelder and Shiner St. Paul.

Fighting for playoffs

The Gonzales Apaches escaped Tuesday with a 56-54 win over Poteet after being down 51-44 with a little over two minutes left in the fourth quarter. With the help of a double technical, the Apaches were able to close in and eventually finish the game on a 12-3 run to move to 3-6 in District 30-4A, a half-game behind fourth-place Cuero (3-5).

Tonight, the Apaches have the tall task of taking on the district-leading Pleasanton Eagles (8-0) who are ranked 18^th in Class 4A. The Eagles have averaged 96 points per game in district. They beat the Apaches 97-37 on Jan. 8.

Meanwhile, the Gobblers travel to Geronimo to play against Navarro (2-7). Despite their record, the Panthers have played teams tough this season, losing by one against Cuero last they played. Apaches fans should hope for a Navarro win so the boys basketball team can keep pace for a potential playoff spot.

Poteet (2-7) hosts La Vernia (7-1) while SA Brooks Academy has a district bye game.

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Staying in 3^rd place

The Gonzales Lady Apaches (7-3) look to extend their winning streak to four games as they travel to Pleasanton to take on the Lady Eagles (4-6). The last time they played, Gonzales blew out the Lady Eagles 62-33. Navarro (6-5) hosts #25 Cuero (9-1) while Poteet (2-8) plays at home against La Vernia (8-2). All three road teams (Gonzales, Cuero and La Vernia) all beat their opponents, so if results remain the same, District 30-4A will have Cuero up top follow by La Vernia, Gonzales and finally Navarro in the last playoff position.

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Opposite ends of district

The Nixon-Smiley Mustangs are in a hole. After blowing a five-point lead with 27.4 seconds left in the game, the Mustangs followed that up with a nine-point loss against Stockdale to drop down to 0-6 in District 27-3A. Two losses against the current fourth-place team puts the Mustangs in a deep hole, and it’s not going to be any easier for the team as their next three games are against the top three teams in 27-3A. If there’s any chance of a turnaround, it needs to start with a win over Poth (5-1) tonight. The last time they played, Poth won 71-37.

Drive up 32 miles north and you’ll find a Luling Eagles team that is 5-1 and on top of 27-3A. They took a two-point lost against Karnes City (4-2) on Tuesday, but the Eagles are still on track to win a district championship. Luling missed the playoffs the past two seasons.

Tonight, the Eagles travel to Stockdale (3-3) while Karnes City (4-2) hosts Yoakum (1-5).

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Rising up the standings

There are two more games left in District 27-3A girls hoops and the Nixon-Smiley Lady Mustangs (3-5) are in position to get in the playoffs as the fourth seed. The Lady Mustangs have a tough game tonight at home against #11 Poth (7-1).

Meanwhile, the Luling Lady Eagles managed to upset #7 Karnes City (7-1) on Tuesday to move to 5-3 in district. Luling, who has made their way to the state poll more than once, are likely to be locked in third place and will be a tough out in the playoffs. Luling travels to take on Stockdale (0-8) before hosting Nixon-Smiley next week.

Karnes City (7-1) hosts Yoakum (2-6) tonight. A win here for Karnes City potentially sets up a district-championship game against Poth next Tuesday.

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Third seed not a bad spot for Wildcats

#14 Waelder lost in overtime against #11 Moulton, which all but knocked off the Wildcats out of contending for a district championship. The next best scenario for the head coach Jacob Garcia? Third place.

“I was looking at brackets the other day and obviously the easiest road to regionals is winning district,” Garcia said after the game Tuesday. “We’d have to go through Region 32 which I believe is McMullen County. The second easiest is the third seat because, I forget which team we would have to go through, but we would end up meeting Moulton again because they’re probably going to be district champs. We’re eyeing that third round because we just want to be fueled. I think this is the perfect game to be fueled.”

There will be no lack of motivation for the Wildcats as they finish out the district season.

Waelder travels to Fayetteville (3-5) tonight, Prairie Lea (1-7) travels to Round Top-Carmine (4-5) while Moulton (9-0) hosts #13 Dime Box (7-1). A win for Moulton clinches the District 30-1A title.

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In search of a district win

It’s been tough sledding for an undermanned Waelder Lady Wildcats basketball team who suited up just five players Tuesday night against #11 Moulton (9-1). Waelder would (0-10) end up losing 54-11, scoring nine of their points in the second half. For those eying a possible district win, the Lady Cats host McDade (1-10) on Tuesday, Feb. 5, to close out their season.

Tonight, Waelder travels to #24 Fayetteville (9-1), a team who upset Moulton on Jan. 22. Dime Box travels to Moulton and Prairie Lea travels to take on Round Top-Carmine.

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Staying on top

The Shiner St. Paul Cardinal boys and girls basketball teams begin the second half of a small, four-team district schedule tonight, traveling to take on Bulverde Bracken Christian. Both basketball teams are 3-0 in district.

On the boys side, the Cardinals are now ranked 10^th in TABC Private School Class 2A. The last time they played Bracken Christian, St. Paul won 49-34.

The Lady Cardinals, ranked second in TABC Private School Class 2A, won their game 58-23.

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