High school basketball: 10 games to watch
The end of the regular season is in sight. The first half of district play is about to end in most boys districts if it hasn’t already. Girls teams that are not well positioned for playoff berths have just enough time left to make something happen. Here is a look at the top 10 games coming up Friday and Tuesday.
1 Elkins at Bush, 7 p.m. Friday
This would be the Class 5A boys game of the year if these two were not meeting for just the first time in district play. Elkins (6-0) is ranked No. 1 in the state and Bush No. 3. An Elkins victory would solidify its spot atop the rankings. A Bush victory might move the Broncos (6-0) to the top spot themselves. They’ll meet again in the regular season finale and potentially in the regional final.
2 DeKaney at Klein Forest, 7 p.m. Friday
The winner of this one will have sole possession of first place in District 15-6A at the midway point. These teams have different types of motivation. Forest (6-0) is seeking its second consecutive district championship. DeKaney (6-0 has had three average seasons in district play so finishing in first place would be a significant change.
3 Fort Bend Travis at Fort Bend Austin, 7 p.m. Friday
Travis was in first place alone in 23-6A before losing to second-place Hightower on Tuesday. Now the Tigers (8-1) must regroup in time to face third-place Austin (7-2). Travis has been a regular contender in the Houston area, but Austin is having a bit of a renaissance season. The Bulldogs have not won more than six district games over the last decade. This year they already have seven.
4 Aldine Davis vs Nimitz, 7 p.m. Tuesday at Campbell Center
The second half of District 18-6A play will begin with a doozy. Davis beat Nimitz 80-77, in the district opener. The game was tied heading into the fourth quarter. Now Davis (5-0) sits atop the standings by one game ahead of Nimitz (4-1). A Nimitz win on Tuesday likely means co-champions. If Davis wins, however, it would mean a twogame lead with six to play and
almost a sure district title.
5 Cinco Ranch at Tompkins, 7 p.m. Tuesday
The top half of the District 19-6A standings is crowded after Cinco Ranch’s loss to Seven Lakes. Things could get even more interesting if Tompkins (4-2) finds a way to flip its previous one-point loss to Cinco Ranch (5-1) in the rematch. Heading into the weekend, Cinco Ranch and Strake Jesuit are tied for first place. Tompkins, which beat Seven Lakes on Tuesday, and Katy Taylor are tied for third place but just one game behind the leaders.
6 Cypress Woods at Cypress Falls, 7 p.m. Friday
Because of District 17-6A’s zone scheduling this is the only time these teams will meet in district play. That means added importance since they are in first and second place. Cy Woods (7-0) can put a stranglehold on first place with a victory. Cy Falls (6-1) can pull even atop the standings if it wins. Cy Woods beat Cy Falls by seven points in a tournament game in November.
7 Klein Collins at Klein Oak, 7 p.m. Friday
District 15-6A belongs to DeKaney, but when secondplace teams Collins (6-2) and Oak (6-2) square off this week valuable playoff seeding will be on the line. Collins won the first meeting three weeks ago, but Oak has an advantage in not having to play DeKaney again. Friday’s winner will have the inside track to the No. 2 seed.
8 Clear Falls at Friendswood, 7 p.m. Friday
Ever since it won 12 in a row to begin the season Clear Falls (6-2) has been in the state’s top 25. The Lady Knights lost twice to powerful Clear Springs so the best they can hope for likely is second place. Friendswood (5-3) likely will have something to say about that. The Lady Mustangs famously ended Clear Springs’ long district win streak last season so they’re a team to look out for.
9 Katy at Seven Lakes, 7 p.m. Tuesday
Seven Lakes (7-0) has been destroying every district team in its path and could be in position to clinch the district title and No. 1 seed early next week. If the standings hold on Friday, Katy (5-2) would be two games back when it travels to south side of town for Tuesday’s game. A victory would get the Lady Tigers within one game. If Seven Lakes wins, that’s all she wrote for District 19-6A.
10 Hastings at Hightower, 7 p.m. Tuesday
Hightower (10-1) was cruising along in District 23-6A before it stumbled against Fort Bend Travis on Tuesday. Now the Lady Canes find themselves in a must win scenario if they want to remain in first place. They already beat Hastings, 61-37, in December, but the Bears (9-1) likely see this as a prime opportunity to go from second place to sole district leaders in just one week.