Warm-up games prep Texas basketball teams for postseason

Just as the number of pre-district basketball tournaments seem to increase in number every year, so too do postseason tournaments, otherwise known as playoff warm-ups. Several schools take advantage of a short window of time following the end of the regular season and before the bi-district round of playoffs.

In particular, the Dallas ISD Post-Season Classic is one that seems to grow every year and offers fans an opportunity to see seven games pitting playoff teams under one roof at the Ellis Davis Field House.

Class 2A Melissa, which along with Class A Division II Dodd City were the only two unbeaten teams in the state, participated in this year's classic and suffered its first defeat at the hands of Class 4A Wilson (Dallas), 68-53. Zach Helmberger had 26 points in the defeat while Curtis Davis netted 31 points for the Wildcats.

Elsewhere, Class 5A DeSoto edged Class 4A Lancaster, 49-47; Class 3A Madison (Dallas) beat fellow Class 3A foe Burkburnett, 85-80; Class 3A Kennedale topped Class 5A Berkner (Richardson), 61-50; and Class 3A Argyle stopped Class 4A South Oak Cliff (Dallas), 63-58.

Not all warm-up games are held in a tournament environment, however. One such contest involved Class 3A Mexia against Class 2A Crockett. If you find a more exhilarating game in the upcoming playoffs, it will have to be something really special after Mexia's Blackcats scored a 110-109 win over Crockett in a three-overtime affair. Look for both of these teams to be dangerous in their respective Region 3 brackets.

You want some individual highlight performances? Try the 43 points that Mexia's D. J. Weathers dropped in along with the 32 from his sidekick Mister Carroll. Wait, we can do you one better than that, as Crockett's C.J. Ervin hung 47 in defeat. Mexia is now 27-5 while Crockett checks in to the post-season at 28-4.

MaxPreps Texas boys basketball playoff brackets
MaxPreps Texas boys basketball Freeman Rankings

GIRLS MOVE TO QUARTERFINAL ROUND
While the boys are just now beginning their playoffs, the girls bracket has reached the quarterfinal round with some tasty pairings on the horizon.

MaxPreps Texas girls basketball playoff brackets
MaxPreps Texas girls basketball Freeman Rankings

Class 5A power and state ranked No. 1 Cypress Falls (Houston) carries a 37-1 mark into the quarterfinals against No. 14 Katy Taylor, which stands 33-6.

No. 2 Georgetown (30-3) and LSU-bound Krystal Forthan match up against No. 15 Atascocita (Humble) (35-5) while No. 4 DeSoto (31-4) draws a tough assignment against No. 11 Skyline (Dallas) (27-5).

Joe Lombard's Canyon Lady Eagles continue to be a powerhouse at the Class 4A level as their No. 1 state ranking and 33-0 record would attest. Unranked Frenship (Wolfforth) (24-9) is next up for Canyon before a possible meeting against No. 5 Mansfield Summit (Arlington) in the regional semifinals.

Another intriguing pairing involves No. 9 Rockwall (30-6) against No. 12 Lincoln (Dallas) (26-3), which in any other year would make for an outstanding state tournament game.

As you move down in classification, you find a number of west Texas schools that come to the forefront. This year is no different with Class 3A No. 3 Levelland (25-6) vying against Cooper (Lubbock) (23-11), while No. 4 Shallowater (26-6) meets Seminole (18-11).

Class 2A boasts the state's second unbeaten team in No. 3 Crockett, which stands at 34-0 going into a quarterfinal tussle against 23-9 Centerville.

BOYS TIP OFF SECOND SEASON
The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex dominated the Class 5A state rankings with Lakeview Centennial (Garland), Marcus (Flower Mound), Cedar Hill, North Crowley (Fort Worth) and DeSoto running 1 through 5, respectively. The middle three schools reside in Region 1, which is power-packed and shapes up for some enticing pairings in later rounds.

North Crowley and Marcus sit in the top half of the bracket and have an opportunity to possibly face each other in the regional semifinals. North Crowley starts off with Midland Lee while Marcus draws Fossil Ridge (Keller).
No. 1 Lakeview meets Lake Highlands (Dallas) in the first round after the Wildcats survived Richardson High School in a game to determine District 9-5A's final playoff representative.

High-scoring Yates (Houston) seeks to repeat as Class 4A state champions and will start off the second season against Worthing (Houston). Yates is currently ranked third in the state behind Kimball (Dallas) and Lincoln (Dallas). The Knights begin the playoffs against Conrad (Dallas) while Lincoln and LeBryan Nash face Pinkston (Dallas) in bi-district play.

Tony Wagner's Lubbock Estacado (Lubbock) Matadors are on a roll in Class 3A. The Mats carry a No. 1 state ranking and 30-1 record into the playoffs against the winner of the Clint Mountain View versus Monahans game.

COACHING MILESTONE
Congratulations are in order for Kingwood boys coach Royce Huseman, who collected career win No. 500 on the final night of the regular season with a 61-42 win over Conroe Oak Ridge. Huseman has been at Kingwood for 25 years, including six of those as an assistant.

R.V. Baugus is the publisher of Tex Preps Basketball magazine and texprepsbasketball.com.