Three teams doesn't make it any easier come playoff time
By Bill Hart
It doesn't matter if the teams are in District 7-2A or 8-2A, Hamlin, Stamford, Albany, Jim Ned and Anson seemingly have a hard time deciding which teams will advance to the playoffs.
It was that way when only one or two teams advanced to the playoffs. It could happen this year when three reach the postseason.
A few years back, when Haskell was in that district, six teams had a chance of tying for a playoff berth if certain games went right in the final week. A meeting had been set up in Anson had that happened, but it didn't and two teams advanced without using the point system, which was the first tiebreaker.
There are two games left in the regular season this year, and only Hawley is out of the running for the postseason in District 8-2A. Albany currently leads with a 3-0 record, but the Lions still have to play 1-2 Stamford and 2-1 Hamlin. The Pied Pipers still have to face Jim Ned, which is 1-2 and has winless Hawley for its final opponents. Anson, 1-2, plays Hawley this week and Stamford, so there's a good possibility that there will be a tie somewhere among the top three spots.
Obviously, if two teams tie for the second or third spots, the winner between those two teams will determine playoff spots.
If Jim Ned makes the playoffs, it will go into Division I or the large school division because it has the largest enrollment, followed by Stamford and Anson. Albany and Hamlin are the two smallest schools in the district, so if they reach the playoffs, they will go into Division II.
Another district that has a lot of different senarios is District 5-4A. Andrews, Sweetwater, Snyder, Big Spring and San Angelo Lake View all have chances of reaching the playoffs. But it is an uphill climb for Lake View, which plays Big Spring and Snyder the next two weeks. Big Spring also must face Sweetwater.
Lake View, Big Spring and Andrews are the three largest schools in the district, while Sweetwater and Snyder are the two smallest now that Fort Stockton is out of the playoff picture.
Brownwood is already assured a spot in the playoffs from District 6-4A, and Stephenville needs to beat Crowley or Granbury to advance. Cleburne or Granbury probably will get the other spot. Brownwood and Stephenville would play in Division II because their enrollments are among the smallest in the district.
District 6-3A appears to be set with Brady, Wylie and Ballinger although the loser of the Ballinger-Wylie game this week would have to win next week to advance. If this holds up, Wylie will be in Division I, the others in II.
Breckenridge, Glen Rose and Comanche have the inside track in District 7-3A. If that holds up, Breckenridge will play in Division I.
Colorado City must beat Seminole this week to have playoff chances in District 3-3A.
Here's the look at the other Class 2A districts:
n 9-2A - Haskell is the only area team involved and its chances are slim at making the playoffs with a 1-2 record.
n 15-2A - Rio Vista needs to beat either Godley or Hico to secure a playoff spot, while De Leon, Hico, Godley and Cisco are still in the running. Godley, Cisco and Rio Vista are the three largest schools in the district.
n 25-2A - Winters can gain a spot by beating Mason or Coleman, and so can Goldthwaite by beating Early. But Early, Coleman and Mason still have hope. Early, Coleman and Winters are the three largest schools among the contenders.
Now that Class 3A and 2A schools are sending three teams from each district into the playoffs, good stadiums will be at a premium for the bi-district playoff games. That means some schools may have to play on Thursdays and Saturdays. So the key is getting a playoff spot as soon as possible and then reserving a stadium.
Abilene Independent School District athletic director Robert Starr already has received several calls wanting to reserve Shotwell Stadium for the Nov. 13 weekend. Abilene Christian plays West Texas A&M that Saturday. If Cooper makes the playoffs, it has first choice at Friday or Saturday night - if it wins a coin toss, which rarely happens.
If it works out, wouldn't it be nice if Abilene could land either the Andrews vs. Stephenville or Brownwood vs. Sweetwater-Snyder-Big Spring - or both should Cooper have a road game?
Bill Hart can be reached at 676-6773 or at sports@abinews.com.