RANDOM THOUGHTS

[MIF04]

This edition of our mid-week Random Thoughts comes to you with the known and the unknown...who is in, who is out?  who are champs?  who is not?

What we know: 

West Brook Bruins are 21-5A outright district champs.  That is the first time since 1997 that WB has done this so congrats to them.

Over in 21-4A, New Caney, BH and Huffman have clinced playoff spots.  New Caney has clinched at least a tie for 1st place in that district.  LCM and PNG have clinched playoff spots in 22-4A as LCM has clinched at least a tie for first place.  In 21-3A, Jasper and Bridge City have clinched playoff spots.

What we don't know (which, as you may suspect, is quite a bit):

Let's start with 22-4A.  The week started with LCM holding a 1 game lead over PNG and Vidor.  Nederland and Dayton were 3 games back but, more importantly, 2 games out of the 3rd and last playoff spot.  With Dayton and Vidor having 3 games on tap for this final week, a lot could happen.

The week opened with Dayton's 8-5 win over Vidor on Monday.  That allowed Dayton and Nederland to creep within 1 game of Vidor...except for the fact that Dayton and Nederland were set to play on Tuesday, with the loser being eliminated.  Beau Helmke and the 'Dogs removed that doubt with a convincing 6-1 win over Dayton.  Vidor righted their ship with a 7-3 win over potential spoiler Ozen while both LCM and PNG won. 

Where is 22-4A?  LCM is on top at 11-2 followed by PNG at 10-3, Vidor at 9-4 and Nederland at 8-5.  Everyone else is eliminated.  LCM and PNG are 'in' the playoffs.

If Vidor beats LCM (or Nederland loses to Lumberton), the Pirates are in (and we have the potential of a 2-way tie for first with LCM and PNG).  If LCM defeats Vidor, then LCM is district champions, PNG is 2nd and (assuming Nederland defeats Lumberton) we have a tie for the 3rd and final playoff spot between Vidor and Nederland with a 1 game playoff on Saturday.

There are less moving parts in 21-3A where Johnny Dishon's 'shot heard around the world' (or at least all the way to Sour Lake) gave BC a 4-2 win over HJ.  That win guaranteed playoff spots for the Cardinals and Jasper.  Those 2 teams play Friday night to determine the district champion.  Silsbee sits in 3rd place, a game up on HJ.  HJ needs HF to defeat Silsbee (and the Hawks need to defeat WOS) to force a 1 game playoff for that district's final playoff spot. 

What is not clear (yet) in 21-3A is who will be the 2nd place rep vs. 3rd place rep if there is a tie between Silsbee and the loser of the BC-Jasper game.  Coin flip?  Play off?  One of the many things we do not know yet.

In other news, congratulations to High Island as the Cardinals upset previously undefeated Evaldale 3-0.  It has been a superb year for HI.  Also, congrats are in order for our local teams ranked state wide in the Texas High School Coaches poll:  LCM is #9, BC is #7 and Buna is #9.

Can't wait for Friday....

[EAGLE07]

MIF04, 22-4A is too confusing for us folk over @ BH. Ya'll figure it all out and let us know who and where to play.  ;D

[ABCD14]

The last time West Brook won a District title was in 1995, when head coach, Jacob Walton, was a senior on the team.

[donkey]

GOOOO  BEARKATS