20-4A Thoughts

[Honest Abe]

We obviously need something to talk about. While I am impressed by some of the records help by Yates's kids in sports other than basketball, I may pull out the rest of my hair if I read one more post about them. Let's talk some local basketball. More specifically, 20-4A. I know it's a long way until the season begins, but summer ball is over, and the school year is just around the corner. Who wins district this year in 20-4A?

Last year, Central and Nederland shared the district title, but Ozen went one round deeper in the playoffs before bowing out in the Regional Semis. Central and Nederland both lost in the Regional Quarterfinal game to KW Park and Ozen respectively.

After sharing the district title with Big Ned, Central lost their best leader and the district's MVP to graduation. However, Central returns 3 (maybe 4) starters, 5-6 lettermen, and some Freshmen kids who could make an impact. If they can find a new leader, they will be seeking back to back district titles.

Nederland has won or shared the district title three years in a row. Big Ned returns 4 starters, the District Offensive MVP, three 1st team all-district selections, plus 6 additional lettermen. Just like two seasons ago, this will be a Senior heavy team. Ned has plenty of leadership and experience and play great team ball. Will Big Ned make it 4 years in a row?

After dominating District 20-4A for about a decade, Ozen lost the most to graduation. The Panthers only return one starter and a couple of lettermen. However, Ozen is one of those team's who 'reload', not rebuild. Ozen will not be 'big' this year, so they will have to rely on speed and quickness which is plentiful. It is anticipated that the 'Little Doves' will make a huge impact. It may take a couple of tourneys before they get going, but there would be no surprise to see them back on top in 20-4A.

Who knows, maybe a different team steps up this season? Livingston maybe? Either way, it looks like it will be another competitive season in 20-4A.

Disclaimer: I don't 'know' all of these team's like some of you. Please help me with the details that I missed. I am also not familiar with other teams in the district such as LCM, Livingston, Lumberton, PNG, Vidor

[AggiesAreWe]

From what I saw of Livingston at Silsbee's summer tourney, the Lions will make the playoffs out of 20-4A.

[BEARCAT]

I have heard that Collins from Livingston may graduate early and enroll at Baylor? for football.  If so that will hurt Livingston in basketball. Does anyone know for sure if he will play basketball for Livingston this year?

[BADSANTA]

I think they will finish in this order:

1. Central
2. Nederland
3.Ozen
4. Livingston

[Guest tigersvoice]

[quote name="BADSANTA" post="1245298" timestamp="1345054119"]
I think they will finish in this order:

1. Central
2. Nederland
3.Ozen
4. Livingston
[/quote]

Bads, you're no better a picker in that district than you are in your own district.  Central - district champ.  Yeah, right.

[BLUEDOVE3]

[quote name="BEARCAT" post="1245290" timestamp="1345053024"]
I have heard that Collins from Livingston may graduate early and enroll at Baylor? for football.  If so that will hurt Livingston in basketball. Does anyone know for sure if he will play basketball for Livingston this year?
[/quote]They gonna need more than Collins.

[AggiesAreWe]

[quote name="BEARCAT" post="1245290" timestamp="1345053024"]
I have heard that Collins from Livingston may graduate early and enroll at Baylor? for football.  If so that will hurt Livingston in basketball. Does anyone know for sure if he will play basketball for Livingston this year?
[/quote]


I personally spoke with Chevoski at the Silsbee summer tourney. He told me he was looking forward to playing basketball for Livingston this year.

He looked really good in the summer tourney.

[BADSANTA]

[quote name="Tigersvoice" post="1245378" timestamp="1345065859"]
[quote author=BADSANTA link=topic=101649.msg1245298#msg1245298 date=1345054119]
I think they will finish in this order:

1. Central
2. Nederland
3.Ozen
4. Livingston
[/quote]

Bads, you're no better a picker in that district than you are in your own district.  Central - district champ.  Yeah, right.
[/quote]


Never know Tigervoice! I could have picked Vidor or PNG to win it.

[CATMAN]

[quote name="AggiesAreWe" post="1245214" timestamp="1345042713"]
From what I saw of Livingston at Silsbee's summer tourney, the Lions will make the playoffs out of 20-4A.
[/quote] I dont thing they will aaw not this year.I would like for them to win dist but they want this year.

[AggiesAreWe]

[quote name="CATMAN" post="1245497" timestamp="1345088103"]
[quote author=AggiesAreWe link=topic=101649.msg1245214#msg1245214 date=1345042713]
From what I saw of Livingston at Silsbee's summer tourney, the Lions will make the playoffs out of 20-4A.
[/quote] I dont thing they will aaw not this year.I would like for them to win dist but they want this year.
[/quote]

Well I am not picking the Lions to win district, but I fully expect them to make the playoffs.

Are you saying that Livingston will lose to one or more of these teams: Lumberton, LCM, PNG and Vidor?

[CThoops]

Central should be solid and could be better than this past season, even without Smith..

I clearly am biased and think Nederland is the team to beat.. Won or shared district for a few years now.. Return the core of their team.. They have the two of the top 5 players in the Southeast Texas area, regardless of classification, English and Weisbrod, who will be asked to be even better this year..

The Biggest question though is what happens with these "going to be freshman" kids from the Beaumont school district.. A few of them have serious Varsity talent.. If they go to Ozen, it puts the Panthers right up there with Central and Nederland.. Those Hunter boys can ball, but will need some help to win district

[BMTSoulja1]

[quote name="Tigersvoice" post="1245378" timestamp="1345065859"]
[quote author=BADSANTA link=topic=101649.msg1245298#msg1245298 date=1345054119]
I think they will finish in this order:

1. Central
2. Nederland
3.Ozen
4. Livingston
[/quote]

Bads, you're no better a picker in that district than you are in your own district.  Central - district champ.  Yeah, right.
[/quote]I think it's a pretty good prediction.  Why would you think it's a 'yea, right'?  What is your analysis?

[BMTSoulja1]

Central loses one starter (K. Smith).  They will return the 3 freshmen from last year (will be sophmores), G. Mitchell (teams second leading scorer), and from what I'm hearing, Robert Mitchell will play ball this year (missed last year to heal a football injury).    Adding a few players from that talented MLK Middle School team, Central will again be in contention to win the district.  Nederland will again be tough, returning young English and Weisbrod, but I will question Big Ned's size.  They lost a very tall kid to graduation.  Ozen will be good again.  That team was young last year.  I believe only one of their starters last year was a Senior (Trey Green).  I havn't seen the Doves play, but from what I'm hearing, they will be a force.  So,

1. Central
2. Nederland
3. Ozen

with the 4th place team getting in by default (probably Livingston).

[BMTSoulja1]

[quote name="dogs1218" post="1245507" timestamp="1345094370"]
[b]Central should be solid and could be better than this past season, even without Smith.. [/b]

I clearly am biased and think Nederland is the team to beat.. Won or shared district for a few years now.. Return the core of their team.. They have the two of the top 5 players in the Southeast Texas area, regardless of classification, English and Weisbrod, who will be asked to be even better this year..

The Biggest question though is what happens with these "going to be freshman" kids from the Beaumont school district.. A few of them have serious Varsity talent.. If they go to Ozen, it puts the Panthers right up there with Central and Nederland.. Those Hunter boys can ball, but will need some help to win district
[/quote]I completely agree with this. Smith was the most talented kid in the district last year, but a lot of times, he played outside the system.  I think that there is talent spread out enough for this years Jag team to be better than last year's edition.

[stevenash]

Soulja- Will you be on dunk watch early in the upcoming season or will you direct your attention more to the smrj?

[Honest Abe]

No doubt Lubera (6'5") kid who graduated will be missed. Size may be a issue against 1-2 teams until football is over. We then add Couron and Washington who are both 6'4" with big bodies. In addition, Kimler brings athletecism to the team. He will likely be a defensive specialist. He gave K. Smith fits last season when the two teams played in Nederland.
Last year's team started without any returning starters and only 2 players with varsity experience. Taking all of that into account, I like our chances:

1. Nederland
2. Central
3. Ozen

Soulja-From what I've been told, Ozen only returns Jakobi Jones, D. Sams, and Alex 'Duck' Williamsms from last years team. Jones and Williams were starters while Sams moved up from JV mid year and came off the bench.

[CATMAN]

[quote name="AggiesAreWe" post="1245500" timestamp="1345090332"]
[quote author=CATMAN link=topic=101649.msg1245497#msg1245497 date=1345088103]
[quote author=AggiesAreWe link=topic=101649.msg1245214#msg1245214 date=1345042713]
From what I saw of Livingston at Silsbee's summer tourney, the Lions will make the playoffs out of 20-4A.
[/quote] I dont thing they will aaw not this year.I would like for them to win dist but they want this year.
[/quote]

Well I am not picking the Lions to win district, but I fully expect them to make the playoffs.

Are you saying that Livingston will lose to one or more of these teams: Lumberton, LCM, PNG and Vidor?
[/quote] On the road yes they could.

[BMTSoulja1]

[quote name="Stevenash" post="1245552" timestamp="1345121905"]
Soulja- Will you be on dunk watch early in the upcoming season or will you direct your attention more to the smrj?
[/quote]I don't  know.  With the departure of H-J's Prudhomme and Central Smith, someone felt the dunk-o-meter wasn't warrented for the upcomming season, so it was removed.  Therefore, We'll have to do manual dunk counts. 

[BLUEDOVE3]

The race will be out of Central and Nederland this year. They will have the most experienced players. Ozen will be too inexperienced this season but will have the most speed out of all the other teams in the district. Ozen and Livingston will be battling for for 3rd and 4th spot. Ozen is just too young to make any noise this year. So, just take Ozen off the radar. Plus Ozen has several players leaving the program this year to attend other schools. On top of this, the top freshmen are reported to be enrolling into Central. Looks like Central will win State this year.

[CThoops]

[quote name="BLUEDOVE3" post="1245575" timestamp="1345125585"]
The race will be out of Central and Nederland this year. They will have the most experienced players. Ozen will be too inexperienced this season but will have the most speed out of all the other teams in the district. Ozen and Livingston will be battling for for 3rd and 4th spot. Ozen is just too young to make any noise this year. So, just take Ozen off the radar. Plus Ozen has several players leaving the program this year to attend other schools. [b]On top of this, the top freshmen are reported to be enrolling into Central. Looks like Central will win State this year.[/b]
[/quote]

Is that a confirmed fact?

[BMTSoulja1]

[quote name="dogs1218" post="1245582" timestamp="1345126457"]
[quote author=BLUEDOVE3 link=topic=101649.msg1245575#msg1245575 date=1345125585]
The race will be out of Central and Nederland this year. They will have the most experienced players. Ozen will be too inexperienced this season but will have the most speed out of all the other teams in the district. Ozen and Livingston will be battling for for 3rd and 4th spot. Ozen is just too young to make any noise this year. So, just take Ozen off the radar. Plus Ozen has several players leaving the program this year to attend other schools. [b]On top of this, the top freshmen are reported to be enrolling into Central. Looks like Central will win State this year.[/b]
[/quote]

Is that a confirmed fact?
[/quote]Even I'm not buying that one.  You must not have seen our 'staff' in action.  8)

[AggiesAreWe]

According to my sources, those freshmen will be attending Central.

[CThoops]

That right there should tell everyone the state of Ozen basketball.. Think it really did become a two-team race between Central and Nederland

[BMTSoulja1]

[quote name="AggiesAreWe" post="1245585" timestamp="1345126629"]
According to my sources, those freshmen will be attending Central.
[/quote] 8) 8)

[BLUEDOVE3]

[quote name="dogs1218" post="1245582" timestamp="1345126457"]
[quote author=BLUEDOVE3 link=topic=101649.msg1245575#msg1245575 date=1345125585]
The race will be out of Central and Nederland this year. They will have the most experienced players. Ozen will be too inexperienced this season but will have the most speed out of all the other teams in the district. Ozen and Livingston will be battling for for 3rd and 4th spot. Ozen is just too young to make any noise this year. So, just take Ozen off the radar. Plus Ozen has several players leaving the program this year to attend other schools. [b]On top of this, the top freshmen are reported to be enrolling into Central. Looks like Central will win State this year.[/b]
[/quote]
Is that a confirmed fact?
[/quote] According to Central supporters  ;)