Who is the 'class' of the Houston-area teams? Okay, who is second...

As we make the turn in the basketball district season, it's time to start focusing on how the district races are starting to shape up.

Let's go ahead and begin in Class 4A, District 21.  In fact, let's go ahead and overview Region III.  Okay, okay--the entire state.  Jack Yates Lions. Period.  (We'll come back to them.)

In Class 5A Region II, who is the 'class' of the Houston-area teams and how do they stack up with the rest of the region? 

Would you make an argument for Spring, who are 22-6 after Tuesday's games but fresh off a loss to Klein Forest in a game that could have really given them a cushion over the rest of 13-5A.  Because of the loss, the hang on to a one-game lead over Klein and Westfield, who are both solid, but not spectacular, teams.

In 14-5A, College Park had to be considered the district favorite, but they've already dropped two district games in the first half of the season.  New Caney shocked the Cavs last week and current district leader, The Woodlands, also defeated them on January 15 in the district opener.  The Highlanders are 4-0 in district and 20-4 overall.  Their losses have been close and to good teams (Bryan, Elkins, Tomball and Seven Lakes).  Wes Cole (JR) and Davis Tucker (SR) have turned out to be a pretty good tandem in the backcourt. We'll watch that team closely down the stretch.

No matter what sport it is, District 15-5A will usually wind up as a jumbled mess.  That's true in basketball this season, although Cy Woods (17-5, 6-1) has risen to the top of the heap. But close on their heels are both Langham Creek and Cy Creek, one game back. 

Woods was a TABC Pre-Season Top 20 team (ranked #18). But, they've lost some games you might expect an elite team to win.  They have good size up front, but would they have enough athleticism to keep pace with an athletic opponent?

Suffice it to say that in Region II, at least to this point, no Houston-area team could be considered favorites over De Soto (24-3, 3-0 in District 11-5A and defending state champs), Lakeview Centennial (21-3, 6-0 in 10-5A) or possibly even Richardson Berkner (22-4, 7-0 in 9-5A).

In Class 5A Region III, Bellaire would easily be considered the class of the area.  Currently ranked No. 1 in the TABC Class 5A poll, Bruce Glover's Cardinals are 24-1 and 6-0 in 20-5A,  and coming off a convincing 81-54 win over second-place Madison.  They are going to be tough to beat.

Perhaps La Porte might have been given the best preseason shot at hanging with Bellaire in the regional playoffs, but as of this writing, the Bulldogs aren't even leading their district.  That honor belongs to Louie Means' Deer Park Deer.  The Deer (17-9) are now 7-0 in 22-5A and have one-game lead over La Porte, by virtue of their upset win over the Bulldogs early in the district season.  They struggled early in the tournament season, but have now won 12 of their last 13 games.

Not to be ignored are Kingwood (22-4), Elsik (19-9), and three teams from Fort Bend ISD and three teams from District 23-5A. Bush (22-4), Dulles (23-5) and Elkins (21-7) have each won at least three-fourths of their games this year.  The question may be who survives the tough district beating to make a deep run in the playoffs.

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I love a good practical joke.  I love it even more when it backfires, like this one did.

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Finishing the thought on Class 4A and Yates: if they are to be challenged in the regional playoffs, I believe that La Marque (24-2) will be the team to do it.  As of this week, Yates is the top-ranked 4A team in the state; La Marque is No. 3.  That would be an impressive matchup.  And it would be played to a packed-out house, too.

Jim Hicks of RCS Sports has seen Brenham firsthand and gives the Cubs a glowing review, so they could be a team to watch in 4A Region III.

And you read it here first:  the Houston area will be well-represented in Austin in March out of both Class 3A and Class 2A.  I think Hardin-Jefferson (3A) and New Waverly (2A) will both play in the state tournament, and New Waverly may very well bring home a state championship trophy.