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Several pre-season lists will be floating around the area on various websites and message boards. You may also read numerous opinions and thoughts on who the best teams are, which team will make it to Austin for the State Championship, what district is the toughest, etc, etc, etc.

 

 

Bellaire and Hightower were the finalists from Region 3 last season and even though Hightower lost two key starters, there is no reason to think they should not be considered a favorite. Both of the Gilbert twins, above, have looked exceptional in the early going and their backcourt of Brittney Matthew and Alaina Heard is no slouch.

Bellaire, well after last season, anyone who doesn’t believe in what A.J. Alix brings to the table might want to reconsider evaluating on any level, period. Their threesome of Alix, Raven Burns and Bianca Winslow is as good as any three in the area and the team I dubbed “Cardiac Kids” are ready for another shot.

To be honest with you, seven of last season’s Elite 8 from Region 3 will be in the hunt. With the addition of Chrishauna Parker and Rachel Mitchell, Atascocita is the Region 2 area favorite and since Cy Falls and Cy Fair have crossed back over to Region 3, things could look good for both before it’s all said and done.

Westside made the Region 3 semi-finals last season without Rachel Cumbo, which still blows me away, but it showed how a team could get hot at the right time and do some damage. This year, a healthy Cumbo will team up with Tiffany Davis and Eron Luton to make the Wolves a team you don’t want to count out.

Seven Lakes is a team I consider a sleeper. They have Chisiten Inman and Sydney Buchel, two of the top sophomores in the city and it should be a battle between them and Katy Taylor for the district title. If Seven Lakes handles the pressure and wins district, it’s quite possible they could make it to the Final 4 in Region 3.

I am sure Taylor’s Amanda Jungwirth and crew will have something to say about that, especially after losing a close one to Region 3 semi-finalist Westside in the playoffs last season.

Over the past ten seasons, Fort Bend’s district has been one of the areas toughest and this year should be no different. Elkins battled Hightower in the Bellaire Fall League, losing by a couple and I expect them to go at it hard against each other in district play. Donielle Breaux is one of the top players in the area and with the addition of post Breanna Barnett; they will be a team to reckon with.

Elsik lost a close one to Bellaire last season in the Elite 8 and it appears they will be on a collision course to play them again, in the Elite 8 at that, provided both teams win their districts. Jasmine Ocanas, Crystal Porter and Akunna Elonu are ready to take it up a notch.

Another sleeper team will be Clear Springs. The addition of move-in Courtney Latham to go along with freshman Brooke Mc Carty adds depth to a team that surprised many last season. The district title should come down to them and Clear Creek, led by Brittany Branch and Taylor Longley.

North Shore is one of the top teams in the city and for them to make it to Austin’s Final Four they have to beat Hightower, provided both teams win their districts. Last season’s playoff game between the two went down to the wire and I expect the same thing this season. Courtney Williams makes her team go, she is the type of player that doesn’t come around often and the Shore will go as far as she can take them. Channelview almost made it to the Elite 8 last season for the second straight year. They have senior Ashley Bettis returning for another shot and like Northshore, Channelview will go as far as Bettis can take them.

Over in Region 2, District 14-5A, Atascocita has also added depth to go along with juniors Curtyce Knox, above, and Lauren Price, below in black, with seniors Parker and Mitchell. Making a run to the Elite 8 in Region 3 last season with two sophomores leading the way was no joke and they should be able to hold off a very talented Woodlands team to win their district. As you see, Knox has what she is, “the key”, around her neck.

The Woodlands do return several solid players including Paige Bradley, Anna Strickland and 6’4 sophomore Kelsey Lang, so it wont’ be easy.

College Park looked good in the Spring Fall League without Megan Shafer, so they could go on a roll with her and upset some tougher teams in the playoffs.

In District 13-5A, it should boil down to Klein Collins and Dekaney for the top two spots, with Westfield coming in third. That final position is up for grabs but last year this district pulled off some upsets with non-playoff teams like Klein defeating some Region 3 playoff squads.

Sometimes the best team doesn’t always win, that’s just how it is. Injuries, grades, and bench play will all matter before it’s said and done and with the Houston area being so evenly matched, right now it’s a toss-up