Cen Tex/San Antonio Team Rankings

The next time I discuss teams and their rankings it will be about playoff matchups and seedings.  The one thing that seems for certain (and it’s a crying shame) is that the Area’s two top 5A teams will meet in the 2nd round of the playoffs again .  This happens every year as the Northside-Northeast District will bang heads.  This time it’s Connor Lammert’s Churchill Chargers and Taurean Prince Waller’s Warren Warriors. 

Is it that hard for the UIL to fix this obvious flaw and injustice in their playoff set up?  A simple tweaking of which districts face each other early on would take care of it.  If you really wanted “fairness” then why not a seeding system like Louisiana has where it’s a combination of records, quality of opponents etc which decided the bracket.  Perhaps that a little too complex, but what about determining your top 4 seeds and at least putting them in 4 different pods?  

While I am ranting, how about more playoff double headers and game times being offset (especially on Saturdays) so that the basketball fan and media types like myself can be on hand to enjoy the kids’ efforts and to give them publicity?   Many times you’re faced with not even seeing the Regional Finals in 4A and 5A because there is not enough time to run between St. Mary’s University (4A) and Texas-San Antonio (5A).  How absurd is that?  It’s not too late to fix the times of the games for this year’s playoffs Mr. UIL!

1. San Antonio Churchill  (5A)

Something tells me in my gut that Churchill is susceptible to a playoff matchup with Warren.  However, they keep winning (easily I might add) while Warren has stumbled in a couple of close games. Time to stop dissing the black and red and now lay down the challenge to Warren to do something to prove differently.  Of course it’s a team game but the idea of a Lammert-Waller showdown is kinda cool and could be a heavyweight battle.  But, in the 2nd round?    Argggggggghh!

2. San Antonio Warren   (5A)

2013 G Marcus Keene is back.  Time for Warren to catch fire.

3. College Station A&M Consolidated  (5A)

With what may well be the most college ready player in the State of Texas in Alex Caruso and the strong inside play of 203 Jimmie Gilbert the Tigers are a tough out.

4. Alamo Heights   (4A)

With the best front line in either 4A or 5A the Mules are looking to kick some butt.  Guard play will be the deciding factor in a run. Would be interesting to see WG Jeffrey Rodewald operate at the two guard to help break pressure.

5. Round Rock McNeil 

Lost one to Round Rock last week, but they are deep and well coached.

6. Waco La Vegas  (3A)    

At 28-0 they are the Murray State team of the year.  Handled their business with big schools early in the year too. 

7. San Antonio Brandeis   (5A)

2013 G Justin Graham is a scoring machine.  Neutralize him, you’ve got a chance.  If not it could be bad news for the opponent.

8. Converse Judson    (5A)

Judson is always tough come playoff time.  May be a year away though as it’s young front line 2014 David Wacker and 2014 Tanner Leisner are good but still a tad young.

9. Harker Heights  (5A)

Heights fits in the category of Judson.  They have some very nice youngsters in the Delaney Twins.  Success could rest on the shoulders of 2012 P 6’7″ Trumell McCrimmon who has shown steady improvement.

10. Austin Westlake  (5A)

They’re tested with a tough non district schedule and with a tooth and nail district here they battle every night, which includes Bowie and Anderson. 

11. Wagner  (5A)

They do it by committe and will wear you out. No stars this year, just a lunch pail crew.  Depth could favor them to make a deep run.

12. San Antonio Brennan  (4A)

Brennan is still young in their 2nd year of varsity competition but they’re well coached and have a heck of a floor general in 2013 G Johnny Azzinaro.

13. Liberty Hill    (3A)

This is a tough, disciplined team that plays at a fast pace.  Well coached, the team also has it’s stars.  2013 F 6′ 7″ Blake Danielak recently verballed to Texas Tech, 2013 PG Shane Lacaille is lightning quick and 2012 G Stephen Graves has deep range.  Only team in the Area who will snag 30 wins, three years running under Coach Barry Boren.

14. Austin Bowie    (5A)

Two words: Celester Collier.  He will out coach you, plus the cupboard isn’t exactly bare with two Division One players in Paul Baxter and Mareik Isom.

15. Austin Anderson  (5A)

I’m tempted to put Anderson higher on the list.  They’ve got to prove they can win though as the recent history has been bleak.  Could go on a roll.

16. San Marcos   (5A)

Has the talent, but frankly no discipline offensively.  Collin Hart has deep range and 2012 F Allex Austin is a threat for a double double every time out.

17. San Antonio Sam Houston   (3A)

Athletic as all get out.  I remember the days not too long ago when they were a problem in 4A.  Same quality athletes and now vs 3A competition.

18. Austin LBJ

Never count out Freddie Roland.  LBJ hasn’t lost a district championship since Reagan was President (not quite but almost).  They are going to out athlete most everyone they play.

19. Corpus Christi Carroll  (5A)

The only squad I have not seen play.  It’s a courtest placement as they’ve only lost 2 games.

20. San Antonio Clark

Nice backcourt with Perez-Josephs-Brickman.  Losing Nikko Maxwell to injury really hurt their depth.

Honorable Mention:

 Pflugerville

They have just enough athletes and tradition that it might kick in come play off time and cause problems for unsuspecting foes.  When you’ve got depth at guard and a Division One floor leader (2013 G T.J. Williams) anything can happen.

 New Braunfels Canyon  (4A)

Canyon has a solid squad.  Well coached and with nice pieces.

Boerne   (3A)

Well coached and disciplined squad has a tought guy to run the show in 2013 PG Kimball McHone.