Yes, there is the bragging rights issue, but if you’re a Lady Tiger you’re still playing for postseason seeding in District 13-5A.
Belton (21-6 overall, 9-2 in 13-5A) sits in second place, one game behind College Station A&M Consolidated (21-10, 10-1) and one game ahead of Bryan (19-11, 9-3). The Lady Tigers split their series with both teams. Consol can capture its first outright title in four years by beating Killeen Shoemaker tonight, while Bryan has completed its schedule.
Temple (10-18, 5-6) is locked into fourth regardless of tonight’s outcome and will draw the 14-5A champion in next week’s bi-district round.
“The pressure is on (Belton),” Tem-Cats first-year coach Steve Prentiss said after Tuesday’s 14-4 loss to Bryan. “We’re as pleased as we can be to be in the playoffs. We’re looking to keep getting better and the girls have shown they are willing to do that.”
Belton first-year coach Matt Blackburn agreed that the Lady Tigers can’t afford to mail in their regular-season finale.
“We need to win so we don’t have to get into any kind of playoff or tie,” he said. “We’re as healthy as we can be and we’re looking forward to it.”
It might be a while before any of the 13-5A qualifiers learn who their bi-district opponent is. It’s possible that Leander, Round Rock and Round Rock Westwood will finish in a three-way tie for first, forcing multiple district playoff games into next week. Districts must certify their playoff teams by Tuesday and bi-district playoffs must be completed by next Saturday.
The oddity for those looking ahead and doing bracketology work is the concept that Belton, as a No. 2 seed, might go into the playoffs in a less advantageous role than Bryan as the No. 3 team.
If the Lady Tigers win tonight and beat their first-round opponent, they likely would face third-ranked Klein Oak in the area round.
“Being in the position we’re in, we’re happy to be in second place,” Blackburn said. “Any strategy for finishing third is not a good one.”
Blackburn added that the minimum goal for Belton is to go three rounds deep in the playoffs. He admitted that it would be “quite a task” if the Lady Tigers face Klein Oak but added that “the girls are still focused and want to make a push in the playoffs.”
As for District 25-2A, there are five teams vying for three playoff spots going into tonight’s regular-season finales.
No. 14 Lago Vista (20-4, 12-1) has clinched the title. No. 25 Rogers (15-6-1, 9-4) and Rosebud-Lott (15-5, 9-4) are tied for second, while Academy (16-9, 8-5) and Salado (20-7, 8-5) are another game back.
Rogers will host Lago Vista, while Rosebud-Lott travels to meet struggling Florence. Academy will host Salado, the loser of which will be eliminated. If Rogers tops Lago Vista, it would force a likely playoff with Rosebud-Lott for seeding.
If Rogers falls to Lago Vista, the Lady Eagles would play the Academy-Salado winner - probably Monday and probably at Temple College - for 25-2A’s third and final berth. Rogers split the season series with all of the teams involved.
At least two other area teams have qualified for the playoffs. Bruceville-Eddy is 21-2A’s third-place squad behind Crawford and Clifton. Granger (11-5-1, 7-3) will advance as 27-A’s third-place team behind Thorndale and Thrall.
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