They’re playoff bound, but plenty on line Friday for Hico, De Leon

By BRAD KEITH
TheFlashToday.com

STEPHENVILLE (November 1, 2016) — Hico and De Leon are each headed to the state playoffs from 7-2A Division I. Where they will be seeded and who they will match up with in bi-district, however, won’t be determined until Friday night’s regular-season finales are complete.

Crawford, at 5-0 in the district and with a head-to-head win over 4-1 Goldthwaite, has locked up at least a share of the district title and will be the number one seed in the playoffs. Goldthwaite will lock up the No. 2 seed if the Eagles can hold off De Leon at home on Friday. But if the Bearcats win, those teams would be tied for second and De Leon would get the No. 2 seed based on head-to-head advantage.

Hico, however, has the opportunity to throw a wrench in those plans. If the Tigers, currently 3-2 in the district, can upset mighty Crawford, then they would be 4-2, joining either Goldthwaite, De Leon or both in a second-place tie. If it’s Goldthwaite and Hico that are tied, Goldthwaite has the head-to-head after a 22-7 win over the Tigers last week, so Hico would be the No. 3 seed and De Leon would be No. 4. If Hico ends up in a three-way tie with Goldthwaite and De Leon, the point spread between the three teams will determine the seeding.

If the favorites – Crawford and Goldthwaite – win at home, the seeding will go 1. Crawford, 2. Goldthwaite, 3. Hico, 4. De Leon. Hamilton and San Saba play each other Friday, but both, along with Valley Mills, whose season is complete, have been eliminated from playoff contention.

8-2A teams matchup with those from 7-2A in the bi-district round of the Region II-2A Division I playoffs. Mart and Bosqueville are both 4-0 in that district and will determine the outright champion and top two seeds when they square off in Mart Friday. Riesel is currently third and 2-2, Italy and Axtell are 1-3 and Itasca is out at 0-4.

Riesel is a big favorite going to Itasca Friday, and win wins over Italy and Axtell has already locked up the No. 3 seed from 7-2A. Italy and Axtell meet Friday with the winner advancing and the loser bouncing basketballs.

Watch The Flash Today – Erath County Facebook page and follow @theflashsports on Twitter for updates, final seedings and playoff matchups as they become official late Friday night.