My San Antonio Top 10 Girls HS Teams 10-24-16

It's about that time again. HS Girls Basketball with tryouts and practices already in full swing.

One thing I have learned over the past few seasons, anything is possible and everything is wide open when it comes to who is the best team or teams in the city. 

I remember when anyone could pick from the top 2 or 3 teams to determine who was going to represent Region 4. The basketball landscape is entirely different now.
One thing for sure, a lot of young ladies have been putting a lot of work this off season! 

Much has changed during the last few years with the abundance of quality trainers and with the quality of AAU/Club teams that are willing to travel outside the city and most cases out of the state, to help prepare young ladies for an opportunity to play at the next level. There is a lot of gratitude that should go to Club teams and basketball trainers, in many cases, their hard work helps make HS Coaches jobs a lot easier and  in turn help HS teams compete by preparing and instilling players with skill, talent, experience, etc

A lot of HS programs have come a long way and even though some HS teams have found comfort and joy in beating perennial power teams during the regular season, It has been the perennial power teams like Wagner and Steele that have dominated when it counts the most, the PLAYOFFS!

It almost seems that HS Coaches that let their best players play and put them in position to make things happen, have been traditionally the most successful programs.

And when coaches have some great floor leaders on the court especially from the point guard position, that always is going to help tremendously.

Before you start looking ahead on this season, let's reflect on last years top teams in the city. One thing that sticks out is how many quality floor leaders running the point have graduated!!!

Wagner's Amber Ramirez, Clark's Rea Gulley, Reagan's Mailee Jones, Antonian's Sandy Ramirez, Steeles Charisma Shepherd, Johnson's Tara Molina, O'Connor's Casey Saldana, IW Alexia Torres to name a few as well as some great shooters like Madison's Lexi Rich, Judson's Belle Tovar and O'Connor's Victoria Pena.

So this leads me to this season, you have to start with MVP candidates Gabby Connally and Kiana Williams, all around exceptional players, with outstanding playmaking abilities.

Their respective teams will look entirely polar opposite in that Brandeis with Connally, graduated virtually all her supporting cast and Wagner with Williams, might just very well have the best starting 5 of any team in the city with the addition of transfer Angel Hastings. Contenders!

Talk about transfers, Johnson now has Megan Valdez, a strong, tough, smart highly skilled PG with a ton of experience running the show. Add incoming freshman sensation Deja Kelly to the mix that includes Post Alyssa Adams and you have a bona fide Contender!

And how about IWHS, the Shamrocks have added,  Post Makayla Mabry anchoring quite possibly the deepest team in the city with Sophia Ramos, a highly skilled scorer and playmaker, Ashley Adaszczyk a savvy guard, Olivia Balderas one of the most improved shooters, Alexis Retault a highly underrated PG. Almost every player in their roster playing with some type of Club team in the city. Contender!

Going back to playmakers and leaders, look out for Stevens and PG Destiny Jenkins, Lee HS with PG Jenesis Navarro, Madison with Charlene Mass and O'Connor's with PG Natalie McCoy.  All could lead their HS teams to a successful season run.

Another playmaker East Central Brittany Rodgers teaming up with another MVP candidate, Nalyssa Smith definitely makes them Contenders!

Judson will have a stacked team as well that includes Desiree Lewis and Kyra White and you can never leave out the defending Region 4 Champs, Steele with Antonia Anderson. Both will be serious Contenders.

Watch for Brennan with Kenzie Heineman, Taft with Stephanie Ruiz, Lee with Blanca De Leon, Antonian with Bailey Boyle and Gabby Teneyuca, to make some noise!

Last HS season, Steele, Wagner, Johnson and Judson made it to the final 4.  Each team has lost key pieces and gained some key pieces. 
Now that's what's going to make this HS season a joy to watch and follow. So many different story lines, too many to cover at once, so we will see how the season unfolds.

I've been told, It's not how you start, it's how you finish.

So I will start by listing my Top 1O,  as always just for fun!!!!!!

1) Wagner
2) IWHS
3) Johnson
4) Judson
5) Steele
6) Brandeis
7) Lee
8) East Central
9) O'Connor
10) Stevens

Games to watch to start the season:
Wagner vs O'Connor
Brennan vs Judson
Lee vs Taft
Clark vs Johnson

And I will finish with, Go Support HS Girls Basketball........

Who is the #1 Girls HS Team in San Antonio?

The playoffs are in full swing and Rankings are out the window!

It's literally anyone's game to lose or win, depending on how you look at it.

Clark and Steele, which were ranked #1 or #2 for the majority of the season wobbled into the playoffs. 

Brandeis which lost to at least 8 teams that were ranked at one time or another in the Express News Top 10, is looking like they can be a contender. And why not, when you have a dynamic playmaker leading the way, and a capable surrounding cast, anything can happen.

Clark is looking to get a signature win in the playoffs. They have been a steady presence with real good teams in the past few years. It almost seems they graduated their whole team last year, but give them credit, they have had a real good season. They have a real nice inside out presence. Can they make some noise in the playoffs? They have a great opportunity tonight.

Judson has quietly been moving along all season steadily improving might just be the TEAM to beat! They ended the season with a bang which has fueled its confidence that they can beat anyone.  They have a lot of athletes and a lot of capable shooters. What makes them dangerous is that they are deep and can wear an opposing team down. 

Judson's District rival, Wagner is still very capable of representing Region IV, yes, AGAIN! When you have two kids that have the experience, skill and know how to take over a game at any time, you just can't count them out.

And you can't count Steele out as well. They cruised all season losing only once and avenging its only loss to Austin Bowie before losing to Wagner and Judson to end the season. But that might have been the best thing to happen. Sometimes losses takes the pressure off especially when nothing changed. They still remained the #1 seed. Losses also can refocus the team and the coach.

But then again, sometimes losses simply just expose weaknesses!

One team that is hard to pinpoint is Johnson. Sometimes teams go through stretches of not playing well and stretches of clicking on all cylinders. Well, with Johnson, they can have a bad loss that might signal trouble ahead and then they rebound the very next game with a big win. They can have a great game against a tough foe and you can say, watch out, here they come and then they lose the very next outing. Which team is going to show up in the playoffs?

O'Connor has just been steady moving along beating the teams they need to beat to stay alive. Nothing spectacular, the team has a very blue collar approach to games. Their backcourt is very capable of pulling off a surprise! They beat a talented Southwest squad in the first round.

Taft has been a feel good story all season. Along with Lee HS, they have shown that through hard work, it is possible to change programs around. I remember when this Taft Senior class were freshmen, their Varsity squad went 4-27 for the season and 0-16 in District play. They followed it up with 2-14 and 3-10 District records the following years. Now they stand at 30-7 for the year including a 9-4 District record. They beat a #1 Seed CC Carroll in the first round. 

So Wagner vs Clark tonight and tomorrow you have O'Connor vs Steele, Brandeis vs Johnson, Taft vs Judson. 

Gone are the days you had clear favorites and clear underdogs. 

Who is going to advance? Which players and teams are going to step up?

And let's not forget Antonian and Incarnate Word are still finishing out District play this weekend and don't start playoffs till next weekend. 

Wouldn't it have been something if you could have added them both to the whole mix and really get a True #1 in the city!

I don't know, does anyone KNOW? When is the last time two San Antonio private girls schools have risen to at least the #2 team in the city's Express News Rankings. You might and I say might have had one, but TWO Teams! That is quite impressive from both Antonian and Incarnate Word programs.

And how about Floresville, Devine and SA Cole all playing well and looking to go far in the playoffs!

Plus a lot of local smaller private schools trying to make their mark in the playoff scene!

It just shows and proves, Talent is everywhere! 

And because of it, many more teams are more than capable which makes the girls basketball landscape that much more competitive!

So who is the #1 team in the city?
GO OUT AND SUPPORT GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL!  
And maybe, just maybe, you will be able to determine it with your own eyes and not have to read about it!

SAN ANTONIO GIRLS HS BBALL TOP 10 TEAMS 1-28-16

I am going to bring up last Monday's NBA match up between the San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors. Yes, you might say the game really doesn't matter in the large scope of things but it does in some respects. The Warriors have won 40 straight at home and the Spurs have their own home winning streak going. Where would you want to play a 7 game playoff series? Most definitely at Home! Yes people counter with the fact the Spurs are a veteran team and they can overcome that. True, but it didn't work last year when they lost in the first round. 

Where am I going with this cause unlike the NBA, for the most part, High School teams don't have much of a home court advantage when they play in the larger venues, well playoff seeding does make a difference.

It's a long season, but every game has significance when things are so close. Last year the Spurs lost their last regular season game to the #8 seed and it cost them a higher seed as well as home court advantage in the first round. Things might have turned out different.

High School Girls Basketball is heading to the final stretch as teams are looking to clinch playoff berths and secure the best seeding possible. Would you want to face a team in the opening round of the playoffs thats a 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th seed? The road in the playoffs is definitely easier the higher seed you land in District play.

In District 25-6A, Steele seems to have firm control on the District title with a 2 game lead and only 4 games left to go. But with both Judson and Wagner still lurking right behind, anything can happen.

In District 26-6A, Reagan and Johnson meet this weekend. If Reagan wins, they will have a heavy advantage to take the District title. Johnson with only one loss to Reagan in District play need a win to force a tiebreaker if they both can win out. I'm sure Madison is going to have something to say before it is all over. Churchill has the inside track for the last playoff spot by beating Lee earlier. Lee needs to win out including beating Churchill  the next time they meet to have a chance at the last playoff spot.

In District 27-6A, Six teams still have a viable shot at making the playoffs with only 4 slots available. Clark and Brandeis are both tied for first with one loss each and are virtually assured of two playoff spots with one of them seemingly the District Champ. They play each other next Wednesday, the 3rd of February. Out of both teams, Brandeis seems to have an easier schedule to finish out. 
Taft and O'Connor have the inside track for the last remaining playoff spots with a two game lead over Brennan and Stevens. But Taft has a tough schedule to end the season including a match up with Brennan. Brennan has a softer schedule but needs to beat Taft to strengthen their chances of making the playoffs. Stevens will need to beat O'Connor when they play each other next time they meet to have an outside chance, plus they need to win out as well.

In District 28-6A, Corpus Christi Carroll and Southwest sit atop the District lead with one loss each. They both face off on Friday for seemingly the District title if the winner can win out. East Central and CC Ray are sitting pretty for the final two playoff spots.

In TAPPS 2-5A, Antonian and Incarnate Word meet again next week to determine the District Champion. Both teams are locks for the playoffs.

This is the way I see it going into this weekend's play.
My Top 10 are as follows:

1) Steele- WINS: John Tyler, Argyle, Brandeis, Floresville, Brennan, O'Connor, Austin Bowie, Clemens, Judson, Wagner   LOSSES: Austin Bowie 
NOTES: Can anyone beat them from the San Antonio area? Only loss to Austin Bowie was avenged. The most consistent team plus loaded with talent. You better have some good guard play, strong inside presence and good shooting if you want to have a chance. That translates into Steele has a tough defense.

2) Clark-  WINS: Incarnate Word, Brandeis, Brennan LOSSES: Killeen, Argyle Liberty Christian, Taft 
NOTES: A very solid team with very strong guard play with a good inside presence. Didn't play many solid San Antonio teams outside their district which can hurt them once playoffs start. They have the talent to duplicate last years O'Connor great playoff run.

3) Incarnate Word- WINS: Westbury Christian(Twice), Kinkaid, Wagner, SA Cole, Johnson, Floresville, Antonian, St Stephens LOSSES: Georgetown, Westbury Christian, Richardson, Fayetville, AR 
NOTES: Strong guard play with a mixture of veterans and young talent. A lot of capable shooters. If their defense is on, they have a strong fast break that can finish inside and out. Savvy floor general along with a bona fide scorer provides you a solid 1, 2 punch.

4) Judson- WINS: RR Westwood, Killeen, O'Connor(Twice), Wagner, Clemens LOSSES: Cedar Vista Ridge, Madison, Clemens NOTES: Talented and athletic club. Their defense provides sparks fast break opportunities. They have players that can hit the long ball at a moments notice which opens up the middle. At times, their overall intensity can be scary to opponents. 

5) Antonian-  Wins: Johnson (Three times), Brennan, Brandeis, Amarillo, St Stephens Losses: Johnson, Devine, Boerne, Incarnate Word NOTES: Overall its hard to find a team that gives you more effort and all out drive to compete than this group. They have shooters to compliment their aggressive defense.  If you happen to play them, you better have some able guards cause you are going to be in for a long day if you don't.

6) Johnson- WINS Antonian, Wagner, Brandeis, Lee, Taft LOSSES: Antonian (Three times), Taft, Incarnate Word, Brennan, Reagan NOTES: A solid and very athletic front court. That is the key to their success. Offensive rebounds for second chance opportunities and defensive rebounds to start the fast break with a very capable point guard leading the way. They are most effective when they run the court getting to the bucket.

7) Wagner- WINS: Brandeis, Brennan, Plano Prestonwood, Clemens LOSSES: Incarnate Word, South Grand Prairie, Galena North Shore, Johnson, Richardson, Cedar Hill, Plano, Judson, Steele NOTES: Guard play are playmakers extraordinaire. Injuries have hurt as well as of lack of depth.

8)Brandeis- WINS: Amarillo, Taft, Brennan, O'Connor Losses: Antonian, Steele, Wagner, Brennan, Judson, Johnson, Clark, Clemens 
NOTES: Another exceptional playmaking guard with some some nice solid players to go along with. They have taken their lumps early on in the season but seem to be clicking.

9) Reagan- WINS: Johnson, Clemens LOSSES: Wagner, Johnson, Brandeis, Brennan, Steele, RR Westwood, Pfurgerville, Killeen 
NOTES: Solid and very capable starting unit inside and out. Another team that took their lumps early on but is clicking at the right team. Strong Senior leadership provides an essential ingredient of going deep in the playoffs.

10) Clemens- WINS: Judson, Brandeis LOSSES: Johnson, Brandeis, Wagner, Steele, Judson NOTES: Even if they come out as a 4th seed, look out for them. They can still make some noise.

GAMES OF NOTE:

FRIDAY

CC Carrol at Southwest 630pm

Judson at Wagner 7pm

Steele at Clemens 7pm


SATURDAY

Reagan at Johnson (LITTLETON GYM) 130pm

O'Connor at Clark (TAYLOR FIELDHOUSE) 2pm


GO SUPPORT GIRLS BASKETBALL!!!!!!

SAN ANTONIO GIRLS HS BBALL TOP 10 TEAMS 1-13-16

Once upon a time, the Antonian vs Incarnate Word game would be a big deal in the Private School community. This season, it's turning out to be one of the biggest games in the city!

How did Private Schools get to the point here in San Antonio where they are able to compete against any team in the Public School system?

Take a look into both Antonian and Incarnate Word rosters and you will find most kids are also involved heavy into the AAU/Club basketball scene that runs pretty much as soon as High School season is over. The majority of both teams rosters actually started playing Varsity competition in their Freshman season. 
A lot of these kids will be playing at the next level as well.

What makes this matchup interesting and very intriguing is the fact that most kids playing were teammates in Private School ever since elementary as well as teammates in AAU/Club Organizations either right now in the present or at different stages of their playing career. 

It is rare in the Public School setting that a lot of the Parents know each other from opposing teams. 
You cannot say that in this Private School setting, especially of some of the friendships that were formed as way back to when the players were enrolled in Day Care!

On Thursday 6pm at the Alamo Convocation Center, both teams will finally face off in their first matchup of the season. And for sure there is going to be the thrill of victory for one team and for at least a little while, the agony of defeat for the other!
But make no mistake, both teams have made themselves proud by their overall play and how they have represented their respective schools, family, friends and fan base all season long!

They have made Private Schools a Cool place to be! ........And to me that's a pretty cool thing!

Here are my Top 10 teams as of this week:

1) Steele- WINS: John Tyler, Argyle, Brandeis, Floresville, Brennan, O'Connor, Austin Bowie, Clemens, Wagner   LOSSES: Austin Bowie

2) Antonian-  Wins: Johnson (Three times), Brennan, Brandeis, Amarillo Losses: Johnson, Devine, Boerne

3) Clark-  WINS: Incarnate Word, Brandeis LOSSES: Killeen, Argyle Liberty Christian, Taft

4) Incarnate Word- WINS: Westbury Christian(Twice), Kinkaid, Wagner, SA Cole, Johnson, Floresville LOSSES: Georgetown, Westbury Christian, Richardson, Fayetville, AR

5) Judson- WINS: RR Westwood, Killeen, O'Connor(Twice), Wagner LOSSES: Cedar Vista Ridge, Madison, Clemens

6) Clemens- WINS: Judson, Brandeis LOSSES: Johnson, Brandeis, Wagner, Steele

7) Johnson- WINS Antonian, Wagner, Brandeis, Lee, Taft LOSSES: Antonian (Three times), Taft, Incarnate Word, Brennan

8) Wagner- WINS: Brandeis, Brennan, Plano Prestonwood, Clemens LOSSES: Incarnate Word, South Grand Prairie, Galena North Shore, Johnson, Richardson, Cedar Hill, Plano, Judson, Steele

9)Brandeis- WINS: Amarillo, Taft Losses: Antonian, Steele, Wagner, Brennan, Judson, Johnson, Clark, Clemens

Tied for 10): O'Connor, Brennan, Reagan,

Games to Watch
Friday 1/15/2016
Steele vs Judson 7pm

GO SUPPORT GIRLS BASKETBALL!

SAN ANTONIO GIRLS HS BBALL TOP 10 1-3-16

As I was watching Star Wars: The Force Awakens, I thought I had a better chance of finding out where Luke Skywalker was hiding than trying to figure out what the city's Top Ten teams look like.

One thing for sure, the dynamics of District races has changed through the years. It was almost a given to predict which teams were coming out from each District into the State playoffs. In some cases, it was a given in what numerical seeds those teams were going to be as well.

But with the emergence of Club ball around the city as well as with a lot of quality trainers, High School teams are getting more and more competitive because there are more quality players around the city.

For the record, in my opinion, the term "Elite Player" is used too loosely by some.

But it's almost starting to feel like the days where a team that fielded an "Elite Player" or "Players"  that would just walk through all the competition are over for now. So many quality players all around the city are making a difference and also making it interesting in predicting who is going to win over who. 

Looking at the box scores, many teams on the outside looking in have come close to posting so called upsets.

But in reality there is no such thing as upsets this High School girls basketball season because PARITY has taken hold.

Team A beats team B by 30pts and then Team B beats a team that beat Team A! What!!!!

But thats the beauty of sports, as long as you have a chance no matter how small and minute, your team has RELEVANCE!!!!

Most like and cherish the underdog role but deep down aim and long to be the TEAM to beat!
It's just Human Nature.
Aren't the best movies or stories about overcoming all odds and coming out on top!

Isn't that why Star Wars movies and characters are so adorned!

So District play has started for most teams and your team might be down or they might be up, remember the most important stretch is upon us!

I have some advice to all the teams 
"May the Force be with YOU!"

Here are my Top 10 teams for the City....

1) Steele- Wins: John Tyler, Argyle, Brandeis, Floresville, Brennan, O'Connor, Austin Bowie Losses: Austin Bowie

2) Clark-  Wins: Incarnate Word, Brandeis Losses: Killeen, Argyle Liberty Christian

3) Antonian-  Wins: Johnson (Twice), Brennan, Brandeis, Amarillo Losses: Johnson, Devine, Boerne

4) Incarnate Word- WINS: Westbury Christian(Twice), Kinkaid, Wagner, SA Cole, Johnson, Floresville LOSSES: Georgetown, Westbury Christian, Richardson, Fayetville, AR

5) Johnson- WINS Antonian, Wagner, Brandeis, Lee LOSSES: Antonian (Twice), Taft, Incarnate Word, Brennan

6) Wagner- WINS: Brandeis, Brennan, Plano Prestonwood, Clemens LOSSES: Incarnate Word, South Grand Prairie, Galena North Shore, Johnson, Richardson, Cedar Hill, Plano

7) Clemens- WINS: Judson, Brandeis LOSSES: Johnson, Brandeis, Wagner

8) Judson- WINS: RR Westwood, Killeen, O'Connor(Twice) LOSSES: Cedar Vista Ridge, Madison, Clemens

9)Brandeis- WINS: Amarillo, Taft Losses: Antonian, Steele, Wagner, Brennan, Judson, Johnson, Clark, Clemens

Tied: O'Connor, Brennan, Reagan, Taft

Special Shout Out to Devine and Floresville girls basketball teams playing some great basketball as well!

Games of note:

Tuesday January 5th, 2016
Clemens at Steele 7pm
Wagner at Judson 7pm
Taft at Clark 630pm
Johnson vs Reagan 630pm

Friday January 8th, 2016
Steele at Wagner 7pm

Don't underestimate the Power of Girls Basketball, its force is great!

GO SUPPORT GIRLS HS BASKETBALL!!!!!!!