Elgin’s Matthew Cato led the boys with a thirdplace finish in the 3200meter run. On the girls side, Ta’Myra Walker placed third in the 100meter dash, and the Lady Wildcats 4x100-meter relay team finished fourth.

Bastrop’s boys team saw multiple athletes place inside the top four. Greyson Thompson led the way with a first-place finish in the pole vault; Kian Pucek claimed gold in the triple jump and added a thirdplace finish in the long jump; Zachary Wilkinson earned third in the 110meter hurdles; Caleb Bolt took bronze in the 300meter hurdles; John Findley finished fourth in the 200-meter dash; and Austin Moilan added a thirdplace finish in the discus.

For the girls of Bastrop, Jocelyn Thompson recorded a second-place finish in the pole vault, Bethany Greer placed fourth in the 100-meter dash, Bears’ relay teams finished third in the 4x100-meter relay and fourth in the 4x200.

Cedar Creek’s girls team was represented by MacKenzy Roberts, who finished fourth in the 300-meter hurdles.

Smithville delivered some of the top performances at the meet, led by Briyanna Sampson, who swept both the long jump and triple jump with first-place finishes.

Zacaria Hibbens also brought home gold in the 800-meter run, while Zane Perkins finished first in the pole vault. Baylor Watson added a third-place finish in the discus, and Ava Bryant placed fourth in the 400meter dash.

Bastrop, Elgin and Cedar Creek will compete in the regional meet May 1-2 at Challenger Columbia Field in Webster, while Smithville will race at Bullard High School.

The Smithville Lady Tigers softball team secured a perfect 10-0 district championship after completing a sweep of Bellville last week.

The girls took home the title with a 3-0 win over the Brahmas April 14 and 5-3 finish three days later. The title marks the second consecutive district championship for Smithville, which finished 9-1 in district play last season before improving to an undefeated mark this year.

GAME ONE

Smithville’s Jessica Hinnant delivered a dominant performance in the circle, tossing a complete-game perfect game. She allowed no runs, no hits and no walks while striking out 13 batters.

The Lady Tigers also played a flawless defense behind her, committing no errors.

Despite the dominant pitching, Smithville had to grind for runs early. The Lady Tigers broke through in the bottom of the third inning when Brittney Collins drove in a run on an RBI single to give Smithville a 1-0 lead.

Smithville added insurance runs in the fifth inning with back-toback RBI doubles from Hinnant and Collins.

Collins led the offense, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs.

Hinnant closed out the game with a groundout followed by two strikeouts.

GAME TWO

Smithville capped its perfect district season with a hard-fought 5-3 win over Bellville in the series finale.

Addison Otto got the start in the circle, pitching three innings and allowing two runs. Hinnant came on in relief and once again dominated, giving up just one run while striking out nine batters.

The Lady Tigers struck first with an RBI single from Kenna Tiner to take a 1-0 lead. Bellville responded by taking its first lead of the series, capitalizing on an error and a base hit to go up 2-1 at the end of the third inning.

Smithville answered in the fifth after Hinnant settled things from the circle. Otto delivered a key two-run home run, and the Lady Tigers added another on a groundout to take a three-run lead.

Bellville managed to push across one run in the final inning, but Hinnant shut the door with three consecutive strikeouts to secure the victory and complete the undefeated district run.

Otto paced the offense, going 3-for-3 with two RBIs.

Smithville now advances to the postseason, where it will face La Marque in the bi-district round at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 23, at Rice High School.

Last season, the Lady Tigers dominated La Marque in the first round, winning the best-of-three series in two with a combined score of 30-0.

The Lady Bears entered the game needing a win to secure a playoff spot against undefeated Mc-Callum, and the roster came out swinging. Bastrop built a 6-0 lead by the end of the third inning after scoring three runs on a home run by Madison Perez in the first, later adding a run on an error and two-RBI double from Lizzie Rodriguez.

Ella Griesenbeck got the start in the circle and was dominant through the first three frames, allowing no runs and recording two strikeouts.

Momentum began to shift in the fourth when the Knights tallied their first run. Bastrop’s bats went quiet the rest of the way, forcing the Lady Bears to hold on late.

McCallum added another run in the fifth to make it 6-2, then scored three more in the sixth to pull within one.

The Knights threatened a tie or lead change later in the inning with runners on the corners and two outs, but a lineout to Jessa Clay ended the threat.

That defensive play proved crucial. McCallum put its leadoff runner on base in the seventh, but Bastrop recorded three straight outs to seal the win.

Jamie Green came on in relief of Griesenbeck and secured the save.

Bastrop faces East View at 6 p.m. Friday, April 24.

The Elgin High School boys soccer team capped off a breakthrough season with multiple District 23-5A postseason honors, highlighted by a return to the playoffs for the first time since 2014.

Diego Ramirez, the team’s leading scorer, was named the district’s Offensive MVP, headlining a group of Wildcats recognized for their production throughout the season.

Elgin also placed two players on the First Team All-District squad, with Diego Carbajal and Aurelio Montoya earning top honors.

Jesus Capetillo and Miguel Aguilar were selected to the Second Team, while Eric Portillo, Bryan Castelan, Jamie Harmer and Ayden Caballero each received Honorable Mention recognition.

Head coach Eddie Lerma was named District 23-5A Coach of the Year after guiding Elgin back to the postseason and overseeing one of the program’s most successful campaigns in recent years. The honors reflect a significant step forward for the Wildcats, who reestablished themselves as contenders in district play.

HUTTO — The Bears’ soccer season ended with a loss March 31, but not before Bastrop set a new benchmark with its deepest playoff run in program history.

Bastrop fell 4-0 to Liberal Arts and Science Academy at Hutto High School in the fourth round of the playoffs. The Raptors’ athleticism and pace were on full display, making it difficult for the Bears to produce clean looks on goal.

“LASA is a very talented team,” Bastrop head coach Greg Vuagniaux said. “We have either lost or tied for the past two seasons.”

Despite the loss, Bastrop’s playoff run marked a milestone for the program, which had never advanced past the third round.

Vuagniaux credited the team’s competitiveness and chemistry for the breakthrough season. “This team is full of strong competitors — they don’t like to lose,” he said. “They love the game of soccer, and they love each other. When you have that mix, it makes for some really great soccer.”

LASA took control early, finding the back of the net on a 30yard free kick just two minutes into the match. The Raptors added two more goals before halftime, extended their lead in the second and maintained control throughout in their shutout win.

Windy conditions played a significant role throughout the game, impacting both teams’ ability to control the ball. However, Bastrop appeared to struggle more with the elements, as several possessions were disrupted by errant passes and misplayed kicks.

The Bears created a few scoring opportunities in the first half. Angel Chavez nearly broke through on a one-on-one breakaway, but his early shot attempt sailed off target, keeping Bastrop off the scoreboard.

Vuagniaux, who completed his second season as head coach, now has five total playoff wins at Bastrop. He said the program’s goal is to extend its season as deep into the spring as possible.

“It’s definitely an accomplishment for the program, however … our end goal is to make it to April,” he said.

Bastrop will graduate 11 seniors but returns top scorers in Angel Chavez, Anthony Reyes, Franklin Martinez and freshman keeper Gavin Meraz.

With a historic run and a core group returning, the Bears enter next season with momentum and rising expectations.

“They love the game of soccer, and they love each other.”

— Greg Vuagniaux, Bastrop head coach

• Elgin softball loses to Georgetown, 18-2

• Bastrop baseball loses to LASA, 2-1

• Bastrop softball loses to LASA, 5-4

• Smithville baseball loses to Caldwell, 2-0

• Smithville softball wins against Caldwell, 4-3

The Eagles secured a 4-1 victory over the Vikings, while the Lady Eagles rolled to a 20-5 run-rule win April 2.

SOFTBALL

The Lady Eagles secured their second district win of the season with a three-inning performance.

Emma Fidler led the way with three RBIs of Cedar Creek’s total eight hits.

The Lady Eagles exploded for 10 runs in the first inning. Aricella Meta delivered an RBI single, and Krislynn Ramirez added an RBI triple before a hit-by-pitch and a bases-clearing triple from Fidler made it 6-0.

The Lady Eagles added four more runs on walks as Navarro’s pitching staff struggled, issuing 15 walks in the game.

Cedar Creek scored eight more runs in the second inning but allowed five runs in the bottom half on walks and a pair of hit batters.

The Lady Eagles closed out the game with two additional runs on a hit-by-pitch and an RBI single from Adamarie Dimas.

Cedar Creek improved to 2-9 in district play.

The Lady Eagles faced McCallum on Tuesday and will return to action against Liberal Arts and Science Academy at 7 p.m. April 10.

BASEBALL

The Eagles were in a much tighter contest last week, with runs at a premium in their 4-1 victory over Navarro.

Joseph Moreno led the way, earning the save while driving in two key runs. He finished 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBIs and pitched three scoreless innings, striking out three.

Isaiah Cancino earned the win, allowing one run over four innings while striking out four.

Navarro struck first, scoring on a flyout in the top of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. Cedar Creek responded with three runs in the bottom half, highlighted by an RBI single from Moreno to tie the game and an RBI single from Cancino to give the Eagles a lead.

The Eagles added another run on a hitby- pitch and Moreno provided an insurance run in the fifth inning with his second RBI single of the game.

Cedar Creek improved to 3-5 in district play and sits fifth in the standings.

The Eagles faced Mc-Callum on Tuesday and will close the series against the Knights on Friday at 7 p.m.

The victory came on the heels of a 2-1 win over Houston Sharpstown in the area round March 24 at Rudder High School in Bryan, continuing a strong postseason run for the Bears. Head coach Gregory Vuagniaux praised his team’s all-around effort during the stretch.

“I felt like the boys, in all three phases that we work on, pulled it all together,” Vuagniaux said. “We have just been playing really as a unit. Whether we go up a goal or are down a goal, we are focused on the next thing, so I’m very proud of the boys.”

AREA ROUND COMEBACK

Bastrop opened the week with a hard-fought 2-1 comeback victory over Sharpstown, highlighted by a late goal from Gael Ramirez that sealed the win in the 74th minute.

Sharpstown struck early to take a 1-0 lead and maintained offensive pressure for much of the first half. The Bears, however, found their footing late in the half when sophomore Issac Velazquez netted the equalizer in the 37th minute.

The second half featured a back-and-forth battle, with both teams creating scoring chances but unable to break through as defenses held firm. With overtime looming, Ramirez delivered the game winner, chipping in the go-ahead goal to lift Bastrop to victory.

The goal marked just his second of the season.

BEARS BREAK THROUGH

The momentum carried into the next round, where Bastrop turned in a dominant 4-1 win over Splendora.

The Bears’ offense came out aggressive and maintained control throughout the match.

Velazquez led the way with a standout performance, recording two goals and an assist. Franklin Gutierrez opened the scoring in the 28th minute, finishing off a free kick setup from Velazquez to give Bastrop a 1-0 lead.

Velazquez then took over, scoring back-toback goals in the 35th and 38th minutes to extend the lead to 3-0 before halftime.

Sophomore Anthony Reyes added another goal later in the match to cap the scoring and secure the 4-1 victory.

BUILDING A PROGRAM

Now in his second season, Vuagniaux has quickly elevated the program. After guiding the Bears to the third round of the playoffs last year, he has already led them one step further this season.

While the milestone is significant, Vuagniaux emphasized that the team’s focus remains on its ultimate goal.

“It’s definitely an accomplishment for the program,” he said. “However, it’s not our end goal. Even last year when we lost in the third round, our goal has been to make it to April. It’s really hard not to celebrate an accomplishment, but as an athlete, you have to focus on what’s in front of you.”

The Bears aimed to take the next step toward that goal as they faced Austin Liberal Arts & Science Academy in the fourth round after press time Tuesday, March 31. The Bastrop-LASA winner meets the Liberty Hill-Comal Pieper winner this weekend in the state semifinals.

MARBLE FALLS

The Wildcats got a strong performance in the circle March 24 from junior utility player Katelyn Anderson, who threw a complete game, allowing one run on five hits with no strikeouts.

Anderson pitched to contact and allowed her defense to back her up, as Elgin committed just one error.

That was not the case for the Mustangs, who had seven errors the Wildcats took advantage of.

Elgin got on the board in the top of the first, scoring two runs on an RBI single from senior Bianca Galindo and a groundout to make it 2-0. Marble Falls scored its only run of the game on a sacrifice fly in the bottom half of the inning.

Elgin answered with a sacrifice fly of its own in the second inning to make it 3-1 and added another run in the fourth. The Lady Cats scored two runs on an error in the sixth before closing the game with a sacrifice bunt and 7-1 tally.

Galindo finished 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI.

HENDRICKSON

The pitching was a different story March 27, as Anderson struggled early, allowing six runs on five hits in the first two innings.

Elgin’s defense also had trouble and committed seven errors. Hendrickson scored two runs in the first inning after an error.

Elgin had a runner in scoring position in the bottom half of the inning but could not convert. Hendrickson added four runs in the second, aided by two hit batters and another Lady Cats error.

The Hawks went on to score eight more unanswered points. Elgin found some success in the bottom of the fifth, as Trinity Martinez hit an RBI single and the Wildcats drew a bases- loaded walk, but the game ended early in a 14-2 loss.

Sarah Herring came on in relief of Anderson. She allowed eight runs on three hits.

The Wildcats faced Weiss March 31 and will return to action against Georgetown Thursday, April 2, at 6 p.m.

Addison Otto and Kenzly White led the way, combining to go 6-for-7 at the plate with three RBIs apiece. The Lady Tigers broke the game open with a 10-run fifth inning to secure the win.

Both teams were scoreless through the first two innings. Smithville got on the board in the third on a two-RBI single from White.

Smithville added another run in the fourth on an RBI single from Jessica Hinnant to extend the lead to 3-0 and set up a massive fifth inning.

White opened the scoring in the fifth with an RBI single, and Brityn Roberts followed with one of her own to make it 5-0. Otto then delivered a bases-clearing triple to push the lead to eight runs, and senior Jessi Davis added a two-run double as Smithville extended its lead to 10-0.

The Lady Tigers capped the inning with RBI singles from senior Kenna Tiner and Alystar Ramos, along with a groundout, to secure the run-rule victory.

Hinnant was dominant in the circle, earning the win while allowing just one hit in five innings with eight strikeouts.

The Lady Tigers closed the series against Caldwell on Tuesday and will return to action against Navasota Tuesday, April 7, at 7 p.m.

“A lot of our team is made up of sophomores, so our team understands that we are not rebuilding — we are reloading.”

— Elgin head coach Eddie Lerma

The Elgin and Bastrop boys varsity soccer teams competed in the bi-district round of the playoffs Friday night, but only the Bears managed to keep their season alive.

The Wildcats fell 3-0 to Liberal Arts & Science Academy March 20, while Bastrop secured a 2-1 victory over Pflugerville Connally and advanced to the area round.

ELGIN

The Wildcats struggled offensively in their shutout at Nelson Field in Austin.

Elgin head coach Eddie Lerma said his team will build off the appearance.

“LASA is a really good team, and we just kind of fell a bit short,” Lerma said. “I think it was a lack of experience in the playoffs, but I think my team competed really well, and that’s all I can ask of them.”

Elgin trailed 2-0 at halftime and worked to keep the game within reach, but a second-half goal by the Raptors put the match out of reach.

Elgin head coach Eddie Lerma reflected on his team’s effort following the season-ending loss.

Despite the defeat, the season marked a significant step forward for the program. The Wildcats reached the postseason for the first time since 2014, signaling clear progress and momentum, according to Lerma.

“The future is looking bright,” he said. “A lot of our team is made up of sophomores, so our team understands that we are not rebuilding — we are reloading.”

Lerma emphasized that this playoff appearance is just the beginning, setting a higher standard for the program moving forward.

“A playoff team has to keep getting better day in and day out, so we won’t have any days off,” he said. “We’ll get back into the weight room, back to playing soccer, and the boys are ready for that.”

Elgin is set to return 12 players from this year’s postseason roster, including leading scorer Diego Ramirez, who will enter his senior season next year.

BASTROP

The Bears rallied in the second half to edge the Cougars in a 2-1 victory Friday at the Manor Athletic Complex.

Bastrop trailed 1-0 at halftime but responded with a strong second-half performance. Senior Cayden Justice and junior Angel Chavez Hernandez each scored to lift the Bears to the comeback win.

Freshman Gavin Meraz contributed with an assist in the victory.

The win marks the second consecutive season Bastrop defeated Pflugerville Connally by a 2-1 scoreline in the opening round of the playoffs.

With the victory, Bastrop advanced to face Sharpstown in the area round after press time Tuesday.

Elgin fell to 5-15-1 overall and 2-4 in district play with the split week. The team faced Marble Falls after press time Tuesday and will return to action at home against Hendrickson Friday, March 27, at 6 p.m.

CONNALLY

Elgin took down the Cougars March 17 behind a nine-run fifth inning.

Senior Bianca Galindo led the team at the plate, going 3-for-4 with four RBIs. Freshman Madilyn Wildy had a breakout performance, finishing 4-for-4 with three RBIs.

Junior utility player Katelyn Anderson earned the win in the circle, pitching five innings while allowing three runs and striking out five.

Galindo opened the scoring with a two-run home run in the top of the first. Elgin added two more runs later in the inning on an error to extend that lead.

Connally answered with two runs in the bottom half of the inning to cut the deficit to 4-2. The Lady Cats quickly responded with an RBI single from Wildy and a dropped third strike that brought in another run.

Elgin continued to pull away, outscoring the Cougars 11-1 the rest of the way. Galindo added her second home run of the game in the fifth inning, a two-run shot.

Junior Jaylen Barker delivered the final blow with a bases-clearing triple to make it 17-3. Barker finished 2-for-4 with four RBIs.

EAST VIEW

The Lady Cats fell in a high-scoring contest as East View used a sixrun fifth inning to secure the win.

Senior Trinity Martinez led Elgin with two RBIs. East View’s offense surged early, building a 6-0 lead after the top of the second inning. Elgin answered in the bottom half, scoring six runs on four consecutive singles and an error to tie the game.

East View added a run in the fourth to take a one-point lead, but Elgin responded once again immediately.

The Lady Cats took their first lead of the game on an RBI single from Anderson and later drew a bases- loaded walk to make it 8-7.

The game shifted in the fifth inning when East View scored six runs to take a 13-8 lead. Elgin battled back with three additional runs across the fifth and sixth innings, but the deficit proved too much to overcome.

Anderson took the loss, allowing 13 runs on 13 hits while recording one strikeout.

The Bears were dominant in game one. Kody Wright and Mason Smith led the way against the Eagles and combined to go 4-for-7 at the plate with two RBIs each.

Cooper Voigt was the winning pitcher, throwing 4.1 innings and giving up three runs on three hits with six strikeouts.

Cedar Creek pitcher Isaiah Cancino took the loss, going 4.2 innings and giving up seven runs on seven hits with two strikeouts.

The Bears got on the board first with an RBI single from Smith in the top of the first. Bastrop followed that up with two more runs in the second on RBI singles from Lathan Bennett and Kody Wright to make it 3-0.

The Eagles fought back with two runs of their own on an RBI single from Brayan Rodriguez and scored on a passed third strike to cut the lead to 3-2 heading into the third.

Both teams were scoreless until the Bears opened up the game with a six-run fifth inning. Cedar Creek would score once more on an RBI single from Joseph Moreno in the fifth as the Bears closed out the game.

Game two was a much more competitive matchup as both pitching staffs were put to the test in a low-scoring battle.

Wright got the start for the Bears as he threw four scoreless innings, giving up three hits with two strikeouts.

Eagles starter Jacob Borrego also threw four scoreless innings but was finally gotten to in the fifth, where Bastrop scored all three of its runs.

The Bears broke the game open with three straight RBI singles from Voigt, Wright and Tristan St. Clair with two outs left on the inning. The points proved to be the difference in the sweep.

Francisco Arriaga came in for relief of Borrego and went three scoreless innings, giving up one hit with three strikeouts.

Bastrop improved to 7-9-2 overall and 2-0 in district, while Cedar Creek fell to 7-11 overall and 2-2 in district.

The Bears will finish up their series with Navarro at home Friday, March 27, at 7 p.m. The Eagles will end their set with Anderson on the road.

Bastrop’s most recent win came in an 18-0 sweep of Navarro March 6 at Bastrop High School. Ella Gresienbeck was dominant in the circle, pitching a complete- game shutout in the run-rule shortened contest.

The sophomore allowed no runs and struck out six over three innings.

The Lady Bears wasted no time getting their offense going last week, exploding for 10 runs in the first inning.

Sophomore Rya n Stephanick highlighted the inning with a bases- clearing triple that drove in three runs. A throwing error on the play allowed a fourth runner to score, extending Bastrop’s early lead.

Andrea Mangandi and Lanie Cox also contributed during the big inning. Mangandi delivered an RBI single to bring home another run, while Cox worked a bases-loaded walk that forced in one.

Bastrop continued to apply pressure in the second, adding five more runs. The Lady Bears then capitalized on five walks and several Navarro errors to push the lead to 15-0.

The Lady Bears closed out the game in the third inning with three more runs. Kara Spurlock delivered a two-RBI single, and another run scored on a walk to secure the 18-0 victory.

With the win, Bastrop improved to 7-5-1 overall and 3-0 in district play.

The Lady Bears will look to continue their strong start when they travel to face Liberal Arts and Science Academy March 11 at 7 p.m.

Elgin’s varsity boys roster finished fourth in the district with a 4-5-3 record. The last time the Wildcats reached the playoffs was in 2014.

Head coach Eddie Lerma credited a lot of the team’s success to their grit.

“They have been resilient this year,” Lerma said. “It’s always a tough matchup every Tuesday and Friday in that district. We really had to encourage the team to find it in themselves to keep fighting, and it really took a couple of those games to make the guys believe they could do more than usual.”

The Wildcats faced a challenging start to district play, opening with a 1-4 record before tying their next three matches as their playoff hopes began to look bleak.

Facing an uphill battle, Lerma’s team found its rhythm late in the season, picking up key wins against Weiss, Georgetown and Pflugerville Connally to secure the top-four finish.

Lerma said he believes the rough early district stretch helped the Wildcats grow. Tough matchups better prepared Elgin for hard-fought wins down the stretch.

One of the biggest moments of the season came in a 2-1 Senior Night victory over Pflugerville Connally, who went on to finish first in the district.

“We went in there confident that we could get a good result, but we were surprised to be in the game as much as we were,” Lerma said. “That win was the perfect way to build momentum, make the guys believe and finish off our last home game with a win over the best team in district.”

After that match, Elgin either needed a win over East View or for Weiss to defeat Pflugerville in order to clinch a playoff spot. The Wildcats fell to the Patriots 3-2, but Weiss found a 1-0 win, securing Elgin’s postseason berth.

Lerma described the team’s reaction on the bus ride home as a “party” when they heard their season would continue.

According to the coach, one of the keys to the team’s success this season has been a veteran-led roster featuring eight seniors, along with junior Diego Ramirez, who leads the team with 15 goals.

After a bye week, the Wildcats will travel to face Rouse in a playoff warmup game Friday, March 13, at 6 p.m.

Rouse finished first in their district.

“We will play the first team in the Austin ISD district, so we are looking to see how we stack up against competition that mirrors that intensity,” Lerma said.

Elgin will either face Anderson or Liberal Arts and Science Academy with a time and date to be determined.

Every two years this happens.

The University Interscholastic League redraws classifications, districts and regions every other year. When it comes to the basketball districts, the UIL actually did a good job this time around.

Elgin, Bastrop and Cedar Creek remained in Districts 23 and 24-5A, respectively, in basketball. Six of the current 23-5A members — Elgin, Georgetown, Connally, Hendrickson, Pflugerville and Weiss — stayed in the district, with Georgetown East View moving up to 6A.

New members of 23-5A will be Leander Glenn and Manor. This will renew the Elgin-Manor rivalry.

Bastrop and Cedar Creek remain in 24-5A with schools from the Austin Independent School District. Their Austin ISD counterparts are Anderson, Crockett, Liberal Arts and Science Academy, McCallum, Navarro and the girls-only Ann Richards Academy.

In football, Elgin and Bastrop stayed together with Crockett, Navarro and LASA, who plans on playing varsity football after a two-year independent hiatus, as members of 12-5A-Division II. The district has six teams instead of eight as former members Connally and McCallum moved up to 5A-Division I and Liberty Hill moved into a different 5A-DII district.

Cedar Creek is still in a district of nine with current district mates Anderson, Lehman and Lockhart, as well as newcomers Boerne Champion, Manor, McCallum, Seguin and two-time defending state champion Smithson Valley. The other five teams in the current 12-5A-DI — A&M Consolidated, College Station, Hays, Hendrickson and Weiss — either moved into another district or moved up to 6A.

The Classes 5A-A football districts are crazy. But that’s expected when you insist on splitting each of those classifications into two divisions.

If you’re going to have 12 state champions, you need to have 12 different classifications. But I’ll save that for another time.

When it comes to regions, the UIL actually did some good things. In 4A, the Austin area schools are back in Region IV, while Houston area schools — Needville, Columbia and La Marque, to name a few — are finally in Region III.

It’s a good idea to keep schools in the same metropolitan or geographic area in the same regions. The UIL didn’t completely adhere to that practice.

In 6A and 5A, the governing body of Texas high school athletics and activities continues to put 4-6 Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area districts in Region I with schools from El Paso and West Texas, while putting the remaining schools in Region II with schools from East Texas, Central Texas or Greater Houston.

Since there are more than eight districts of DFW area schools in 6A and 5A, it would make sense to have an all-DFW area region and put the remaining DFW area schools in another region.

Region III-6A was a prime example of fixing something that isn’t broken. Instead of putting eight Houston area districts in the region, the UIL put seven districts from that area with an Austin area district.

Hutto happens to be in that district. The Hippos are in the same league with five Leander district schools and Georgetown East View, and these schools will be paired with ones from Cypress, Richmond, Rosenberg and Waller in the first round of the playoffs.

If the track and field, tennis, cross country and golf districts and regions are the same, Hutto athletes will travel to the Houston area instead of Austin or San Antonio to compete for the right to go to state. To add insult to injury, the other two Austin area 6A districts are in Region IV — 25 and 26-6A.

It would make more sense in 6A to have an all-DFW region, an all-Houston region, and a region with the ninth DFW area district, the three Austin areas, Central Texas and the three remaining Houston area districts. The fourth region can be a piecemeal of the El Paso, West Texas, four San Antonio/ Laredo area and two Rio Grande Valley districts.

In 5A, putting the six Houston area districts in the same region with the two Austin areas wasn’t the worst move in the world. Neither was putting the three San Antonio area districts in the same region with the three RGV and the Laredo and Corpus Christi areas.

Splitting DFW was the problem. It would’ve made more sense to have Region II be all-DFW area; Region I could be a combination of the two El Paso, two West Texas, two Austin area and two remaining DFW area districts; Region III would be six Houston area, East Texas and Central Texas; and Region IV as is.

It’s like building a puzzle. You build regions based on metropolitan or geographic areas and you piecemeal the rest of the classification accordingly.

This way, you can have the right districts and the right regions.

Chlapek is the Area Editor of the Elgin Courier and Taylor Press. He can be reached at jason.chlapek@granitemediapartners.com.

The Bears closed out the year Feb. 24 with a 58-42 loss to the Pflugerville Panthers in the bi-district round of the playoffs at Manor High School. Despite predictions to finish last in the district, Bastrop Head Coach Daniel Hobbs said he wasn’t surprised by the program’s accomplishments and podium finish.

“I don’t think the expectations other than mine were all that high,” he said. “This was the first taste that any of these kids had of playoff basketball, so just getting there was a big step.”

Generating offensive threats proved to be difficult in the team’s final contest of the season. Bastrop fell behind early and was unable to recover.

The Bears failed to place a player in double figures.

Sophomore point guard Jamarion Aldridge Hopes led the team with nine points but struggled from the field, finishing 2 for 13. Senior forward Brent Carter also scored nine on an efficient 3-of-4 shooting effort, adding key baskets in the second half.

The Panthers opened the game on a strong run, building a 13-4 lead after a layup by Hopes accounted for the Bears’ early scoring. By the end of the first quarter, Bastrop trailed 19-8, with junior forwards Caleb Burns and Drake Hensley adding second-chance layups.

The duo combined for five points in the period.

Attacking issues continued into the second quarter as Pflugerville extended its advantage. Bastrop trailed 32-15 midway through the third before Hopes converted an and-one layup to trim the deficit to 3218.

Carter provided a spark with a putback layup and midrange jumper to keep the margin within 14. However, the Panthers responded with another run, pushing the lead to 42-22 and eventually 58-35 late in the fourth quarter.

Bastrop was outrebounded 29-22 and committed 23 turnovers, which proved costly.

The Bears shot 41% from the field compared to Pflugerville’s 45%, but the turnover margin and rebounding deficit limited their ability to mount a comeback.

Despite the lopsided score late in the game, the Bears battled to the final buzzer. Junior shooting guard Brayden Garza scored five quick points in the closing minutes as Bastrop’s season came to a close.

The playoff berth signals progress for a program that had not reached the postseason in more than a decade.

Bastrop will return nine players from this year’s roster and look to push its ceiling after a successful run.

VS. TAYLOR

Elgin’s comeback effort fell just short in a high-scoring contest against the Ducks Feb. 17.

The Lady Cats scored seven runs over the final two innings after trailing 9-3 into the sixth.

Senior Trinity Martinez and junior Jaelyn Barker each drove in three runs, combining to go 5-for-8 at the plate.

Junior utility player Katelyn Anderson got the start for the Wildcats and was sharp early, holding the Ducks scoreless through the first three innings. Elgin grabbed an early 2-0 lead in the second inning when Barker delivered a bases- clearing triple.

Taylor broke through in the bottom of the fourth with a six-run inning. Anderson finished her outing allowing six runs on five hits. Sophomore utility player Sarah Herring came on in relief.

Martinez answered in the fifth with a solo home run to trim the deficit to 6-3. The Ducks responded with three runs in the bottom half of the inning on a bases- clearing triple and a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 9-3.

Elgin mounted a furious rally in the sixth, scoring five runs. A two-RBI single from freshman Elizabeth Anderson cut the deficit to 9-5. Herring followed with an RBI single, and Martinez added a two-RBI double to pull the Lady Cats within one run.

Taylor, however, responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning to push the lead to 12-8.

Elgin added two more runs in the seventh on a solo home run by Bianca Galindo and an RBI single from Barker, but the team couldn’t find their final two points needed.

VS. MUMFORD

The Lady Cats were swept by Mumford in their doubleheader Feb. 20, with both games decided by a single run.

In the first test, Elgin once again attempted a late rally, scoring two runs in the final inning, but Mumford held on for the win. The second game unfolded in dramatic fashion. Mumford scored on a sacrifice bunt in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead, but Elgin answered when Anderson scored on a passed ball to tie the game. Mumford regained the lead on an RBI single and later extended it to 3-1 with another RBI single in the fourth inning.

Elgin surged ahead in the sixth, scoring two runs on an error before taking a 4-3 lead on a bases-loaded walk. However, the Wildcats could not hold the advantage.

Mumford scored twice in the bottom of the final inning to secure a walkoff victory.

Herring took the loss, throwing 5.2 innings and allowing five runs on nine hits. Martinez accounted for Elgin’s lone RBI in the contest.

The Lady Cats fell to 2-7 on the season. Elgin faced Navarro after press time Tuesday and will compete in the Heart of Hays tournament this weekend.

Smithville struggled offensively throughout the night, finishing 17% from the field and 44% from the free-throw line Feb. 17. A cold start proved costly as the Lady Tigers were held scoreless in the first quarter and trailed 10-0 after one.

Senior Sydnie Brenner led all scorers with 12 points, knocking down two 3-pointers. Junior Brityn Roberts added seven points. Brenner put Smithville on the board with a 3-pointer midway through the second quarter, and Roberts followed with a basket and free throw to trim the deficit to 13-6.

After a Roberts steal and a Brenner free throw, senior Briyanna Sampson converted an and-one opportunity to pull the Lady Tigers within three at 1310. However, Freeman answered with a late basket to take a 15-10 lead into halftime.

Smithville found more rhythm in the third quarter as Roberts and Brenner helped spark the offense, and the Lady Tigers’ defense limited the Golden Eagles to nine points in the period.

Freeman maintained a 24-19 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.

The Lady Tigers continued to battle down the stretch but could not overcome missed opportunities at the free-throw line, where they went 2-of-7 in the fourth quarter while Freeman converted 7-of-10 attempts to seal the win.

Smithville closed the season with a 15-17 overall record and a 6-4 mark in district play, earning its second consecutive playoff appearance.

The Lady Tigers will graduate six seniors and look toward their returning core of players to continue the success of the previous class.

Photo courtesy Erin Anderson

The Lady Wildcats opened their softball season with a thrilling 9-8 victory over Canyon Lake Feb. 10, using a four-run fourth inning to seize momentum and hold off a late rally.

Juniors Jaelyn Baker and Miranda Herring powered the offense, combining for four RBIs.

Junior pitcher Katelyn Anderson earned the win in the circle, tossing a complete game while allowing eight runs on 10 hits. She struck out 10 batters and worked out of multiple jams to preserve the one-run lead.

Elgin then traveled to College Station to compete in the National Fast pitch Coaches Association Leadoff Classic, finishing 1-4 in a series of tightly contested matchups.

The Lady Cats dropped back-to-back 8-7 decisions to Plano and Alamo Heights before earning their lone tournament win with an 8-3 tally over Bryan Rudder.

Elgin closed out tournament play with another narrow 8-7 loss to Pasadena Memorial and a 20-8 setback against Caldwell.

Despite the record, Elgin showed offensive consistency throughout the weekend, scoring at least seven runs in four of its five games.

The Lady Cats faced Taylor after press time Tuesday and will travel to Mumford Feb. 20, with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

BASTROP

The Lady Bears opened the year against a tough opponent Feb. 10, falling 13-2 to Westlake before responding with a strong showing at the Killeen Invitational.

The Lady Bears began tournament play with an 8-4 win over Taylor.

Ella Greisenbeck and Karla Spurlock combined for four RBIs to lead the offense. Greisenbeck also picked up the win in the circle, throwing two innings while allowing four runs on two hits and striking out one.

Bastrop carried that momentum into dominant wins over Bruceville-Eddy, 10-2, and Chaparral, 11-2.

The Lady Bears advanced to the tournament final before falling 8-6 to Brownwood in a competitive championship matchup.

Bastrop faced Wimberley on Tuesday and will return to action this weekend at the Marble Falls Tournament.

SMITHVILLE

The Lady Tigers opened the season with a 12-2 loss to Hendrickson before heading to the Columbus Tournament.

Smithville dropped its first three games — 9-1 to Columbia, 3-1 to Columbus and 5-2 to El Campo — but closed the tournament on a high note with a commanding 12-0 win over Almeta.

Emery Baker and Kenzley White sparked the offense, combining for four RBIs. Addison Otto earned the victory in the circle, tossing three scoreless innings and recording five strikeouts.

Smithville faced Westlake on Tuesday and will return to action against Gateway at 7 p.m. in Georgetown.

CEDAR CREEK

The Lady Eagles opened their season with a 24-4 loss to Cameron. Alexyss Gonzales led Cedar Creek at the plate, going 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Cedar Creek continued play at the Lady Texans Showcase in Wimberley but struggled against a challenging field. The Lady Eagles fell to Wimberley, 18-0, Pleasanton, 12-2, and Hendrickson, 10-0.

Cedar Creek will look to regroup this weekend when it competes in the Cameron Tournament.

Photo courtesy Elgin ISD

Elgin honored seniors Sharmonique Williams and Trinity Martinez prior to tipoff Feb. 3.

Williams led all scorers with a dominant all-around effort, finishing with 28 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists. Martinez followed with 18 points, all of which came from beyond the 3-point line, as she knocked down six shots from long range.

“Senior Night was a memorable evening for the Lady Cats program, highlighting the hard work and commitment of Williams and Martinez while ending the night with a well-earned victory,” head coach Mark Belford said.

The Lady Cats wasted no time setting the tone. Elgin jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the opening two minutes of the first quarter as Williams scored four points at the free-throw line and on a layup. Martinez added her first 3-pointer shortly after to fuel the early run.

Elgin closed the first quarter holding a 17-9 advantage and continued to build momentum in the second. Martinez connected on two more 3-pointers to open the quarter as the Lady Cats went on a 9-0 run to extend the lead to 26-9.

Elgin’s defense limited Connally to just two field goals in the quarter, and the Wildcats went into halftime with a commanding 26-point lead.

The Lady Cats remained relentless in the second half, allowing just eight additional points the rest of the way. Elgin’s defensive pressure forced numerous turnovers, finishing the game with 14 steals.

Rebounding proved to be another decisive factor as Elgin controlled the boards, 48-20. The Wildcats consistently turned second-chance opportunities into points while limiting Connally’s offensive possessions.

Elgin shot 40% from the field and held the Cougars to just 18% shooting for the game.

Despite the emphatic win, the Wildcats’ season came to an end with a 29-27 loss to East View on Friday, Feb. 6. Elgin finished the year with an 11-23 overall record and a 3-9 mark in district play.

The Bears secured no worse than a third-place finish in district play following their 64-45 win against Crockett Feb. 3 and 52-46 upset over Anderson Feb. 6.

CROCKETT

The Bears earned their second victory of the season over the Cougars, completing the district sweep.

Junior guard Preston Alexander led Bastrop with 22 points on 8-of-13 shooting. He also contributed on the defensive end, adding five assists.

Bastrop placed two more players in double figures, as junior Diego Rangel finished with 15 points and senior Brent Carter added 11.

The Bears shot 46% from the field and dominated the glass with 30 rebounds. Eleven of those came on the offensive end and led to multiple second- chance points.

ANDERSON

Bastrop followed with a much tighter contest against Anderson, pulling out a win in a defensive battle.

Alexander once again led the Bears in scoring with 12 points on 3-of-14 shooting.

With the game tied at 44 and 2:14 remaining in the fourth quarter, Bastrop clamped down defensively, allowing just two points the rest of the way.

The Bears took the lead at 46-44 when Alexander scored on a transition jumper following a steal with 1:27 left. On the ensuing possession, Rangel secured a defensive rebound and drove the length of the court, drawing a foul. He made one of two free throws to extend the lead to three.

Rangel finished with 10 points.

The Trojans answered with a layup to cut the deficit to 47-46 with 45 seconds remaining. Anderson then had a chance to take the lead after forcing a turnover, but Bastrop’s back line held, forcing a rushed shot.

Senior Ryder Alvarez was fouled moments later and made the first free throw to make it 4846. After missing the second, Alvarez grabbed his own rebound and scored on a putback layup to push the lead to 50-46 with 20 seconds left, effectively sealing the win.

Alvarez finished with nine points.

With the victories, Bastrop improved to 7-3 in district play. The Bears were set to face McCallum after press time Tuesday and will close the regular season against Cedar Creek at 8 p.m. Feb. 17 at Bastrop High School.

Elgin held a 45-44 lead with three minutes remaining before the Panthers closed the game on an 11-3 run. Senior guard Tyson McFarlin led the Wildcats with 18 points, scoring in every quarter and keeping Elgin within striking distance throughout the night.

The game opened as a defensive battle, with neither team scoring in the first two minutes. Pflugerville finally broke the drought with a layup before McFarlin responded with a 3-pointer to give Elgin an early lead.

That basket sparked momentum for the Wildcats, as McFarlin went on to score 10 points in the first quarter. Elgin carried a 13-9 advantage into the second.

Senior shooting guard Curtis Harris opened the next quarter with a 3-pointer to extend the lead to 16-9. Harris finished the game with 12 points, second on the team behind McFarlin.

McFarlin followed with another shot from beyond the arc but Pflugerville answered with an unmatched seven points to secure a lead of one. Both teams traded baskets for the remainder of the half, with neither side able to create separation.

Elgin regained a narrow lead late and went into halftime up 26-25.

The Wildcats came out of the break with renewed energy. Senior Jayveon Nash knocked down a 3-pointer and McFarlin added a layup to push Elgin’s lead to 3327.

Once again, however, the Panthers responded. Pflugerville chipped away at the deficit and tied the game at 38 heading into the final quarter.

Elgin’s last lead came on another McFarlin 3-pointer. From there, Pflugerville took control, scoring 11 of the game’s final 14 points to close out the win.

The Wildcats struggled with the Panthers’ size advantage, as Pflugerville won the rebounding battle and converted multiple second-chance opportunities. Turnovers also proved costly for Elgin, leading to several fast-break points for the Panthers.

With the loss, Elgin moved to 2-6 in district play. The Wildcats earned one of those district wins with a 54-53 victory over Georgetown Jan. 27.

Elgin next faced Pflugerville Connally after press time Tuesday, and will host East View on Friday, Feb. 6, with tipoff scheduled for 7 p.m.

New district alignments are giving high school athletes a fresh field of competition across the state, though many area sports programs will see some familiar matchups to come over the next two years.

FOOTBALL

Under the University Interscholastic League’s realignment, the Wildcats enter 12-5A-Division II. Elgin football coach Rich Lucero had one thing to say about the move after a 2-8 finish in 2025.

“God is good,” Lucero said. “There is a plan for Elgin.”

Elgin joins previous 115A-DII mates Bastrop, Pflugerville and Austin Independent School District’s Crockett, Navarro and Liberal Arts and Science Academy.

While Bastrop and Pflugerville got the best of Elgin last fall, the Wildcats recorded their wins against Crockett and Navarro. LASA played an independent schedule each of the last two seasons, so projections favor Elgin returning to the postseason after missing it in 2025.

Bastrop, who finished 11-2 last year, is expected to be the early favorite following Liberty Hill’s move to another district. Austin McCallum and Pf lugerville Connally have also shifted away from local competition, save Cedar Creek.

In District 13-5A-Division I, the Eagles will match with McCallum, Austin Anderson, Boerne Champion, Kyle Lehman, Lockhart, Manor, Seguin and two-time defending state champion Smithson Valley.

“We are excited about the changes this off-season, the kids have done a great job. We look forward to continuing to build on last season,” said Cedar Creek coach Jared Shaw.

Shaw helped the Eagles end a 43-game losing streak last season with a 36-29 victory against Lehman. He said he is not surprised by the new district alignment, which features three of the same teams from their previous district — Anderson, Lehman and Lockhart.

“The district was very close to what we expected. It will be competitive each week,” Shaw said. “Great teams throughout the district.”

Smithville, under a new head coach and in the midst of a 20-game losing streak, is now a Class 3A school. The Tigers join 13-3A-DI with the likes of Hallettsville, Luling, Marion, San Antonio Cole, Universal City Randolph and defending state champion Yoakum.

Darby House took the Smithville program’s reigns last month, coming from 5A Nacogdoches.

McDade, who with a snapshot enrollment of 108 students, was four students shy of moving down to Class A, which would’ve made the Bulldogs eligible to play in a six-man football district.

McDade coach Jonathan Wells said the team still plans to play an independent six-man schedule for the next two seasons.

BASKETBALL

Districts remained largely intact for Elgin, Bastrop and Cedar Creek basketball. The Wildcats remain in 23-5A, while the Bears and Eagles stay in 24-5A.

The Bastrop schools join Austin ISD counterparts Anderson, Ann Richards (girls only), Crockett, LASA, McCallum and Navarro. Elgin still have Georgetown and the four Pflugerville Independent School District schools — Connally, Hendrickson, Pflugerville and Weiss, but Leander Glenn and Manor replace Georgetown East View, who moved up to 6A.

“I have only heard stories about the (Elgin- Manor) rivalry, but I’m sure both communities will be excited to compete against each other,” Lucero said.

Smithville will no longer be in the same district with traditional rivals Giddings and La Grange, as the Tigers move down to 23-3A. They’ll compete with schools west of the greater Houston area — Altair Rice, Columbus, East Bernard, Hempstead, Schulenburg and Wallis Brazos.

McDade remains in 27-2A against the likes of Bartlett, Granger, Holland, Milano and Thorndale. Only Rosebud-Lott is out after the Cougars were moved into 18-2A.

“When we looked at possible options district wise it really opens your eyes to how hard of a job it is that UIL does,” Shaw said. “We knew some would fare better than others with realignment, we have just tried to focus on the process daily.”

For volleyball, McDade remains in 26-2A, with Milano moving to 25-2A.

Bastrop continued its strong defensive play against Cedar Creek Jan. 27, recording a 2-0 shutout of the Eagles.

Both goals came in the first half, with sophomore Franklin Gutierrez- Martinez and junior Gail Ramirez finding the back of the net. Ramirez also recorded an assist, while freshman goalkeeper Gavin Meraz made five saves for the clean sheet.

The Bears followed with an even more dominant performance against Navarro Jan. 30, posting a 4-0 sweep of the Vikings.

Sophomore Isaac Velazquez, Hernandez and Martinez each scored, while Velazquez, Hernandez and senior Leonardo Rivera Aldaco added assists. Meraz again finished with five saves in goal.

The win marked Bastrop’s fifth shutout of the season, improving to 10-1-1 overall and 2-0 in district play. The Bears faced Liberal Arts & Science Academy after press time Monday and will host Crockett on Friday, Feb. 6, at 7:45 p.m.

The honor is presented annually by the 49ers to a first-year player who best represents the legacy of Thomas Herrion by maximizing opportunities and turning their NFL dream into reality. Honorees are chosen by the 49ers coaching staff.

Collins made an impact during his rookie campaign, finishing the season with four tackles, two forced fumbles and one sack. He contributed to a San Francisco defense that allowed 22.7 points per game, ranking 15th in the NFL. Collins was drafted by San Francisco with the 43rd pick in the 2025 NFL draft after his collegiate career at the University of Texas at Austin. The 49ers’ season ended with a divisional-round loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday, Jan. 17.

Sophomore Jamarion Aldridge-Hopes led the Bears with 16 points on 5-of-11 shooting. Bastrop shot 36% from the field, while Cedar Creek finished at 30%.

Bastrop jumped out to an early lead in the first quarter, as two 3-pointers from Aldridge-Hopes and another from senior Preston Alexander helped the Bears take a 20-8 advantage at the end of the period.

Alexander finished second on the team in scoring with 13 points on 4-of-12 shooting.

Cedar Creek found momentum midway through the second quarter, going on an 11-6 run to cut the deficit to 26-19. However, a 3-pointer from Drake Hensley pushed Bastrop’s lead back to double digits.

Junior Jaxson Spotts helped the Bears maintain control heading into the fourth quarter, finishing with 11 points on a perfect 4-of-4 shooting performance.

The Eagles made a late push in the final minutes, but Bastrop sank key free throws down the stretch to secure the victory.

With the win, the Bears improved to 13-15 overall and 4-2 in district play. Cedar Creek fell to 3-18 overall and 2-4 in district.

Bastrop played Navarro after press time Tuesday and will return to action at home against Liberal Arts & Science Academy on Friday, Jan. 30, at 8 p.m. Cedar Creek faced Anderson on Tuesday and will travel to Navarro later this week.

The Wildcats could not overcome a midgame collapse last week and fell 50-43 to the Weiss Wolves.

Elgin’s varsity boys basketball team was outscored 21-5 in the second quarter Jan. 23., despite a strong start. The Wildcats entered the period tied 10-10 after a layup by senior Fredy Ndeberewa.

E lgin’s st ruggles stemmed from sloppy turnovers and low-percentage shooting.

Coming back from the half trailing 31-15, the Wildcats managed to cut their deficit to 12 with 4:18 remaining. They trimmed that gap further in the fourth to come within single digits, but the attempt fell short.

The Wildcats dropped to 9-15 overall and 1-5 in district play.

Elgin faced Georgetown after press time Tuesday and will return to action against Pflugerville Friday, Jan. 30, at 7 p.m.