by MOSES LEOS III
It has been a tough season for both of the boys basketball teams within Hays CISD. Both squads have had to navigate through a tremendously difficult district, which houses some of the strongest opponents in the Austin/San Antonio region.
As a result, only the Hays Rebels are poised to earn a playoff spot. Even so, the Rebels must work diligently to ensure that other teams do not surpass them in the final three games of the regular season.
Currently, the Hays Rebels hold an overall record of 16-15, with a 6-5 mark in District 27-4A, which places Hays in a tie for the fourth and final playoff spot with Boerne Champion. If the regular season ended today, Hays would be forced into a neutral site, one-game playoff with Champion to determine who takes the fourth playoff spot in the district.
It was only three weeks ago that the Rebels were unbeaten in district play, tied for the top spot in 27-4A with a much touted Alamo Heights team. However, since the Rebels lost their first meeting with the Mules on Jan.11, Hays has gone 2-4 in league play. The most damaging loss came on Feb. 1 when the Rebels dropped a 47-37 decision to Boerne Champion in the friendly confines of Bales Gym.
The latest loss suffered by the Rebs took away the tiebreaker advantage Hays held over the Chargers. As a result, the scenarios involved for the Rebels to make the postseason are now meager at best.
There are only two ways the Rebels can make the playoffs, one of which forgoes a tiebreaking one-game playoff. That scenario would require Boerne Champion to fall off the pace, losing one or more of their final three games of the year, while Hays wins at least two of their final three contests.
The only other playoff scenario has the Rebels winning out the remainder of their schedule, finish in a tie for fourth place with Boerne Champion, and participate in a one-game playoff at a neutral site.
Hays’ trek began with a difficult road matchup against state ranked and district leader Alamo Heights on Tuesday. Hays lost that game 63-47 in San Antonio.
Following the Heights game, Hays will participate in the always heated rivalry game against Lehman on Friday on Senior Night for the Lobos. The final game of the year will take place on the road, where the Hays Rebels will play current third place team Kerrville Tivy on Feb.12.
