How the boy's basketball playoff picture looks (2/19)

Here's a sneak look at how the boy's basketball brackets look right now. There's a couple of spots that need to be filled and there's a handful of games this weekend that will determine either playoff positioning or tie-breaker games for one playoff spot.

The play-in games in our area are from 17-5A and 23-5A. Katy, Katy Taylor and Morton Ranch are each tied with 3-7 records for fourth place in 17-5A. That means there will be a three-way mini-tournament, with Katy facing Taylor Friday at 6 at Cinco Ranch High School, with the winner facing Morton Ranch the next day at 3 p.m., also at Cinco. Whoever comes out of this mini-tourney will have to rest up quickly, because undefeated Strake Jesuit awaits in the first round.

Elkins and Kempner are tied at 7-6 for fourth place in 23-5A, and will meet each other Friday at 4 p.m. at Wheeler Fieldhouse for the play-in game. The winner will face Galveston Ball in the first round.

There are a couple more games that will affect the playoff picture on Friday. Clear Lake and Clear Brook meet in a battle for third place in 24-5A, and maybe even second if Clear Springs trips up against Clear Creek. Pearland and Deer Park could flip in Friday's games, while Spring and Klein Collins will meet to decide the final spot in 13-5A.

All the Cy-Fair ISD teams know who they will meet in the first round except for Cypress Woods, who will wait for 16-5A to work itself out this weekend. Georgetown, Vista Ridge and Stony Point all finished the regular season 7-7 in district play and will play this weekend in a play-in tournament. The winner will face the Wildcats in the first round.

Only two first-round games have been confirmed with a time and place, with Cinco Ranch-Alief Taylor facing off Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Wheeler, with Mayde Creek-Elsik following them at 8 p.m.

We'll have all the times for the other games and the first-round matchups on Sunday on our site.

Possible first-round playoff matchups (if the season ended today):

Region II

Klein Forest (second in 13-5A) vs. Oak Ridge (third in 14-5A)
Cypress Falls(fourth in 15-5A) vs. Leander (first in 16-5A)

College Park (first in 14-5A) vs. Spring/Klein Collins (fourth in 13-5A)
Langham Creek (second in 15-5A) vs. Round Rock (third in 16-5A)


The Woodlands (second in 14-5A) vs. Westfield (third in 13-5A)
Cypress Woods (first in 15-5A) vs. Georgetown/Stony Point/Vista Ridge(fourth in 16-5A)

Tomball (first in 13-5A) vs. Lufkin (fourth in 14-5A)
Cypress Springs(third in 15-5A) vs. Round Rock McNeil (second in 16-5A)

Region III
Mayde Creek (third in 17-5A) vs. Elsik (second in 18-5A)
Eisenhower (fourth in 19-5A) vs. Bellaire (first in 20-5A)

Humble (second in 19-5A) vs. Madison (third in 20-5A)
Katy/Katy Taylor/Morton Ranch (fourth in 17-5A) vs. Strake Jesuit (first in 18-5A)

North Shore (second in 21-5A) vs. Pearland (third in 22-5A)
Elkins/Kempner (fourth in 23-5A) vs. Galveston Ball (first in 24-5A)

Bush (second in 23-5A) vs. Clear Lake/Clear Brook (third in 24-5A)
La Porte (first in 22-5A) vs. Channelview (fourth in 21-5A)

Alief Taylor (third in 17-5A) vs. Cinco Ranch (second in 18-5A)
Kingwood (first in 19-5A) vs. Sam Houston (fourth in 20-5A)

Seven Lakes (first in 17-5A) vs. Stratford (fourth in 18-5A)
Chavez (second in 20-5A) vs. Atascocita (third in 19-5A)

Beaumont West Brook (third in 21-5A) vs. Deer Park (second in 22-5A)
Hightower (first in 23-5A) vs. Clear Brook/Clear Lake (fourth in 24-5A)

Travis (third in 23-5A) vs. Clear Springs (second in 24-5A)
Port Arthur Memorial (first in 21-5A) vs. Dobie (fourth in 22-5A)