Final Push: District 12 AAA
Which District 12AAA teams are positioned best for the season’s final push?
Take a gander at the current standings and upcoming contests.
Team | Record | District Winning % |
Cane Ridge | 8-0 | 100.0% |
Antioch | 7-1 | 87.5% |
Hillwood | 4-4 | 50.0% |
McGavock | 4-4 | 50.0% |
Hillsboro | 3-3 | 50.0% |
Hunters Lane | 2-7 | 22.2% |
Glencliff | 1-7 | 12.5% |
John Overton | 1-7 | 12.5% |
In truth 2017-2018 has been a tough year for six of the eight District 12 AAA teams. Glencliff and John Overton are startlingly overmatched most nights out. Each of their lone district wins came against the other.
The three .500 teams suffered painful losses in the non-district portion of their schedule. Placement in the playoffs doesn’t really consider those failures though.
Four teams will make the field.
Cane Ridge and Antioch would be shocking omissions from the playoffs, considering their dominance in the last month. Both appear to be exceedingly safe.
It gets tricky with Hillwood, McGavock, and Hillsboro. All three get quality chances for February wins.
Teams | Remaining Games | |||
Hillwood | Antioch | @Hillsboro | Cane Ridge | @Glencliff |
McGavock | Cane Ridge | Glencliff | @John Overton | Hunters Lane |
Hillsboro | Antioch | @Hillwood | @Hunters Lane | John Overton |
As you can see McGavock gets the three bottom-dwelling teams to end the campaign. Additionally, the Raiders play three of their final four games at home.
Both Hillwood and Hillsboro split the four games as two home and two away games each.
Keep in mind there are likely makeup dates sprinkled in after that humiliatingly light snow week two weeks back postponed 2-3 games per program.
This week is big as Antioch faces Hillsboro tonight and Hillwood Tuesday night. Key to Antioch’s success is 2018 G Lavric Mangala (PrepHoops #94 in 2018).
The jet-quick guard will be difficult to check for both opponents.
Hillwood certainly faces the most challenges in their final games, playing against fellow playoff-pursuant Hillsboro, Antioch, and Cane Ridge. Those three games are all potential losses. Winning one and presumably that Hunters Lane contest still doesn’t guarantee placement in the playoffs. Defeating Hillsboro this Friday looks like a fantastic opportunity to create separation.
Considering ONLY the schedules remaining a predicted order of finish looks like this:
Cane Ridge
Antioch
McGavock
Hillwood
Hillsboro
Hunters Lane
John Overton
Glencliff
Both John Overton and Glencliff have the makings of teams that will lose all of their remaining games. The rosters just disappoint.
Pure speculation based on recent results, but Cane Ridge and Antioch are most likely to cause a stir in postseason play and McGavock (with Marvin Hughes) is the one mid-pack team capable of springing an upset in District 12 AAA playoffs.
Keep an eye on these two games as they are certain to set the tone for the final few weeks:
Mon | Jan. 29 | 6:30 PM | at Hillsboro | ||
Tue | Jan. 30 | 7:30 PM | at Hillwood |