HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL: Updated TRN Top 10 rankings, Friday's top performers & standings

The TRN Top 10 is subjective and represents a team’s relevance in its district and regional playoffs. However, unlike the football version, head-to-head matchups may be weighted more since it’s not uncommon for teams in lower classifications to beat those in higher. But if a team in a higher classification doesn’t project as well in its district or region, then an opponent it may have a win against could be ranked higher. Record and preseason ranking are in parenthesis.

GIRLS TRN TOP 10

1. Nocona (26-3, 1) – Megyn Meekins eclipsed 2,000 points on Friday and now we’ll start counting down toward her potentially joining elite company in the history of girls high school basketball in the Wichita Falls area. Only three players have ever surpassed 3,000 career points with the latest being former Nocona Lady Indian and Meekins’ cousin, Averee Kleinhans. The other two were Windthorst’s Tatum Veitenheimer and Bowie’s Rene Hanebutt.

2. Newcastle (25-1, 2) – A 30-spot from Mattie Dollar helped propel Newcastle past Throckmorton in a much closer game this time around. With wins against Graford and Throckmorton last week, the Lady Cats have established themselves as district champs, essentially, Region III-A favorites and a state-title contender.

3. City View (15-11, 3) – After an emotional couple of weeks, a night off may have been welcomed by the Lady Mustangs, who have home matchups against Vernon and Holliday among their final three games of the season.

4. Windthorst (19-5, 4) – The fact Windthorst only cracked the TABC’s Top 25 teams in Class 2A is an oversight for the rankings. The Trojanettes should have never fallen out of the Class 2A poll. Regardless of what happens with Nocona, Windthorst is going to make plenty of noise in the postseason.

5. Harrold (20-2, 5) – The Lady Hornets became the first team to clinch a district title, and they didn’t even have to play a game to do it. Harrold picked up its 10th win in District 16-A after Chillicothe was forced to forfeit due to illness spreading throughout the school.

6. Holliday (15-8, 7) – Holliday seems to have gotten back on track after consecutive losses to City View and Iowa Park. The Lady Eagles can still capture the district and No. 1 playoff seed by winning out.

7. Burkburnett (19-7, 8) – We’re just waiting for the final game of the season to see the Lady Dogs challenged again. That’s when they play Sanger again.

8. Throckmorton (23-3, 6) – A minor fall in the rankings has to happen as the Lady Hounds are definitely relegated to second in District 21-A. But playing Newcastle much closer in Friday’s rematch was encouraging.

9. Vernon (17-14, 9) – The Lady Lions continue to take steps toward a playoff berth, winning their fifth straight game Friday. This midseason surge has been one of the best stories of the season.

10. Electra (19-9, 10) – The Lady Tigers were off Friday but locked up a playoff berth in the process. The second seed is theirs for the taking.

On the rise – Forestburg.

BOYS TRN TOP 10

1. Benjamin (12-0, 1) – The Mustangs had Friday’s matchup with Crowell postponed until Saturday. By then, they could have the District 16-A title locked up.

2. Holliday (24-2, 2) – The Eagles nabbed a playoff spot with Friday’s win against Henrietta. The District 7-3A title could be theirs as soon as Friday.

3. Hirschi (11-10, 3) – It’s still a little wild that the Huskies are just now getting over .500 for the season. We’ve harped a lot on the Huskies’ strength of schedule, and it’s in district and the postseason where that truly pays off.

4. Burkburnett (19-8, 4) – The Bulldogs survived a scare from Gainesville, which is a team built to play in the Bulldogs’ style. The Leopards were the biggest hurdle before a rematch with Hirschi in the regular season finale.

5. Knox City (22-2, 5) – The Greyhounds have won every District 15-A game to date by at least 11 points. And the team that played them that close, Roby, is hosting the Hounds on Tuesday.

6. Nocona (18-11, 6) – The Indians got through the first half of the District 9-2A season undefeated. They can take a major step toward a second straight district title with a win against Seymour on Tuesday.

7. Electra (22-4, 7) – The Tigers were off Friday, and their situation didn’t change. They are set to visit Benjamin at the end of this week, hoping to find a way to slow the Mustangs down and make the District 16-A race interesting.

8. Vernon (18-7, 8) – Adarius Williams had a big game with 29 points Friday, eclipsing 1,000 career points. The Lions need Williams to stay hot with their next three games against City View, Bowie, and Holliday.

9. City View (14-9, 9) – The Mustangs’ open date came with great timing – right before a massive District 7-3A showdown with Vernon.

10. Seymour (11-13, 10) – The Panthers are sticking around in these rankings with a chance to make a significant move upward if they can hand Nocona its first district loss Tuesday.

TUESDAY’S GAMES TO WATCH

GIRLS

Vernon at City View – These are the hottest teams in District 7-3A. City View has won eight straight. Vernon has won five straight and is one win away from clinching a playoff berth. City View won the first meeting, 60-56. You can bet TRN Sports will be in the house for this one.

Throckmorton at Graford – Throck can lock up District 21-A’s second seed with a win. The Lady Hounds won the first meeting, 47-39.

BOYS

Vernon at City View – The girls game is enough to get us out to City View on Tuesday. The boys game leaves no doubt about where we’ll be. These two are battling for second place in District 7-3A, and the outside shot of catching Holliday for a piece of the district title. Vernon won the first matchup 49-43.

Nocona at Seymour – The District 9-2A title is essentially on the line in this matchup. Nocona beat Seymour by a point in a low-scoring game in the first meeting. No one else has come close to pushing the Indians the way Seymour did. The Panthers’ lone loss in 9-2A play is to Nocona.

Knox City at Roby – Also a de facto district title game, Roby’s lone loss in 16-A is to Knox City, and no one has challenged the Greyhounds like Roby. Knox City won the first meeting 50-39, pulling away in the fourth quarter.

FRIDAY'S GIRLS RESULTS

DISTRICT 7-4A

WFHS 23, Hirschi 21

Leading scorers: (W) Kenya Brown 10; (H) Kayte Ferrell 6.

DISTRICT 7-3A

Vernon 61, Henrietta 36

Leading scorers: (H) Kirstyn Barnard 9; (V) Key’Maria McBride 24, Cirstin Ivy 15, Mari Johnson 12.

Holliday 44, Iowa Park 38

Leading scorers: (H) Kenna Wood 16; (IP) Raylee Huse 21.

Jacksboro 40, Bowie 28

Leading scorers: (J) Hayden Walker 18; (B) Ziba Robbins 8.

DISTRICT 2-2A

Clarendon 70, Quanah 22

Leading scorers: (Q) Emily Meza 9; (Cl) Hayes 15, Smith 12.

DISTRICT 9-2A

Windthorst 70, Olney 14

Leading scorers: (W) Rylee Wolf 27, Annikah Frank 13; (O) Hallie Williams 5.

Nocona 89, Archer City 21

Leading scorers: (AC) Alyssa Schroeder 6, Serenity Jones 6; (N) Megyn Meekins 39, Reagan Phipps 17, Aubree Kleinhans 10.

DISTRICT 21-A

Newcastle 48, Throckmorton 41

Leading scorers: (T) Lily Cunningham 13; (N) Mattie Dollar 30, Sophie Terrell 10.

TAPPS 1-A

Amarillo Accelerate 44, Christ Academy 35

Leading scorers: (CA) Bella Rose 18.

FRIDAY'S BOYS RESULTS

DISTRICT 5-5A

Granbury 77, Rider 61

Leading scorers: (Ri) Caiden Reed 18, Gavin Aday 16, Jre Donnell 13; (G) Webb 18.

DISTRICT 7-4A

Hirschi 61, WFHS 42

Leading scorers: (W) Blake Vanderburg 10; (H) Cayden McKinney 12, Giobre White 11, Jimmell McFalls 10, D’Marion Gateway 10.

Burkburnett 75, Gainesville 67

Leading scorers: (B) Ozavian Buford 29, Robert Ingram 25, Ayden White 11, Rmetrius Massey 11; (G) Nelley 25.

DISTRICT 7-3A

Vernon 77, Henrietta 37

Leading scorers: (V) Adarius Williams 29, Kell Castleberry 14, Julius Dawkins 12; (H) Kayden Shaw 16.

Holliday 72, Iowa Park 48

Leading scorers: (H) Keitenn Bristow 31 (12 rebounds), Grant Cox 8 (10 rebounds).

DISTRICT 2-2A

Clarendon 54, Quanah 41

Leading scorers: (Q) Kaden Dixon 11.

DISTRICT 9-2A

Windthorst 61, Olney 44

Leading scorers: (O) Jacob Hernandez 18; (W) Brayden Berend 16, Brock Belcher 16, Jaxon Stark 16.

Seymour 54, Petrolia 34

Leading scorers: (S) Hagan Anderson 12.

Nocona 56, Archer City 39

Leading scorers: (AC) Chance Warren 10, Kline Mayo 10; (N) Brady McCasland 18, Javier Gaytan 16.

DISTRICT 15-A

Knox City 73, Rotan 20

Leading scorers: (KC) Bryson Callaway 22, Devin Guillory 22; (Ro) Garza 5.

DISTRICT 22-A

Slidell 69, Prairie Valley 22

Leading scorers: (PV) Dale Neugebauer 4, JR Jones 4, Tyson Easterling 4; (S) West 18, R. Davis 13, Peralta 12.

GIRLS STANDINGS

BOYS STANDINGS

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Wichita Falls area basketball TRN Top 10 rankings, top performers