Texas High School Lacrosse Playoffs, Division I Matchups and Previews

The Texas High School Lacrosse Super Regional Matchups have been determined and the top 4 teams from each division (North Division, South Division, and Central Division) will face-off against each other this weekend in a battle to determine which 4 teams will move on and compete for the State Championship next weekend. Dallas Jesuit, Austin High, Houston Christian, and Westlake all earned themselves first-round byes in this weekend’s Super Regionals based on their play throughout the regular season. They await the outcome of Saturday’s 4 matchup games to see which team they will face on Sunday in the games that will determine which teams advance to next weekend’s Championships.

The Division I Super Regionals will be played at a North District Location (Hillcrest High School) and a South District location (Houston Christian High School). The Central District will host this year’s State Championship games at Georgetown High School just north of Austin, TX. The Super Regional’s and State Championship brackets and matchup breakdowns are below.

Super Regionals North Location (Hillcrest High School)

Game 1, Anderson vs. St. John’s: Central District’s #3 seed, Anderson, faces off against the South District’s #3 seed, St. John’s. This is an intriguing matchup between an Anderson team who has been hot-and-cold this season and a St. John’s team that has been very consistent. St. John’s is favored in this matchup due to their consistent play against top competition throughout the season, but Anderson seems to have found its groove as of late and comes into the playoffs with momentum. Anderson is led by All-State Attackman Marshall Allen (2013) and All-State Defender Riley Vickers (2012). St. John’s is led by 4 All-State players in defenseman Ben Griffin (2013), defenseman Jack Craddock (2012), LSM Logan Smith (2013), and midfielder Chris Gow (2012). The winner will face a stiff test against the North District’s #1 seed and tournament favorite, Dallas Jesuit, on Sunday. Dallas Jesuit is led by a number of standout All-State players, including attackman Zach Coker (2013), midfielder Garrett Van de Ven (2013), defensemen Michael McCarney (2012), and goalie Dan Morris (2013).

Game 2, Highland Park vs. The Woodlands: The North District’s #4 seed, Highland Park, squares off against the South District’s #2 seed, The Woodlands. Highland Park was on the verge of missing out on the playoffs this year but pulled out a thrilling overtime victory over Episcopal School of Dallas to secure the #4 seed from the North District. They face a stiff test against the Woodlands, who have fared well against top competition all year long and who many are expecting to make a deep run in this year’s playoffs. Highland Park is led by All-State Midfielders Daniel Wenz (2012) and Domenic Massimilian (2012). The Woodlands is led by 5 All-State players in defender Dylan Gorman (2012), attackman Spencer Willey (2012), midfielders Ian Seale (2012) and Ben Lipscomb (2013), and freshman face-off specialist Jake Williams (2015). The winner will face Central District’s #2 seed, Austin High. Austin High played both these teams in a back-to-back early season weekend matchup, beating Highland Park 16-7 before losing to the Woodlands 19-3 the following day. Austin High is led by All-State midfielder Jake Hiebert (2012) and attackman Mitch Reeder (2012).

Super Regionals South Location (Houston Christian High School)

Game 1, Westwood vs. Plano West: The Central District’s #4 seed, Westwood, will face the North District’s #3 seed, Plano West. These two teams faced each other in a tight regular season game that saw Plano West squeak out the 8-7 win. Both teams have had their share of ups-and-downs since they last played each other, but Plano West comes into this game with momentum after upsetting Coppell last week to earn themselves a playoff spot. Westwood is led by All-State midfielders Michael Morgan (2012) and Jordan Glynn (2012). Plano West is led by All-District Attackman Ryan Schaffer (2013). The winner of this matchup will face a stiff test on Sunday against the South District’s #1 seed, Houston Christian, who’s had a fantastic regular season winning a number of close games against top teams en route to their #1 seeding. However, they did lose to Westwood early in the season in a closely fought 1-goal game. Houston Christian is led by 5 All-State players in attackman Bucky Desadier (2012), attackman Brooks Lehle (2013), midfielder Connor Pryor (2013), defender Hayden Sterling (2012), and goalie Malachy Lyons-Letts (2012).

Game 2, Episcopal Houston vs. St. Mark’s: The South District’s #4 seed, Episcopal Houston, will face the North District’s #2 seed, St. Mark’s. A matchup against St. Mark’s in the first round of the playoffs is something that no team hoped to see. However, after a sluggish early-season start, Episcopal Houston is playing great lacrosse and they face a St. Mark’s team that’s been plagued by late-season injuries. Episcopal Houston is led by 3 All-State players in attackman Max Skibber (2012), midfielder Max Hutson (2012), and defenseman Steve Pitt (2012). St. Mark’s is led by 3 All-State players of their own in attackman Will Perkins (2012), midfielder Christopher Marlow (2014), and defenseman Bear Goldstein (2013), to go along with a number of All-District players, as well. The winner of this matchup will face Central District’s #1 seed, Westlake. After a difficult early-season stretch against many of the top teams in the state (which included an 11-8 loss to St. Mark’s) Westlake is playing great lacrosse and is poised to make a deep run in this year’s playoffs. Westlake is led by 9 All-State players this year, in attackmen Jacob Rockwell (2012) and Hayden Byrd (2013), midfielders Matt Gabriel (2012) and Blake Kemper (2012), defenders Michael Edwards (2013), Ben Chabala (2012), Connor White (2012), and John Dodd (2013), and goalie Jackson Grimes (2012).

The 4 teams that survive and advance this weekend will square off next weekend in the semi-final games of the State Championship Playoffs.

Jamie DeBole, Texas Heat Lacrosse. www.texasheatlacrosse.com is the source for all things lacrosse in the state of Texas.

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