For the past week, Southlake Carroll has been on news broadcasts and splashed across newspaper websites, but not for the nicest reason.
The football program is in disarray following Carroll school district’s decision to put head coach Hal Wasson on paid administrative leave on Jan. 24.
Wasson, who has over 120 wins and one UIL state title with the Dragons, might be on the way out. Carroll ISD has a couple meetings next week.
Things could become a little more clear with realignment on Thursday with coaches gathering at Birdville ISD Fine Arts Athletic Complex, but it’s not confirmed who will represent the Dragons.
National Signing Day is also next week, and girls basketball playoffs and the softball season both start on Feb. 12.
Boys basketball playoffs and the baseball season begin Feb. 19.
With all of that in mind, here is the latest installment of “3 things I think, 3 things I know.”
Three things I think
1. Hal Wasson won’t coach Southlake Carroll in 2018. It doesn’t look good for Wasson, who’s been the Dragons head coach for the past 11 seasons. After being benched by the administration, Wasson is ready to defend himself, but he could very well learn his fate next week. A Carrroll ISD board meeting is set for Monday and the trustees School Board tab has a meeting scheduled for Tuesday.
2. A new district of doom is looming. For the past few years, 10-5A owned this nickname, but with realignment set for Thursday, that distinction will move over to what is now 4-6A. Five Arlington ISD and three Mansfield ISD schools will comprise this new district of doom for the 2018 and 2019 seasons. Six of the eight made the playoffs in 2017 — Arlington, Lamar, Martin, Mansfield, Summit and Lake Ridge — and all won at least one playoff game. Five made it three rounds deep. Talk about dangerous.
3. Check out 8-5A boys hoops. The best games to watch next week will come from District 8-5A. In the standings, six teams are in the playoff hunt, and five are separated by just two games. Richland (8-2) and Fort Worth Dunbar (8-2) share first place, followed by Birdville (7-3), Grapevine (6-4) and Colleyville Heritage (6-4). Dunbar faces Richland and Birdville, Grapevine hosts Heritage on Tuesday.
Three things I know
1. Maddie Cawley is putting up video game numbers. The Lake Country Christian junior forward has six triple-doubles in 35 games this season. In 15 other games, Cawley has a double-double. She’s averaging 13.1 points, 13.1 rebounds, 6.9 assists, 4.3 steals and 3.3 blocks per game. The Eagles are No. 1 in TAPPS 4A by Texas Association of Basketball Coaches and have won 106-straight district contests.
2. Girls basketball district races coming down to Feb. 6 final day. Let’s say Saginaw Boswell, Aledo, Colleyville Heritage and Grapevine all win on Friday night. It will set up huge season finales on Feb. 6. No. 14 Boswell (30-4, 12-0) plays at No. 15 Aledo (27-3, 11-1), while No. 25 Heritage (21-10, 11-1) visits Grapevine (27-6, 11-1). In the first meeting, Boswell won by 32 points, Heritage by four.
3. The Trojans are soccer savvy, too Euless Trinity boys soccer is off to the best start in program history. The Trojans started 6-0-2 and 1-0 in District 5-6A with a win over Flower Mound Marcus before coming up short 2-1 against Southlake Carroll on Tuesday night. Trinity is No. 8 in the state by Top Drawer Soccer.
This story was originally published January 31, 2018 12:49 PM.