Brookeland and Broaddus Clash in The East Texas Game of the Year

The Build Up

During the first week of November, we knew this dance was bound to happen.

When Broaddus won their first game of the year against Tenaha and when Brookeland won theirs against Central...Friday, February 21st was already circled on the calendar.

No disrespect intended for any of their district or playoff opponents, but the Broaddus Lady Bulldogs and the Brookeland Lady 'Cats are two of the best Conference A  basketball teams in Texas. An eventual showdown for the Region 4, Division I championship seemed about as sure as road construction on Highway 59.

The Showdown

Friday at 8 p.m. at Nacogdoches High School, it begins. It's a Battle of Blue as Broaddus tangles with Brookeland for a right to move on to the State Semifinal Game.

Brookeland Bullets

• The Lady 'Cats are 33-4 on the year and ranked #9 in the state
• In their victories, the average score is 70-27 (not including one forfeit)
• Brookeland has won 15 straight games and has won 42 straight district games
• Brookeland's 4 losses this year have been against two teams. Two losses to Chireno (ranked #4 in Class 2A) and two losses to Kountze (ranked #5 in Class 3A)
• In their previous playoff game, Brookeland dismantled 15th ranked McMullen County by 32 points.

Broaddus Bullets

• The Lady Bulldogs are 32-4 on the year, and ranked #2 in the state.
• In their victories, the average score is 71-25 (not including one forfeit)
• Broaddus has won 13 straight games and 26 straight district games.
• Their 4 losses have to come Martins Mill (#1 in Class 2A), Longview (Class 6A Bi-District Champs), Winnsboro (#2 Class 3A), and Rains (29-5 season record)
• Among their victories, Broaddus has defeated Tenaha (#24 in Class 2A), Martins Mill (revenge victory), Lovelady (#15 in Class 2A), Chireno (#4 in Class 2A), Canton (#8 in Class 4A), Douglass (Class 2A Regional Semifinal Champs), Diboll (Class 3A Area Champs), Saltillo (#11 in Class A), Bridge City (#10 in Class 4A), and in their last playoff game they defeated 16th-ranked Nueces Canyon by 48 points.

Other Game Notes

• The winner of this game will take on the winner of the Neches/Newcastle game to be played Friday in Cleburne.
• The winner of this game will advance to the state semifinals which will NOT be hosted at the Alamodome this year. Only the state championship game will be in San Antonio, the state semifinal game will be played at a neutral site.
• It's hard to believe that these two teams separated by less than 30 miles are not in the same district and are finally meeting four rounds deep in the playoffs.
• The last time Brookeland and Broaddus played was on December 6, 2022, Brookeland won 57-51.