The road to the state playoffs might be a little less treacherous for the Jefferson City Jays and Lady Jays during the 2014-15 basketball season.
Usually lumped in a district with perennial state title contenders Rock Bridge and Hickman, Jefferson City will now be in District 10 with Camdenton, Lebanon and Waynesville for the upcoming season. The district pairings for basketball and football were announced Saturday by the Missouri State High School Activities Association.
The Hickman boys were the state runner-up in Class 5 this season, while the Rock Bridge girls won the Class 5 title. While a state sectional matchup would likely involve Hickman or Rock Bridge, the chances to advance out of the district just got a whole lot easier.
The Helias Crusaders and Lady Crusaders will be heading south for districts in Class 4 District 10. After traveling north the last couple years for a district games with teams like Kirksville, Mexico and Moberly, Helias will be in a district with Eldon, Marshfield, School of the Osage, Rolla and Salem.
Blair Oaks is part of a loaded Class 3 District 9, along with other area schools Eugene and Fatima. St. James - who was the top-ranked girls team before Fatima pulled off the upset in district play - Bourbon, Cuba, Dixon and Steelville round out the district.
California is assigned with Father Tolton, Hallsville, Hermann, Montgomery County, North Callaway, South Callaway and Southern Boone in Class 3 District 8.
Versailles will be in Class 3 District 13 with Boonville, Cole Camp, Holden, Knob Noster, Sherwood, St. Paul Lutheran and Warsaw.
There is a distinct local flavor in Class 2 District 8. Calvary Lutheran - which moved up from Class 1 - Linn, New Bloomfield, Russellville, Tipton and Vienna highlight the district, and will be joined by Belle and Iberia.
The same can be said about Class 1 District 9, as Chamois, Jamestown, St. Elizabeth and Tuscumbia are grouped together. They'll be joined by Bunceton, Missouri School for the Deaf, Pilot Grove and Prairie Home.
The sites for the district tournaments will be determined at a later date.