Denton Ryan fell just short in 2019 dropping 28-22 in the UIL 5A Division I Championship game to Shadow Creek. Since that loss, the Raiders have posted an undefeated season going 13-0 overall and 7-0 to finish first in district. Ryan is coming off of a high after defeating Highland Park last Friday by a score of 17-7. The win marked the first time Ryan has defeated their longtime playoffs rival in over a decade — the last time the Raiders defeated the Scots was in a 2004 non-district matchup with a 21-18 score.
"We knew it was a team that many people said we couldn't beat," said Denton Ryan's All-American, four-star wide receiver/defensive back Billy Bowman Jr. "We wanted to show people we could beat them. We're just focused on one goal — getting a ring this year."
Denton Ryan has a handful of players that fans should pay close attention to in the semifinal matchup against Mansfield Summit on Friday at AT&T Stadium.
Texas signee Ja'Tavion Sanders alongside Oklahoma signee Bowman has posted a combined remarkable 39 receptions for 652 yards and seven touchdowns in just the last three games — against College Station, Longview, and Highland Park. On the season, Sanders has tallied 55 catches for 1,073 yards and 15 touchdowns while Bowman has posted 68 catches for 1,010 yards and 13 touchdowns. Kalib Hicks, a sophomore running back for the Raiders, has averaged over 105 rushing yards per game with about 8 yards per carry in the playoffs. Quarterback Seth Henigan- a Memphis signee- has posted 3,351 passing yards and 36 touchdowns this season with a 68% pass completion rate. In the last seven-straight games, Henigan has thrown at least two touchdown passes. Not to mention a dominating defense who has allowed fewer than 10 points in a game in half of their games this season.
Denton Guyer played a rough game in the 2019 6A Division II UIL State Championship match against Austin Westlake. The Wildcats definitely have a chip on their shoulder after falling 24-0 to lose the title.
Since failing to score in the state title game, Guyer has posted an 11-2 overall season finishing second in district with a 5-1 district record. Their two losses came to Denton Ryan in a non-district matchup where Ryan narrowly defeated Guyer 23-20 and against Allen in a district game where Allen came out victorious with a score of 56-38. The Wildcats have far outscored their opponents this season by over 200 points (554-339) and they're coming off of an incredible 30-24 triple-overtime defeat over Prosper last Saturday.
Guyer's defense- led by Baylor signee defensive lineman Cooper Lanz- has proven to play a key role throughout this season. Last week, Lanz recorded two sacks, six tackles for a loss, and an incredible blocked field goal in the third overtime to help set up the win.
Texas A&M signee, quarterback Eli Stowers also posted a great play against Prosper where he ran for a five-yard touchdown in the third overtime to secure the Wildcats' spot in the semifinals. Despite only throwing six completed passes, two interceptions, and only one touchdown pass, Stowers is ready to continue his drive toward a state title appearance after being injured in the first drive of the state title game in 2019. "Obviously, it was a tough situation last year," Stowers said remembering his injury. "To be able to get this close to a state championship game is a blessing." Stowers has posted three game-winning touchdowns this season.
Another athlete to watch for on Guyer's end is junior Jace Wilson. If you don't recognize the name, you should. The wide receiver is the younger brother of Kansas basketball player, Jalen Wilson. Wilson has proven his role on the Guyer squad and posted a touchdown against Prosper last week.
Guyer looks ahead to winning their first state title since 2013 (when they were classified as a 4A team), but first, they will face Cedar Hill on Saturday at McKinney ISD Stadium.
Guyer claims its first-ever state championship with their 48-47 win over Katy Jordan
“It’s a surreal moment,” said head coach Grant Long. “A lot of the guys who’ve come through this program have built up the tradition that it consists of. We just had a special group this year who were finally able to see the goal through.”
The Wildcats had a firm grip on the championship late in the 4th quarter, following a clutch 3-point jumper made by junior Silas Rodriguez, with only 29 seconds remaining.
Following a botched attempt of a buzzer-beater – thanks to an exceptional defensive effort – Guyer was then crowned the UIL 5A-D2 champions, with Rodriguez being named the State MVP for his considerable efforts (20 points, 3 rebounds).
Junior Silas Rodriguez accepts the UIL 6A-DII State MVP AwardMatthew Ogle (VYPE)
“There really weren’t too many words going through my head in that instance,” he said. “I’ve wanted to win a state championship all year and that was the only goal I had at that moment. Once I saw the ball go through the net, I was thanking God and was overcome with emotion. I couldn’t have dreamed of a better scenario.”
Coach Long was quick to add on to that sentiment.
“He (Rodriguez) has dreamed about it because he’s in the gym every single day,” Long said. “He’s called me up on more than one occasion to open the gym up so he can get to work. When he hit that shot, it wasn’t by accident. He’s not only a phenomenal athlete; he’s a great student. He perfectly exemplifies the level of dedication we demand here.”
Rodriguez wasn’t the only one who had his mind fixed on taking gold this year.
After playing his first two seasons with Guyer, point guard Jordan Lowery transferred to Winston Salem Christian School (North Carolina), before making his way back to the Denton school for his senior year.
Prior to this season, he posted "Unfinished Business” on his Twitter account, with the intention of carrying out exactly what just transpired.
Guyer Senior Jordan Lowery embraces Silas Rodriguez, following the announcement of the State's MVP AwardMatthew Ogle (VYPE)
“I came back to my family,” said Lowery. “I knew we had the necessary guys to do what it takes to win, and that’s what happened. Was it worth it? Of course it was. I had a journal before the season started saying that we’d win a championship, and it meant everything to see that play out.”
The Wildcats now make the trek home with a monumental prize in tow: one that coach Long knows his athletes will cherish for years to come.
“This is something that will never go away,” Long said. “25 years from now, we’re still going to be celebrating this, and what makes me feel grateful is the fact that this team won’t forget each other. I’m still in close contact with most of my former high school teammates, so I hope they do the same for the rest of their lives.”
The celebrations are only just beginning in the 76210 area code, and a new precedent has been established for the Guyer basketball program. Considering how proficient the Dallas-area has been in the sport, this could be just the beginning of a new dynasty.
The Summit Jaguars are taking home the 5A-D2 Championship after defeating Marshall 54-47
Facing a formidable opponent in Marshall (37-2), the Jaguars rose to the occasion, securing a 54-47 victory in their second-ever State Final appearance—clinching the program’s first championship.
Head Coach Emund Prichett, who’s been with the team since moving over from Killeen Shoemaker in 2017, has helped build Summit into yet another brand out of the DFW area.
Though he bestowed the lion’s share of credit towards the young men who saw their goal become a reality.
Summit HC Emund PrichettMatthew Ogle (VYPE)
“I’m just so grateful to see all their hard work finally pay off,” said Prichett. “More than that, I’m just glad that everyone else got to see it, because I witness their dedication every day. We’re so proud of these guys and none of this would have been possible without them.”
Summit already had some experience playing against Marshall this winter, as the two faced off during the tournament portion of their schedule in December – a game in which they were narrowly defeated 43-38.
However, things ended differently in the most crucial game of the year.
While it was fairly close early on, the Jaguars slowly began to pull away in the second quarter, going on a 13-0 run to make it 19-7 with 5:16 left in the half, and never giving up the lead for the remainder of the match.
This was largely due to the fact that the team played to their strengths, according to Prichett.
“That (the run) was definitely big,” he said. “But, for the rest of the game, our kids just played hard and got defensive stops, which is what we’re all about. We made some shots, took care of the ball, and we controlled the paint, so that was instrumental.”
The Jags capped off an incredible season with a 33-7 record, led by standout senior forward Ian Sedah, whose dominant performance (17 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists) earned him State MVP honors.
Ian Sedah is named the UIL 5A-D2 State MVPMatthew Ogle (VYPE)
His contributions across the board don’t come as a surprise, considering he’s been one of the team’s driving forces all year long.
“It was really about being active and taking on that role all over the floor,” Sedah said. “As a team, we’re best at being physical, particularly when it comes to boxing out and getting rebounds. We just had more focus coming in, I think, which is why we were able to have that advantage in this game.”
This marked the second occasion that Mansfield Summit had advanced to the State Tournament, last reaching it in 2023, where they suffered a 52-50 heart-breaker against Killeen Ellison in the Semis.
Now that they finally got their ring, it’s become a full circle moment.
Summit's 'Big-Three': Caleb Richard, Ian Sedah, and Theo Brannan (Left to Right)Matthew Ogle (VYPE)
“During my freshman year (2023) I was scared and nervous, but I prepared myself this time around,” said junior point guard Theo Brannan. “I’ve been waiting for this. I told Ian (Sedah) and Caleb (Richard) that we were going to be back. We all knew what we were capable of, so this year was about keeping up that work so we’d be ready for the moment.”
The Jaguars return to Arlington as champions, fulfilling their promise of bringing home the title—one their fans will celebrate for years to come.
This year’s championship matchup is historic, with both Denton Ryan and San Antonio Wagner making their first-ever appearances in the title game.
For Denton Ryan, the breakthrough came earlier this week when the Raiders dominated Red Oak 50-31 in their State Tournament debut.
Led by head coach Monesha Allen, Ryan boasts an impressive 31-7 record, built on an explosive offense that averages over 60 points per game and a suffocating defense holding opponents under 37 points per contest.
While Ryan’s depth has been key all season, the trio of juniors—Kaylin Jackson (F), Zaviyana Madison (PG), and Kinley Lewis (F)—has been exceptional. The three combined for 41 of the team’s 50 points in the semifinal win, proving their ability to step up under pressure.
The Raiders have been underestimated all season, and a championship victory would be the ultimate statement to silence the doubters.
On the other side, Wagner is no stranger to deep playoff runs. The Thunderbirds have now reached the State Tournament six times since the school opened in 2005. However, in their previous five appearances, they fell short in the semifinals—until this year.
Wagner finally broke through with a hard-fought 67-63 overtime victory against Georgetown on Tuesday, earning a long-awaited shot at the title.
Ranked No. 5 in Texas by MaxPreps, coach Annissa Jackson’s squad enters the final riding a 25-game win streak, boasting a near-flawless 34-3 record.
Leading the charge for Wagner is Utah commit Leonna “LA” Sneed (Sr. PG), a dominant two-way player averaging 23 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 steals per game.
She’s supported by a deep and talented cast, including sophomores Nia McBride (13 ppg, 3 apg, 2 spg) and A’Rielle Williams (8 ppg, 7 rpg, 2 spg), along with senior Jenae Moore (9 ppg, 3 rpg, 2 apg) and freshman Khiarra Fernandez (5 ppg, 1 rpg, 1 spg).
With Denton Ryan (31-7) and SA Wagner (34-3) set to clash, two programs look to cement their legacies on the season’s biggest stage. The UIL 5A-D1 State Championship tips off at 1:00 PM on Saturday at the Alamodome—with history on the line.
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