The Elkins Knights put up a good fight against the Summer Creek Bulldogs. But, in the end, the Bulldogs pulled through and won 57-52! Summer Creek will play Atascocita for the Region III Championship soon. Check out some highlights of the Bulldogs vs Knights game below!
THE ARCHITECTS: History being made as minorities lead all Class 6A state final super-programs
15 Dec, 2023
By Bradley Collier
As Texas High School football takes center stage this weekend at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, history is being made.
All four head coaches in the Class 6A title games are Black… Duncanville’s Reginald Samples, North Shore’s Willie Gaston, DeSoto’s Claude Mathis and Summer Creek’s Kenny Harrison.
Last season, Claude Mathis was the first Black head coach to win a state title at the highest classification of Texas High School football. A few hours later, Samples became the second as the Panthers knocked off North Shore.
Willie Gaston, who played QB for North Shore over 20 years ago before starring for the University of Houston, was elevated from his offensive coordinator position last spring after coach Jon Kay took a college position at Rice University. The first-year head coach has carried on the success of his predecessors as the Mustangs are in their fifth Class 6A DI state title game in six years. He will face Duncanville and coach Reginald Samples, the winningest black head coach in Texas high school football history with over 340 wins.
“It’s a special moment,” Gaston said. “There is a lot of people pumped up for this. There was a stereotype that minority guys couldn’t coach over the years. This weekend just shows you the growth of minority coaches and how good we have become.”
This week, the Houston TD Club awarded Gaston and Summer Creek coach Kenny Harrison as their 2023 co-Coaches of the Year. It is only the third time in the club’s history to have awarded co-coaches. Gaston and Harrison have led their teams to the top of the Texas high school football mountain this weekend… the coveted state game.
No team in the 105-year history of Humble ISD has ever reached a state final… until now. Harrison and his Summer Creek Bulldogs face DeSoto in the Class 6A DII championship. The history is not lost on Harrison, who grew up playing for Port Arthur Jefferson and SMU.
“It means a lot that all four of us have this opportunity,” he said. “We’re all quality coaches who have built tremendous programs. I’ve followed them for a long time and their successes. I’m excited to be a part of this for black coaches but even, more importantly, excited about the opportunity to win a state championship.”
Mathis, who was a star RB at Texas State, smashed through the ceiling last season, beating Austin Vandegrift 42-17 to win the Class 6A DII title in 2022. He’s back…
“This is just wonderful… this is history,” he said. “The only bad thing is that someone has to lose. We have come a long way in this profession of coaching and I’m so happy to be a part of it.”
While all four are playing to win and fit for championship rings, history is at hand as these four are breaking Texas-sized barriers.
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VYPE caught up with Willis High School Wrestling Coach Bryan Thomas at the Willis ISD 2023 Winter Media Day, discussing the upcoming season and more!
Check out the interview below!
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
The South Houston area is loaded with talented athletes who give it there all in their respective fields of play.
Welcome to the VYPE Playmakers powered by UTMB Health, where we’re highlighting five standouts from this month who stole the headlines.
Here are the UTMB Athletes of the Month, as we transition into the Winter season.
...
Ciara Williams, Dickinson Girls Basketball
The Gators are off to a rapid start, as they currently maintain a record of 14-4 to begin the season.
This is largely due to the efforts made by junior forward Ciara Williams, who is coming off a stellar showing in the team's non-district matchup against Pearland Dawson, in which Williams racked up 21 points.
She, along with fellow contributors Mariah Jackson (Sr. G) and Jazmine Hansley (Jr. G), will be essential moving forward, with Dickinson preparing for the district portion of their schedule down the line.
Michael Collins, Shadow Creek Basketball
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
From the point guard spot, Collins has been the driving force behind Shadow Creek's 14-2 start, and it doesn't appear that they'll be slowing down anytime soon.
This past weekend, the Sharks dominated the competition to win the annual Cy Hoops Invitational, in which Collins was named the tournament MVP.
Shadow Creek finished second in district a year ago before making a playoff appearance. If this start is any indication, that should be the absolute minimum that Collins and company achieves this year.
A'zyua Blair, Pearland Girls Basketball
Laniah Thorton & Shiloh Grays of Pearland Girls Basketball
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
After losing Rylee Grays (North Carolina) to graduation this past offseason, there was a question as to who was going step up for the new-look Pearland Lady Oilers.
Well, those concerns can now be appeased, now that newcomer A'zyua Blair (Fr. G) has set the stage with style.
Through the opening stretch of the Winter, Pearland touts a 14-4 record, with Blair leading the team in scoring. She averages over 17 points a game, while also averaging three assists and four steals per match.
Along with fellow freshman Shiloh Grays, as well as veterans Nyah Hardy (Fr. G) and Laniah Thorton (Sr. F), these Oilers could once again make a run for the State Tournament.
Chris Jones Jr., Pasadena Memorial Basketball
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
All eyes have been on LSU-commit Robert Miller III when Pasadena Memorial takes to the court, and for good reason -- the dude is a beast.
However, Chris Jones Jr. has emerged as a legitimate star on the Mustangs' roster.
The junior guard is putting up some serious numbers (22 ppg, 7 rpg, 2 apg, 2 spg) thus far, which has led PMHS to an 11-4 start to the season.
With a duo like that, paired with the rest of the talented roster, a district title and more could very well be in store for Pasadena Memorial.
Krislyn Biscette, Shadow Creek Girls Basketball
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
Several of last season's playmakers, who led Shadow Creek the postseason have since graduated, which left a serious need for someone to step into the role.
Enter Krislyn Biscette.
As one the Sharks' top guards, senior Biscette has shown tremendous leadership on a relatively young squad.
She's averaging roughly 13 points a game to set the example and will undoubtedly continue to be called upon by coach LaToya Micheaux with playoff aspirations in mind.
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