Kayla Crowley, Brandon Snader
Bradley Collier/VYPE Media
Brandon Snader
WHERE: Alamodome -- San Antonio, TX
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BRENNAN BEARS
Star power has rarely been lacking at Brennan in recent memory—just look at 2025 graduate Kingston Flemings, who is going ballistic at Houston and is already drawing NBA Draft buzz. Tenured head coach Koty Cowgill has seen his team reach the State Final Four in three of the past four seasons.
Yet the championship game had long eluded the Northside ISD heavyweight…until this past Tuesday. The Bears edged Atascocita in a truly epic back-and-forth affair, fending off a late comeback to secure a 63-61 victory and punch the program’s ticket to its first-ever UIL State Final. Now, the question becomes: can Brennan (33-3) seal the deal?
UTEP-bound guard Donovan Criss continues to serve as the most prominent weapon in Cowgill’s arsenal, as the 6-foot-6 senior is averaging nearly 15 points, four rebounds, and two assists per contest. Fellow senior and three-star collegiate prospect Isaiah Ward brings a similar frame and finishing touch, chipping in 12 points, five rebounds, and three assists per game.
Meanwhile, standing just shy of 7 feet, senior center Delano Tarpley—another future UTEP Miner—is just as adept at scoring (10 ppg) as he is at cleaning the glass (8 rpg). Sean Mondragon (Sr. G) and Jacob Padilla (Jr. PG) round out Brennan’s formidable lineup, a group now on the precipice of history.
NORTH CROWLEY PANTHERS
Boasting an equally impressive 34-3 record, NoCro enters the title matchup on the heels of an exceedingly dominant 72-55 victory over Allen in last week’s Region I Final, before outlasting Duncanville 52-49 on Tuesday night. Making just their second appearance in the title game, head coach Tommy Brakel and the Panthers now have another state trophy within reach, aiming to add to the one captured in 2008.
When it comes to talent, the pool runs deep at North Crowley. Senior wing Jonathan Fox delivered what many are calling the “dunk of the year” off a perfect lob from junior point guard Isaak Hayes earlier in the postseason. Hayes serves as the undeniable engine behind the Panthers’ offense, orchestrating a system that also features the steady contributions of Trey Hall (Sr. W) and Alex Barther II (Sr. SF).
WHERE: Alamodome -- San Antonio, TX
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BEAUMONT UNITED TIMBERWOLVES
To put Beaumont United’s supremacy into perspective, the only losses on the team’s 36-3 record came at the hands of West Brook (twice) and Dallas Kimball—both of which are competing in the Finals of their respective championship brackets (5A Division I and 4A Division I).
That said, head coach David Green Jr. and the Timberwolves have steamrolled their way to the Alamodome, cementing their place in the title game with a convincing 58-44 win over SA Veterans Memorial on Tuesday. The victory also marked the program’s fifth State Tournament appearance—all of which have come since 2021. Now, United seizes the opportunity to add a third state trophy to the case, and its first since going back-to-back in 2022.
Few players in Texas can match the all-around production of junior Payton Jones. From the point guard spot, Jones averages more than 20 points per game, along with five rebounds, three assists, and two steals. More than just a stat-sheet stuffer, the four-star blue-chip talent elevates those around him.
Fellow junior guard Joshua Coleman (10 ppg, 3 rpg, 3 apg) can be just as much of a catalyst when it comes to lighting up the scoreboard, attacking the rim, and dishing to teammates. Meanwhile, sophomore center Ephriam Moore Jr. (10 ppg, 8 rpg) and senior forward Caleb McCreary (7 ppg, 5 rpg) blend instincts, length, and finishing touch to add another layer to United’s championship-caliber roster.
SUMMIT JAGUARS
Just over a year after claiming their first UIL title, the Jaguars (33-6) held the belief San Antonio would be the destination—a goal solidified earlier this week with a 52-35 triumph over Lovejoy. Riding all the momentum one could hope for, Mansfield Summit (33-6) now stands on the doorstep of consecutive state championships, a testament to the robust team identity that coach Emund Prichett has cultivated.
In what has been a truly comprehensive effort, key figures guiding the Jaguars to the Final include Jaxon Sneed (Sr. CG), David Bardere II (Jr. G), Javon Ross (Sr. G), Emund Prichett II (Jr. F), and freshman breakout star Joseph Creal III.
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