GAMES
RANKINGS
Barbers Hill back in the State Final Four
RING SEASON: Barbers Hill, Harris back to chasing titles
This Year Feels Different
“We knew we were going to State that year,” Harris laughed. “We had one of the best players in the country in Brianna Turner (Notre Dame national champion, WNBA). We were supposed to win it.
“This year, we’ve had to battle for everything. This is a true team—one where we have to hang our hat on defense, out-scheme people, and just play hard. Getting here and possibly playing on Saturday… it’s been a special year.”
Road to the Championship
Barbers Hill (32-7) will take on Liberty Hill (35-4) in the State Semifinals on Tuesday at College Station High School at 7 PM, with a trip to the UIL State Final at the Alamodome in San Antonio on the line.
“I knew we were going to be solid, but I didn’t expect Brooklynn Roberson to have this big of a year,” Harris admitted. “Jayci Lackey and Rachel Glynn have also stepped up in key moments.
“Brooklynn is a poised and controlled point guard who can knock down big shots. Jayci has a great basketball IQ, and Rachel is just solid in the post.”
Tough Test Against Liberty Hill
The Eagles will need to be at their best to take down Liberty Hill.
“They are so well-coached,” Harris said of the Panthers. “They’re running some two- and three-tier college-level sets. It’s going to be a low-scoring game, and we can’t afford many mistakes. We’ll need to use our length and athleticism.”
X-Factor: Coach Bryan Harris
Barbers Hill’s secret weapon? It might just be Bryan Harris himself. With over 600 career wins and two state titles(one in Indiana), he’s one of the top coaches in the country.
“This would be the icing on the cake,” he said.
Does Hightower have enough to reach State?
THE PREDICTIONS: Who advances to State in Houston girls hoops?
THE GALLERY
On the other side of the bracket, it’s Katy Taylor vs Dawson. The Eagles are a heavy favorite going undefeated in district play and blowing out their opponents. Katy Taylor has had a great season and finished third in district play.
In Region II, The Woodlands will face defending State Champ Duncanville in the third round. Coach Ashley Davis has TURNED this Highlander program around Aiden Pino, Isa Alaniz and Rachael Roberts are the big three for TWHS. Duncanville is too tough defensively and can run the floor at a break-neck pace.
How about those Nimitz Cougars, who won their district and are led by crafty guard Aniah Richard. Chloe Williams and Tatiyanna Cole do work in the paint along with Kira Hubbard. Cedar Hill is salty and plays in a brutal district with Duncanville, DeSoto and South Grand Prairie.
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THE PREDICTION
Summer Creek will face Dawson for the right to got to State. VYPE goes with Dawson with Jaylynn Perez-Richard, Kendall Ford, Mia Barre and Jaycee Ingram to advance in a mild upset. In Region II, the road ends for TWHS and Nimitz after great seasons. They just run into to big of buzz saws to advance.
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The Class 6A DII divsions are a blood-bath.
In Region III, Hightower and Fulshear battle out west, while Alief Taylor and Clear Brook match talent for talent. Huge star power in these match-ups, starting with Alief Taylor’s Nataliyah Gray (Mississippi State), Fulshear’s Ruke Ogbevire, Hightower’s Chandler Caver (Loyola-New Orleans) and Kailee Beaudion-Foliaki (Northeastern) and Clear Brook’s Rezia Castillo (A&M-Commerce), Chardel Terrell (UTEP) and Kamryn McLaurin. If they were to meet, Alief Taylor and Fulshear are district-mates and split their series… by three points per game.
In Region II, Cypress Springs has two of the top players in the state in Ayla McDowell (South Carolina) and Jemini Mitchell. They face a legendary DeSoto team, which has lost a little luster with all the drama surrounging the program. Grand Oaks and Lancaster is going to be legit. Grizzly guard Bree Riley is a tough guard who can score and is uber-confident. State Top 5 Lancaster counters with Makenzie White, Monique Phoenix and Arianna Davis.
THE PREDICTION
VYPE goes with Alief Taylor vs Hightower in the finals with Hightower advancing to State. The Hurricanes just have a tremendous inside-out game with multiple scoring options. In Region II, Cypress Springs should advance to the Final Four beating Lancaster in the Regional Finals.
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In Class 5A DI, La Porte went 28-10 and won its district. The Bulldogs will face Hendrickson in the third round of Class 5A DI Region III bracket, while Barbers Hill will face Pflugerville in the Regional Semis. The Hill is 30-7 and won their district easily.
THE PREDICTION: Both Houston teams advance. La Porte is a bit of a sleeper while Bryan Harris of Barbers Hill has already won a State Title with Manvel. Experience matters.