GAMES
RANKINGS
From Seventh to the Summit: Cy-Creek’s Stunning Rise Sets the Stage for a Playoff Push
One year can change everything in high school basketball, and no team embodies that truth more than Cypress Creek.
After finishing last season with just three district wins and a seventh-place standing, Cy-Creek flipped the script in dramatic fashion this year. The Cougars went a perfect 14–0 in district play, capturing the district championship and reestablishing themselves as one of the area’s most dangerous teams heading into the postseason.
The turnaround was fueled by leadership, resilience, and timely additions. Cy-Creek leaned heavily on a senior-led core that set the standard from the opening tip. Alissa Bryant, a Blinn College commit, made an immediate impact after transferring in, providing scoring, toughness, and a steady presence on both ends of the floor. Fellow senior Aubrey Hampton, a 6-foot-3 Georgia State commit, returned healthy after missing last season due to injury and gave the Cougars a dominant inside force they simply didn’t have a year ago. Mariyah Dickson rounded out the senior leadership, offering experience and consistency after battling injuries last season.
Alongside the seniors, sophomore Kaycie Hanks emerged as a key contributor. After missing time last year with minor injuries, a healthy Hanks added energy, confidence, and playmaking ability, proving she could thrive on a big stage despite her age.
Cy-Creek has been here before. The program’s last deep playoff run came during the 2020–2021 season, when the Cougars reached the state tournament behind University of Texas standout Rori Harmon. That season became the benchmark—and now, the question is whether this year’s group can rise to meet it.
Early results suggest they’re ready. Cy-Creek opened the season with statement wins over Klein Collins and C.E. King, showing they can compete—and win—against tough, physical competition outside of district play.
Now, with an undefeated district title in hand and momentum on their side, Cy-Creek enters the playoffs with something to prove—and everything to gain. The climb from seventh place to district champions is already complete. Whether this team can take the next step and make another memorable postseason run is the story still waiting to be written.
Summer Creek's Addison Martin & Kennedy Simpson
THE STATUS: VYPE Houston GBB Rankings heat up as February nears; Summer Creek, Dawson, Barbers Hill rolling
Much remains unsettled, but the contenders are coming into view—some carrying last year’s momentum, others announcing themselves as real postseason threats.
At the forefront of Class 6A, Summer Creek continues to exhibit its championship-level consistency. The defending 6A Division I titleholders look every bit the part once again, carving through a demanding slate en route to a 20-4 start. Their résumé is layered with statement wins, and their ability to control tempo on both ends has kept them firmly entrenched at the top.
If there’s a district that best embodies volatility and depth, it’s 22-6A. Dawson, Shadow Creek, and Manvel have turned league play into a weekly chess match, with Dawson currently holding a narrow edge thanks to a pivotal head-to-head win and tiebreaker positioning. That race, much like several others across the region, appears destined to be decided late.
Elsewhere in 6A, competitive groupings have emerged in 19-6A, 17-6A, and 16-6A, where parity reigns supreme. Seven Lakes remains a fixture near the top, while Cy Creek and Cy Springs continue to assert themselves through balanced play. Hightower, Klein Collins, and C.E. King round out a tier of programs capable of disrupting any bracket draw, given their athleticism and depth.
In Class 5A, Barbers Hill has wasted little time reestablishing itself as a force capable of another State run. The Eagles’ 23-3 start includes several wins over 6A competition, underscoring just how transferable their success has been. La Porte and Iowa Colony remain firmly in the mix, while Montgomery and Porter headline a group of early contenders still finding their ceiling.
On the private school side, Kinkaid appears to be on a familiar trajectory. The Falcons sit in strong position as SPC-4A play unfolds, though Houston Christian looms with a roster built to challenge that path.
As district races tighten and stakes rise, the separation between contenders and pretenders will only grow clearer in the weeks ahead.
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VYPE Houston Updated Girls Basketball Rankings -- January 2026
6A TOP-20
1. Summer Creek Bulldogs -- 20-4 // 6-0 in District 23-6A
2. Dawson Eagles -- 26-2 // 8-1 in 22-6A
3. Shadow Creek Sharks -- 23-3 // 8-1 in 22-6A
4. Hightower Hurricanes -- 20-3 // 5-1 in 21-6A
5. Seven Lakes Spartans -- 22-6 // 8-1 in 19-6A
6. Manvel Mavericks -- 24-4 // 7-2 in 22-6A
7. Klein Collins Tigers -- 20-4 // 9-0 in 15-6A
8. C.E. King Panthers -- 23-5 // 5-1 in 23-6A
9. Cypress Creek Cougars -- 22-5 // 6-0 in 17-6A
10. Cypress Springs Panthers -- 13-8 // 6-0 in 16-6A
11. Grand Oaks Grizzlies -- 19-4 // 9-0 in 13-6A
12. Cypress Lakes Spartans -- 22-4 // 5-1 in 16-6A
13. Katy Jordan Warriors -- 18-5 // 7-2 in 19-6A
14. Katy Taylor Mustangs -- 22-4 // 7-2 in 19-6A
15. Memorial Mustangs -- 19-7 // 5-1 in 17-6A
16. Katy Tigers -- 17-8 // 6-3 in 19-6A
17. Cypress Falls Eagles -- 18-6 // 4-2 in 17-6A
18. Clear Falls Knights -- 20-6 // 5-1 in 24-6A
19. Fort Bend Travis Tigers -- 20-6 // 6-0 in 21-6A
20. North Shore Mustangs -- 16-8 // 5-1 in 23-6A
Others to Watch: The Woodlands Highlanders (13-6A), Langham Creek Lobos (16-6A), Cypress Ranch Mustangs (16-6A), Alief Elsik Rams (20-6A), Deer Park Deer (24-6A), Klein Oak Panthers (15-6A), Fulshear Chargers (20-6A), Kingwood Mustangs (23-6A), Tomball Cougars (15-6A), Clear Creek Wildcats (24-6A), Stratford Spartans (17-6A), Pearland Oilers (22-6A),Conroe Tigers (13-6A), Foster Falcons (20-6A)
5A TOP-5
1. Barbers Hill Eagles -- 23-3 // 6-0 in District 19-5A
2. La Porte Bulldogs -- 21-6 // 5-1 in 20-5A
3. Montgomery Bears -- 19-6 // 4-1 in 17-5A
4. Porter Spartans -- 15-6 // 4-0 in 18-5A
5. Iowa Colony Pioneers -- 15-12 // 4-1 in 17-5A
Others to Watch: Galveston Ball Tornadoes (20-5A), Spring Woods Tigers (21-5A), Baytown Sterling Rangers (19-5A), Friendswood Mustangs (20-5A)
1. The Kinkaid School Falcons (SPC-4A) -- 19-5
2. Houston Christian Mustangs (SPC-4A) -- 16-4
3. The Village School Vikings (TAPPS-6A) -- 18-5
4. Second Baptist Eagles (TAPPS-5A) -- 16-5
5. The John Cooper School Dragons (SPC-3A) -- 12-6
Others to Watch: Concordia Lutheran Crusaders (TAPPS-6A), Episcopal Knights (SPC-4A), St. John XXIII Lions (TAPPS-6A), Bay Area Christian Broncos (TAPPS-5A)














































