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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.
Kam Newsome of FB Travis Hoops
THE PLAYMAKERS: Picking up speed powered by UTMB Health
Here are the UTMB Athletes of the Month, as the Winter season heats up.
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Divine Ugochukwu, Clements Basketball
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
The Rangers (21-0; 7-0) are sweeping the city of Houston past the mid-way point of the Winter season. So much so, that they earned the top spot in our updated rankings.
Their undefeated streak can be heavily attributed the overall performance made by pillars such as Aziz Olajuwon and Joshua Clark. However, none have been as valuable to Clements as Divine Ugochukwu.
The 6-foot-3 combo-guard has been lighting it up, scoring 17 points a game, with an average of 7 assists and 2 steals to boot.
If Ugochukwu and company can keep up this hot-streak, watch out for them in the later rounds of the postseason.
Addisyn Parker, La Porte Girls Basketball
Despite competing in a crowded district, La Porte (14-10; 3-2) is making their case for a potential title in the back-half of the Winter.
With all the close games they have been a part of, the reigning district MVP Addisyn Parker (Sr. G) continues to be the difference-maker that sets the Bulldogs apart.
Parker leads the team in scoring on a consistent basis and will undoubtedly be a key factor in La Porte's success down the line.
Kam Newsome, Travis Basketball
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Travis (20-4; 5-2) is picking up speed at the perfect time, having won nine consecutive games with the remainder of their district schedule in front of them.
Junior guard Kam Newsome has been played a significant role in that hot-streak.
Given how he's scored upwards of 20 points on more than one occasion, Newsome is making his case for the district MVP selection -- which speaks volumes, considering the level of talent that Fort Bend ISD consists of.
After narrowly missing out on the playoffs a year ago, it appears that Newsome and the Tigers are prepared to change that tune.
Jazmine Hansley, Dickinson Girls Basketball
The Gators (23-4) are currently on a 12-game winning-streak, which includes a perfect 5-0 start against their district counterparts.
Their momentum is a result of opponents' inability to keep up with Dickinson's proficient scorers -- Jazmine Hansley (Jr. G) being one of the best on the floor.
Alongside fellow play-maker Ciara Williams, Hansley and the Gators are certainly a team worth reckoning as they vie for a district title and more.
Fourest Mills, Manvel Basketball
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
While their season has had some ups and downs, Manvel is back on track as they have started district-play with three straight victories.
Sophomore Byron Green has been a worthy young addition to the team's competitive presence, however it will be the leadership of some of the senior stars -- Fourest Mills in particular -- that will guide the Mavericks to the postseason.
As one of the leading scorers for Manvel, Mills has shown his ability to change the trajectory of game, and then some.
Watch out for him and the Mavs as the rest of the district competition plays out.