GAMES
RANKINGS
Barbers Hill has State Expectations.
VYPE's Playoff Predictions: Who can get out of Region?; Photo Gallery
But who’s coming for them?
Region III — Class 6A Division I
Round 2 brings a heavyweight clash between Cypress Creek Cougars and Seven Lakes Spartans — two tradition-rich programs enjoying bounce-back seasons. Cy Creek leans on Alissa Bryant, Aubrey Hampton, Kaycie Hanks and Mariyah Dickson. The Cougars know the stage — Rori Harmon once carried them to a State Final appearance.
Seven Lakes counters with Houston commit Madison Carlton, pouring in 20 points per game, alongside Willtrace Ngoh. Carlton’s sister, Justice Carlton — a McDonald’s All-American — now stars for the Texas Longhorns women's basketball.
Waiting in the bottom half are the Dawson Eagles, sitting at 33-3 behind Kendall Ford, Journey Lovett and Faith Etienne. Consider this your warning: do not sleep on Dawson.
Summer Creek’s path out of Region III is anything but easy.
Region II — Class 6A Division I
Klein Collins Tigers could be on a collision course with powerhouse Duncanville Panthers. Meanwhile, Cypress Lakes Spartans and Makennah Alexis square off with Conroe Tigers before a likely Dallas-area showdown.
Klein Collins remains Houston’s strongest bet to escape the region.
Class 6A Region III — Division II
This bracket is a bloodbath.
Hightower Hurricanes are loaded and balanced, but the road is brutal. After knocking off Manvel Mavericks, they’re staring at CE King Panthers with Memorial Mustangs or Katy Jordan Warriors looming.
Lurking is Shadow Creek Sharks, powered by Courtland Cloud, Kurynn McNeill and Da’Niyah Lewis — a trio capable of taking over games. Katy Taylor Mustangs and Casey Scherperell could shake things up on the bottom half.
In Region II, Cypress Springs Panthers — led by freshman Makenzie Jackson alongside Tamiah Harrison and Deliyah El Amin — are back in the mix. The Grand Oaks Grizzlies are rolling at 25-5, fueled by Jordan Daigle, Hannah Reynolds and Avery Campbell.
But the region’s true measuring stick remains Lancaster Tigers. They are dangerous.
Class 5A Region III Division I
The Porter Spartans and La Porte Bulldogs carry the Greater Houston banner on the bottom side. The upstart Spring Woods Tigers sit at 24-4 behind Anjalena Salazar, one of the state’s elite scorers at 22 points per game. Don’t overlook Ball Tornadoes either — they could make noise.
Class 5A Region III Division II
Last year belonged to the Barbers Hill Eagles. They’re again 33-3 but face a dangerous Huntsville Hornets squad in the Area Round. Iowa Colony Pioneers also loom as contenders after battling through a tough district.
Stay tuned to all of VYPE's GBB coverage leading up to the State Tournament.
THE BRACKETS
Class 6A Division I
Class 6A Division II
Class 5A Division I
Class 5A Division II
Summer Creek's Addison Martin & Kennedy Simpson
THE STATUS: VYPE Houston GBB Rankings heat up as February nears; Summer Creek, Dawson, Barbers Hill rolling
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.
...
Dawson Eagles
Isaiah Vela (VYPE)
...
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)