GAMES
RANKINGS
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.
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Dawson Eagles
Isaiah Vela (VYPE)
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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)
Dickinson's TroyNelle Belle (Jr. F)
THE PLAYMAKERS: Scoring in Bunches // Powered by UTMB Health
Here are the UTMB Athletes of the Week, featuring a plethora of all-around performers who have continued to light up the scoreboard.
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Jermaine Thomas -- Iowa Colony Basketball
Matt Powell (VYPE)
The Pioneers are off to a hot start this winter, proving they can compete beyond their classification. Iowa Colony opened the season by going 3–1 at last week’s Cedar Hill Tournament, narrowly falling to Red Oak in the championship game while holding their own against several 6A programs.
Head coach Trent Olivier and company quickly pivoted to an intriguing matchup with Fort Bend Crawford on Monday, dispatching an exceptionally athletic Chargers squad by an 87–56 margin. The win improved the Pioneers to 12–5 overall, with Stratford next up on the schedule.
Much of the credit belongs to senior combo guard Jermaine Thomas, who continues to elevate his play as 2026 approaches. Thomas has embraced an expanded role and then some, routinely pouring in upwards of 20 points while serving as a steady offensive engine.
That added boost should pay dividends for ICHS as district play looms in the new year, with Thomas helping set the tone for a team trending firmly in the right direction.
Jakayla Glover -- La Porte Girls Basketball
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
What a way to get things rolling in 20-5A. The Lady Dawgs opened their district slate with an overtime thriller Tuesday night, edging rival Friendswood 47–43 to improve to 16–5 on the season.
Depth and solidarity have long been calling cards for head coach Elisha Thompson’s La Porte program, and this winter is no exception. Still, it’s difficult to overlook the influence of senior point guard Jakayla Glover, who continues to serve as the team’s primary catalyst.
Equally adept at creating for others and setting the tempo, Glover recently reached a significant milestone, surpassing 1,000 career points during the Navasota Rattlers Tournament earlier this month.
Add in the consistency of fellow senior and junior Kaia Greenawalt, and it’s increasingly evident this La Porte squad has the makings of something special.
TroyNelle Belle -- Dickinson Basketball
Doug Brown (VYPE)
Dickinson made a statement a week ago, capping off the Cy-Hoops Invitational as the tournament runner-up. While the Gators fell to Mansfield Summit, 55–51, in the championship game, wins over H-Town heavyweights such as Fort Bend Marshall (41–37) and Cy Falls (72–65) underscored that this group should still be considered legitimate contenders.
At the conclusion of the event, junior TroyNelle Belle was named the De’Aaron Fox Most Outstanding Player—an early indication of the impact he’s already made at DHS. Some may have expected the Gators to take a step back following the graduation of District 24-6A MVP David Chong. Instead, Dickinson has hardly missed a beat.
Operating primarily from the wing, Belle is averaging nearly 24 points and seven rebounds per game, helping guide the Gators to a 12–4 start. With Belle setting the tone, Dickinson has made one thing clear: it’s here to stay.
Anita Nwosu -- Pearland Girls Basketball
Matt Powell (VYPE)
Pearland has opened the winter with a 13–5 record, including a 3–1 mark against district competition. Friday night’s matchup with rival Dawson looms as an important measuring stick as the Oilers continue to define their ambitions within 22-6A.
Through the early portion of the season, sophomore Anita Nwosu has steadily emerged as the focal point of head coach Jere’ Adams’ offense. Operating primarily from the post, Nwosu provides an imposing physical presence, particularly in the paint, where her strength and positioning set the tone. She currently leads the team, averaging 13 points and six rebounds per game.
Against district opponents such as Dawson, Manvel, and Shadow Creek, having size and interior control can prove decisive—and Nwosu’s growing impact gives Pearlanda valuable edge.Madden Hill -- Clear Springs Basketball
Sophomore sensation Madden Hill has shown no signs of a “sophomore slump” through the opening stretch of 2025. After an eye-opening debut season that earned him District 24-6A Offensive MVP honors, Hill has picked up right where he left off.
Amid Clear Springs’ 10–5 start to the new campaign, the 5-foot-10 point guard has made scoring 25 points or more seem customary, consistently showcasing his ability to connect from beyond the arc. Just as impactful is his command of the offense, setting the tone with confidence and pace.
With district play right around the corner, expect Hill to continue building a strong case for another run at 24-6A MVP recognition.