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THE CLUTCH 32: UIL Basketball 2025-26 State Preview -- Beaumont United vs. Mansfield Summit (5A D2)
WHERE: Alamodome -- San Antonio, TX
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BEAUMONT UNITED TIMBERWOLVES
To put Beaumont United’s supremacy into perspective, the only losses on the team’s 36-3 record came at the hands of West Brook (twice) and Dallas Kimball—both of which are competing in the Finals of their respective championship brackets (5A Division I and 4A Division I).
That said, head coach David Green Jr. and the Timberwolves have steamrolled their way to the Alamodome, cementing their place in the title game with a convincing 58-44 win over SA Veterans Memorial on Tuesday. The victory also marked the program’s fifth State Tournament appearance—all of which have come since 2021. Now, United seizes the opportunity to add a third state trophy to the case, and its first since going back-to-back in 2022.
Few players in Texas can match the all-around production of junior Payton Jones. From the point guard spot, Jones averages more than 20 points per game, along with five rebounds, three assists, and two steals. More than just a stat-sheet stuffer, the four-star blue-chip talent elevates those around him.
Fellow junior guard Joshua Coleman (10 ppg, 3 rpg, 3 apg) can be just as much of a catalyst when it comes to lighting up the scoreboard, attacking the rim, and dishing to teammates. Meanwhile, sophomore center Ephriam Moore Jr. (10 ppg, 8 rpg) and senior forward Caleb McCreary (7 ppg, 5 rpg) blend instincts, length, and finishing touch to add another layer to United’s championship-caliber roster.
SUMMIT JAGUARS
Just over a year after claiming their first UIL title, the Jaguars (33-6) held the belief San Antonio would be the destination—a goal solidified earlier this week with a 52-35 triumph over Lovejoy. Riding all the momentum one could hope for, Mansfield Summit (33-6) now stands on the doorstep of consecutive state championships, a testament to the robust team identity that coach Emund Prichett has cultivated.
In what has been a truly comprehensive effort, key figures guiding the Jaguars to the Final include Jaxon Sneed (Sr. CG), David Bardere II (Jr. G), Javon Ross (Sr. G), Emund Prichett II (Jr. F), and freshman breakout star Joseph Creal III.
The Summit Jaguars are taking home the 5A-D2 Championship after defeating Marshall 54-47
DESTINY FULFILLED: Prichett, Mansfield Summit clinch program’s first-ever UIL Title against Marshall
Facing a formidable opponent in Marshall (37-2), the Jaguars rose to the occasion, securing a 54-47 victory in their second-ever State Final appearance—clinching the program’s first championship.
Head Coach Emund Prichett, who’s been with the team since moving over from Killeen Shoemaker in 2017, has helped build Summit into yet another brand out of the DFW area.
Though he bestowed the lion’s share of credit towards the young men who saw their goal become a reality.
Summit HC Emund PrichettMatthew Ogle (VYPE)
“I’m just so grateful to see all their hard work finally pay off,” said Prichett. “More than that, I’m just glad that everyone else got to see it, because I witness their dedication every day. We’re so proud of these guys and none of this would have been possible without them.”
Summit already had some experience playing against Marshall this winter, as the two faced off during the tournament portion of their schedule in December – a game in which they were narrowly defeated 43-38.
However, things ended differently in the most crucial game of the year.
While it was fairly close early on, the Jaguars slowly began to pull away in the second quarter, going on a 13-0 run to make it 19-7 with 5:16 left in the half, and never giving up the lead for the remainder of the match.
This was largely due to the fact that the team played to their strengths, according to Prichett.
“That (the run) was definitely big,” he said. “But, for the rest of the game, our kids just played hard and got defensive stops, which is what we’re all about. We made some shots, took care of the ball, and we controlled the paint, so that was instrumental.”
The Jags capped off an incredible season with a 33-7 record, led by standout senior forward Ian Sedah, whose dominant performance (17 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists) earned him State MVP honors.
Ian Sedah is named the UIL 5A-D2 State MVPMatthew Ogle (VYPE)
His contributions across the board don’t come as a surprise, considering he’s been one of the team’s driving forces all year long.
“It was really about being active and taking on that role all over the floor,” Sedah said. “As a team, we’re best at being physical, particularly when it comes to boxing out and getting rebounds. We just had more focus coming in, I think, which is why we were able to have that advantage in this game.”
This marked the second occasion that Mansfield Summit had advanced to the State Tournament, last reaching it in 2023, where they suffered a 52-50 heart-breaker against Killeen Ellison in the Semis.
Now that they finally got their ring, it’s become a full circle moment.
Summit's 'Big-Three': Caleb Richard, Ian Sedah, and Theo Brannan (Left to Right)Matthew Ogle (VYPE)
“During my freshman year (2023) I was scared and nervous, but I prepared myself this time around,” said junior point guard Theo Brannan. “I’ve been waiting for this. I told Ian (Sedah) and Caleb (Richard) that we were going to be back. We all knew what we were capable of, so this year was about keeping up that work so we’d be ready for the moment.”
The Jaguars return to Arlington as champions, fulfilling their promise of bringing home the title—one their fans will celebrate for years to come.