GAMES
RANKINGS
TOP OF THE FOOD CHAIN: Brennan Hoops continues to bolster exemplary reputation
With roughly a month remaining in the UIL basketball regular season, the Brennan Bears are proving to be one of the most formidable teams in Texas.
Not only have they secured the top spot in San Antonio's rankings, but they have also earned recognition from the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches (TABC) as the No. 1 team in all of Class 6A.
With a stellar 21-2 record, it’s clear that Brennan’s success this season is no fluke. The team has demonstrated remarkable skill, resilience, and consistency, earning respect from both local and statewide opponents.
Under the leadership of Coach Koty Cowgill, Brennan has faced and triumphed over some of the toughest competition in Texas.
Early in the season, they opened with an impressive victory over the 2024 TAPPS-3A champions, St. Francis Episcopal, dominating the game 82-48. Their competitive spirit continued throughout the season as they outworked Fort Bend Marshall, a 5A powerhouse, securing a 66-57 win.
Perhaps most notably, the Bears handed Allen (22-1), a state superpower, their only loss of the season in a thrilling 71-66 overtime win.
Fast forward to the present, and Brennan sits in a commanding position for a district title with a perfect 8-0 record against their 28-6A opponents.
This success is largely due to the standout performances of their senior duo, Kingston Flemings and Camden Cowgill, who have been the team’s driving forces.
Flemings, a five-star point guard and University of Houston signee, has been a constant on both ends of the floor, averaging 21 points, 7 assists, 7 rebounds, and 3 steals per game. His leadership and playmaking ability make him a true difference-maker.
Cowgill, who is drawing attention from several colleges including Sam Houston State, Cal Poly, and Coastal Carolina, has proven to be a dynamic complement to Flemings. Averaging 18 points, 4 assists, and 4 rebounds per game, Cowgill brings both scoring and versatility to the Bears’ lineup.
In addition to these two stars, juniors Donovan Criss (11 ppg, 3 rpg, 2 apg) and Talon Todd (8 ppg, 2 rpg, 2 apg) have stepped up, providing critical support and depth to the team.
With such a balanced roster and the momentum they’ve built, the Bears are in a strong position as the playoffs approach.
Historically, Brennan has reached the state level twice, with their most recent appearance in 2023 when they narrowly lost to Beaumont United in the 6A State Semifinals, 70-68.
After making a deep run to the regional semifinals last year, this talented group of Bears appears poised to make another significant postseason run. The road to the state title is wide open, and Brennan is a team to watch as they look to bring home the championship this season.
Stay tuned for what’s sure to be an exciting finish to the year.
VYPE SATX Football Game of the Week: Harlan vs. Taft (Week 9)
Picking up right where they left off a year ago, the Hawks have enjoyed yet another remarkable campaign throughout this Fall.
While Harlan did drop their lone loss of the season in the district opener against Brennan, they continued to beat up on their remaining opponents, most recently ousting Stevens 49-14 last Friday to bring their record to 6-1.
Coach Eddie Salas' offense, which is averaging nearly 40 points a game, has made it nearly impossible for opposing teams to keep up entering the ninth week of the season.
Dual-threat junior QB Aldric Trotter is playing some clean football, having thrown for roughly 1,200 yards with 10 TDs to just one interception, while rushing for 361 more and has scored four times on the ground.
Joining him in the backfield is senior Adrien McDade, who's put some impressive numbers (464 yards, 6 TDs) of his own.
Regarding the wide receiver room, 2023 first-teamer and Rice-commit Payton Matthews (18 receptions, 376 yards, 5 TDs) and Caelan Grbic-Schultz (20 rec, 364 yds, 4 TDs) are Carter's top targets. Furthermore, Matthews also contributes in the run game, while Grbic-Schultz plays a key role on special teams.
On defense, the heavy-hitters for the Hawks are Brock Potter (Sr. LB), Craig Sanders (Sr. LB/DB), Dwayne Wingfield (Sr. DB), Robert Gonzales (Jr. LB), and Alexander Ciccarello (Sr. DL).
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Meanwhile, the Raiders (5-2) are coming off a tough loss against Sotomayor and will look to get back in the win column this week.
Under the direction of coach Ricky Stade, this team has shown flashes of greatness and have to proven their ability to win the close games.
Taft's offense (34 ppg) is led by Tucker Vogel (Jr. QB), who is even deadlier with his legs (652 rushing yards, 11 TDs) than he is with his arm (1018 passing yards, 9 TDs).
Vogel has spread the wealth through the air, with Isiah Delgado (Jr. RB), Raymond Foster-Davis (Sr. WR), Kenyen Skelton (Sr. WR), and David Aguirre (Jr. WR) each sharing touches.
The rushing attack is unquestionably this squad's strong-suit, as senior RB Prometheus Elmore (656 all-purpose yards, 7 TDs) adds another dynamic behind a tough Raiders O-Line.
Defensively, there are still some kinks that need to be ironed out (about 25 points allowed per game), but the veterans of the unit are likely to keep Taft in the game.
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There are several playoff-implications surrounding this district matchup, so this is one fans won't want to miss when the two face off Thursday night (7:00 pm) at Greyhound Stadium.