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2025-26 Summer Creek Girls Basketball & Head Coach Kiara Marshall
THE LAYUP LINE: Marshall, No. 1 Summer Creek intent on upholding 6A State title
In her debut, head coach Kiara Marshall took the Texas basketball world by storm — leading a fearless, fast-paced team that refused to fold when the chips were down.
Now, with nearly every key piece returning, the Bulldogs have their sights set on something even bigger: a repeat.
It all starts with Kennedy Simpson (Tulane-signee), the reigning State MVP, who scored 21 points in the title game and continues to set the tone on both ends of the floor.
Matt Powell (VYPE)
Supporting her is a deep and talented cast that includes Addison Martin (Jr. G), Erin Newsom (Jr. F), Kay’Len Alexander (Jr. F), and Ty’Asia Young (So. G) — all proven winners who know what it takes to climb the mountain.
“What I love about this program is that it’s about the work,” said Coach Marshall. “I know it sounds like coach-speak, but we just focus on ourselves and don’t pay attention to the noise. We’re just trying to get better every day — and our kids are bought into that.”
That no-nonsense approach might sound simple, but it’s the formula that built a champion —and could very well deliver them to a repeat.
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Summer Creek's Janiya Murphy
THE FINAL SECONDS: UIL GBB State Tournament talent big as Texas
With elite programs, such as Summer Creek, Duncanville, Liberty, and Randle -- not to mention their fan-bases in tow -- heading to San Antonio, it's time to break down the key matchups of the girls basketball State Tournament.
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Summer Creek Bulldogs vs. Duncanville Panthers
The stars of 2023-24 Summer Creek Girls Basketball
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
After being eliminated by Pearland (39-26) in the 2023 Regional Final, Summer Creek proceeded to make a statement by escalating to the Class 6A Final Four, under the direction of first-year head coach Donny Ott.
This marks the team's third appearance in the UIL State Tourney over the past five seasons, which is a testament to the talent they bring onto the court.
Now, the Bulldogs (35-3; 13-1 in district) have the opportunity to surpass their 2022 result of finishing as a State Qualifier, when they face Duncanville (33-4; 13-1 in district) this Friday, at 7:00 pm, in the San Antonio Alamodome.
Ott will turn to his vast arsenal of weapons -- namely Janiya Murphy, Kennedy Simpson, Zachara Perkins, and Mariyah Brown -- in order to keep their current 18-game win-streak alive.
On the Panthers' side, coach Neiman Ford and company are coming off crucial victories against Cy Springs (48-40) and DeSoto (46-39) in the Region-II Tournament.
D'Ville flexes the talents of Mariah Clayton (14 ppg, 6 rpg), Chloe Mann (13 ppg, 4 apg), and Kaylinn Kemp (12 ppg, 2 apg).
These two teams have already met each other at a tournament exhibition in November, in which Summer Creek claimed a 63-53 victory.
Rest assured, this could be the most pivotal match-up of the whole tournament.
Randle Lions vs. Liberty Redhawks
The stars of 2023-24 Randle Girls Basketaball
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
What a year it has been for Randle girls hoops.
In just their third season as a varsity program in the Lamar Consolidated ISD, the Lions (30-8; 13-1 in district) took District 20-5A by storm, prior to cruising all the way to San Antonio.
Coach Christy Westbrooks and co. defeated both Hendrickson (59-55) and Barbers Hill (38-34) at the Region-III tournament, which extends their win-streak to 21.
The talents of Alaysia Cook (14 ppg, 6 rpg, 4 apg), Jaziel King (11 ppg, 2 apg), and Kurynn McNeill (10 ppg, 6 rpg) have propelled Randle to new heights, as they look to continue re-writing the history books.
It's the fact that the Lions know how to win the close games that is essential, as that will likely be the case when they face-off against the reigning Class 5A champs Liberty.
The Frisco Liberty Redhawks (32-7; 14-0 in district) enter the UIL State Tournament yet again, on the heels of winning versus McKinney North (69-52) and Princeton (52-26) in Region-II.
Sophomore super-star Jacy Abii has been a key component to coach Ross Reedy's group, alongside the reigning 5A MVP Keyera Roseby, and junior Aziyah Farrier.
Whichever way this game ends up going, it could be a safe assumption that the victor will likely end up claiming the State crown.
