GAMES
RANKINGS
THE FAB 5: Greater Houston well represented in State Tourney
“We played are really tough tournament schedule and that experience prepared us though for tough times this season and culminated in tonight,” coach Bruce Glover said. “Now, when I go on and this team moves one, we will always be able to look back and remember this team. It’s really huge.”
Duke signee Shelton Henderson lead the way with 26 points and 20 rebounds.
“There is that famous story about the horse, ‘Sectretariat’,” Glover said. “When they cut him open, he had a heart twice as big as other horses. That is Sheldon Henderson.”
Next up for Bellaire is Duncanville in the State Finals.
"This is everything," Henderson said. "I came in here my freshman year and told the coaches I was going to win one for them. We knew we came in here as the underdogs and just had to play our game. We couldn't get caught up in the fans and the media. We just locked in and got it done."
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Katy Jordan also made school history beating San Antonio Harlan, 57-36, in the Class 6A DII Semifinal. Jaden Holt and Elijah Black make up on one of the best backcourts in the state and will now face Denton Guyer in the Finals on Saturday at 5 pm.
The FB Marshall Buffs were in Goliad, Texas and took down Alamo Heights, 47-29 in the Class 5A DII to return to the State Finals for the first time since 2017. The Buffs are on a 22-game winning steak. Marshall will face Mansfield Summit on Saturday.
Booker T. Washington is back in the Finals. The Eagles handled LBJ Austin, 76-56, in the Semis and will face power Dallas Kimball in the Finals on Friday. Robert Jones, Sam Johnson and Jalen Webb lead the way for Washington.
The Wheatley Wildcats have run the gauntlet in the playoffs. The Wildcats beat La Marque, 49-44, in the Semis to advance to the Finals. Wheatley has beaten Silsbee and Yates as well in the postseason. The ‘Cats will face Kennedale in the Class 4A DII Finals. Coach David Burrell leans on Quinton Sanders and Marquan Elder on the court.
Columbus advanced in Class 3A DI to face Tatum, while Kountze will play Paradise in the Class 3A DII Finals.
Beaumont West Brook of southeast Texas is 37-2 and will face Birdville High in the Class 5A DI Finals.
The Jordan Warriors are emerging in th Regional Tourney
SUPER TUESDAY: Huge Night For Girls, Boys Basketball Playoffs
On the girls’ side. The State Semis will see a trio of Houston-area teams vying to for the Alamodome in San Antonio.
VYPE will be on site at the Campbell Center for the Summer Creek vs Cibolo Steele Class 6A DI State Semis at 5:30.
Summer Creek fell to State Champ Duncanville in the State Semis last season 39-31 in overtime and is back under the bright lights tonight against Steele (27-7 overall).
Bulldog Kennedy Simpson is the alpha for first-year coach Kiara Marshall, who came over from Chaparral High School. Summer Creek has been to UIL State four times in six years. Addison Martin, Endia Thomas and Taiya Kikunga will need big games to advance.
In Class 6A DII, Hightower will face Churchill in Victoria, Texas tonight. Coach Jasmine Brewer’s squad is LOADED and deep. Kailee Beaudion, Ogechi Okeke, Chandler Caver, Breonna Shelby and Sydney Thomas lead the way, but the bench is deep and ready. Churchill is loaded too, with Alina Hernandez, Rakiya Nelson and Daphne Zuniga as the Chargers Big 3.
Up the road at College Station High School, it will be the Barbers Hill Eagles facing Liberty Hill for the right to go to State. Coach Bryan Harris is an elite coach and has Jayci Lackey, Brooklynn Roberson and Rachel Glynn running his system. Liberty Hill runs a college style offense and a slower pace. Possessions will be key in this game.
THE GALLERY
The boys playoffs enter the third-round of the postseason all over the city.
Class 6A Region III have some serious matchups, starting with Seven Lakes vs Atascocita and Bellaire and Summer Creek in DI. These are some of the biggest brands in Houston. The star power is legit with Spartan Isaiah Santos, Duke-signee Shelton Henderson (Bellaire), Atascocita’s Jaylen Fenner and a balanced Summer Creek squad who plays connected as a team. Their could be a match-up between District 23-6A powers Summer Creek and Atascocita in the finals.
In Class 6A Region III DII, Jordan faces CE King, while George Ranch plays the No. 1 team in Houston - Shadow Creek. The Sharks face George Ranch, who is led by Cayden Munnilal. Shadow Creek is led by super-duo Michael Collins and UH-signee Bryce Jackson. Prediction for this Region is for Katy Jordan and Shadow Creek to face off in a potential instant classic. Jordan is blessed with a senior-laden squad and an elite backcourt.
The Aldine Mustangs and Grand Oaks Grizzlies are two of the biggest stories in the State. Both have advanced to the Class 6A Region II, DI Regional Semis. Aldine first-year head coach Christopher Ceaser took over a team that went WINLESS in 2024 and is now in the third round of the postseason. Trae Lewis, Michael Rosario and Kevin Waddell run the show for Grand Oaks coming out of the Conroe ISD, in which they were district champs. Aldine faces Rockwall and Grand Oaks plays Duncanville, two very tough DFW schools.
In DII, College Park and Willis are in the Conroe ISD as well and have also advanced to Regional Semis. The Cavs face Wylie East and Willis plays Horn. Willis is led by SJ Young and his 20 points per game, followed by Chandler Beasley. College Park is driven by Colorado-signee Ian Inman and Aiden Buckmon. The district-mates have a legit shot to face each other for the right to go to the State Semis.
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In Class 5A, No. 1 FB Marshall faces Barbers Hill and Randle faces Port Arthur Memorial tonight, while Stafford, Yates, Wheatley, Washington and new Fort Bend school Crawford are still in the Class 4A mix in Region III, while La Marque, Brazosport and Wharton are stll alive in Region IV.
Back-to-back State Champ Hitchcock faces Mexia tonight to continue their run to a return trip the the Alamodome.