GAMES
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RANKINGS
Rafer Alston, Reese Alston and VYPE CCO Matt Malatesta tip off the 2026-27 season
THE GYM IS CALLING: GREATER HOUSTON BASKETBALL IS BACK!
There is nothing quite like high school basketball in Greater Houston.
The squeak of sneakers on the hardwood. The playlists on the gym speakers are turned up. The student sections chirping from the bleachers. The coaches pacing the sidelines. And when two heavyweights collide, the kind of electricity in the gym that makes every possession feel like the biggest of the season.
Welcome to another year of Greater Houston basketball!
This city has a rich tradition of producing basketball royalty. From legendary high school programs and state championship runs to future college stars and NBA dreams, Houston has long been a hotbed for hoops. The talent is everywhere, the rivalries run deep, and the atmosphere is second to none.
And if you have ever walked into a packed gym for a showdown between two of Houston's best, you know exactly what we're talking about. These games are more than just basketball. They're community events. They're family traditions. They're where the next generation of stars introduces itself to the city.
So, who should be on your radar this season?
On the boys' side, the familiar powers are back in the spotlight, and the road to a state championship promises to be a wild ride.
Cy Falls, Seven Lakes and Atascocita have all established themselves as programs built to compete at the highest level. When they take the floor, the expectations are enormous, and the atmosphere usually follows.
Same goes for the likes of legendary Jack Yates High School, Wheatley, Stafford and La Marque in Class 4A.
In the private school ranks, Houston Christian continues to be a name to watch, bringing talent and ambition to a field loaded with championship aspirations. Their twin towers of Landon Veal and Emmanuel Nwabuokwu are going to be fun to watch.
And then there's Second Baptist School, which enters the season fresh off back-to-back TAPPS state championships. The Eagles know what it takes to win when the stakes are highest, and star Reese Alston gives fans another reason to circle their games on the calendar.
On the girls' side, the standard is just as high.
Summer Creek is coming off back-to-back state championships and has the talent to make another serious run. The Bulldogs have become a program that opponents measure themselves against, and the target on their backs will be enormous.
Houston Christian and Kinkaid will make for a huge battle in the private school ranks.
The reigning champions have earned their place at the top. Now comes the hard part: proving they can do it again.
Of course, the teams are only part of the story.
It's the players who make this season special. The guards who can take over a game in a matter of minutes. The bigs who own the paint. The shooters who can turn a quiet gym into absolute chaos with one shot.
At VYPE, we get to tell those stories.
The countdown is over. The lights are coming on, the student sections are filling up, and the hardwood is ready.
The history is rich. The talent is real. The gyms are ready to rock.
Greater Houston, it's time to hoop.
We'll see you at the gym!
Matt Malatesta
Chief Content Officer, VYPE
GET YOUR COPY OF THE 2026–27 VYPE HOUSTON BASKETBALL MAGAZINE HERE!
SHOP PHOTOS FROM VYPE HOUSTON CITYWIDE MEDIA DAY
VIEW THE 2026–27 VYPE HOUSTON BASKETBALL DIGITAL MAGAZINE HERE!
The Lewisville Fighting Farmers will play host to Prosper in the opening round of the Class 6A Division 1.
The Top 10 Games to Watch in DFW High School Football bi-district action
Thursday, Nov. 12
Birdville at Frisco Lone Star at Ford Center at The Star
Frisco Lone Star will look to continue its undefeated season and earn a return trip to the state finals. The Rangers haven’t really had a good game since a 35-30 win over Melissa back on Sept. 25. Birdville enters with a 7-3 mark, but was the four seed coming out of District 6-5A Division I after a 5-0 start.
North Mesquite vs. DeSoto at Eagle Stadium
Coach Claude Mathis is showing yet again why he is a Hall of Fame coach. After a tough start to the season with a loss in Florida and then a loss to Allen, the Eagles have won 8 in a row and are rolling heading into the postseason. The quest to repeat, albeit in a different class this year, starts with a 5-5 North Mesquite squad.
Whitehouse at Dallas South Oak Cliff at Kinkaid Stadium
Like DeSoto, SOC enters the playoffs as winners of 8 in a row after opening with losses to Richmond Randle and Galena Park North Shore. QB Jayden Williams threw for 1,592 yards and 22 TDs in the regular season for the Golden Bears. Whitehouse, the alma mater of Patrick Mahomes II, snapped a 3-game losing streak last week.
Crandall at Lancaster at Tiger Stadium
Lancaster finished as district runners-up with a 6-1 mark, the only loss coming to DeSoto in district play. The other loss came to defending Class 6A Division 1 champion Galena Park North Shore. RB Darrick Ward Jr. has run for 1,363 yards and 17 TDs for the Pirates, who enter at 5-5.
Friday, Nov. 13
McKinney North at Dallas Highland Park at Highlander Stadium
McKinney North finished fourth in a tough district that featured Frisco Lone Star and Melissa at the top. The Bulldogs are 7-3, a big turnaround from a 3-7 mark last year and 5-6 in 2024. Highland Park (8-2) has been pretty dominant since early-season losses to Rockwall-Heath, Argyle and Lewisville (since vacated). The Scots have won 6 in a row.
Trophy Club Byron Nelson at Arlington Martin at Glaspie Field
This is an intriguing matchup as Arlington Martin is coming off the first undefeated regular season in the program’s history. On top of that, Javian Jones-Priest broke the school record for rushing touchdowns in a season. The Bobcats (6-4) have won two in a row, but are 3-3 over the past 6 games.
Lake Belton at North Crowley at Crowley ISD Multi-purpose Stadium
North Crowley RB G’yrell Smith moved over the 1,000-yard mark rushing last week. The Panthers are 10-0 and will look to make a run in 6A Division II and will likely see Houston teams and then Longview. The Broncos won three in a row entering the postseason.
Prosper at Lewisville at Max Goldsmith Stadium
This could be a quarterfinal or semifinal game in other years. Lewisville has won every game this season, but enters with a 7-3 mark after the forfeit losses from earlier this season. Meanwhile, Prosper is 9-1 and the only loss is to nationally-ranked Allen. This will be a fun one to watch with some elite players all over the field, particularly with QBs Tyler Alberts and Laykon Brassfield.
Frisco Panther Creek at Argyle at Eagle Stadium
Frisco Panther Creek got into the playoffs as the four seed and won a tiebreaker with Celina and Frisco Emerson, all three with 5-3 district records. WR Sukora ‘Sip’ Cooper reclassified this week to a Class of 2028 recruit and the SMU commit recently visited Ohio State. Argyle QB Hayes Hackney is back after a 1-game hiatus and has thrown for 300 yards and at least 3 TDs in his last four games.
Saturday, Nov. 14
The Oakridge School at Episcopal School of Dallas at Gene & Jerry Jones Family Stadium
The Oakridge School will get a chance to defend its SPC 3A title, but will have to pull an upset of sorts. The two teams met earlier this season and the Eagles won 32-20. Miles Link threw for 3 TDs and ran for another in the win. ESD is 10-0 and Oakridge is 9-1.