GAMES
RANKINGS
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 CLUTCH 32: UIL Basketball 2025-26 State Championship Preview -- West Brook vs. Frisco Heritage (5A D1)
WHERE: Alamodome -- San Antonio, TX
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WEST BROOK BRUINS
It comes as little surprise that West Brook (34-3) is reaching the same destination as a year ago, as the reigning 5A Division I champions arrive in San Antonio wielding just as much—if not more—momentum and talent. Aside from a razor-thin 54-53 victory over Randle in the Region III Final, the Bruins’ path to the program’s second title-game appearance has been defined by undeniable dominance, most recently on display in Tuesday’s 63-35 trouncing of Leander Glenn. Now, head coach Michael Thomas and his squad are poised to capture back-to-back state crowns.
Reigning State Tournament MVP and District 19-5A MVP Elijah Garrett (Sr. PG) continues to perform at an elite level, averaging a team-high 21 points and three assists per game, along with four rebounds and three steals. Senior Christian Haskett quickly established himself as a difference-maker for the Bruins, contributing 14 points and six boards per outing. Meanwhile, junior forwards Austin Stewart and Braedon Moton provide size and composure on both ends of the floor, bolstering a well-balanced lineup.
FRISCO HERITAGE COYOTES
Under head coach Jibran Kelley, the Coyotes completed a revenge tour earlier this week, edging Birdville 65-63 to return the favor to the Hawks, who eliminated them from last year’s state semifinal. Heritage (33-2) mirrors West Brook in that both programs have made back-to-back trips to the UIL Final Four, each representing the same number of appearances in their respective histories. The difference: West Brook captured the title last year. On Saturday, however, Heritage has the chance to write a new headline, with its sights set on the team’s inaugural state banner.
The formidable duo of seniors Cameron Lomax and Bryson Howard is virtually unstoppable. Lomax, a four-star SMU signee averaging a monstrous 26.2 points per game, delivered the game-winning basket with under two seconds remaining against Birdville—punching the Coyotes’ ticket to the Final. Howard, son of former NBA All-Star Josh Howard, is the No. 1 collegiate prospect in Texas according to 247Sports. Standing 6-foot-6, the soon-to-be Duke Blue Devil contributes 23 points and a team-leading eight rebounds per game. Beyond the star pair, senior guards Garrett Shelton and Malachi Balanzategui are known to make splash plays when called upon.
