San Antonio Christian Lion Basketball has consistently been a threat in its respective TAPPS Classification, and the move to 6A doesn't scare the Lions. Having played new local district opponents Antonian and Central Catholic many times in the recent years, SACS knows the hard work and dedication it is going to take to earn another shot at the playoffs this year.
Led by Head Coach - John Valenzuela, San Antonio's second most winningest coach, the Lions are under great leadership. Coach Val will be looking to his leaders for a great season and having only lost one senior from last year's roster, the Lions will standout with Eli Pritz, Noah Cyrus, James Galloway, Will McGilvray and Dean Umstead.
Class 6A- Division I
No. 21 San Antonio Brennan (10-1) vs. No. 10 Austin Westlake (10-1)
7 p.m., Friday, Heroes Stadium
Last week: Brenna 28, S.A. Reagan 7; Westlake 46, Vista Ridge 17
Brennan avenged a 31-9 loss to Reagan in the season opener and has now won 10 straight since that setback. … Brennan is seeking its fifth straight trip to the regional semifinals, but it will be a tough task. … Brennan is 0-3 all-time versus Westlake. The Chaps beat the Bears in the regional final 47-7 in 2022. … Brennan is averaging 44.2 points per game and allowing 7.8. Westlake is averaging 46.6 points per game and allowing 12.5. … Westlake’s lone loss this season came Sept. 13, in a 39-21 loss to No. 4 state-ranked Atascocita. … Brennan’s offense is paced by its dominant running back duo of senior Malik White (810 yards, 18 TDs) and junior Micai Thompson (702 yards, 14 TDs). The run game accounts for 65% of Brennan’s offense. … Westlake is more balanced. Junior QB Rees Wise had completed 68% of his throws for 1,924 yards and 17 TDs. Senior RB Grady Bartlett has 596 yards and 11 TDs. Senior WR Brody Wilhelm has 478 yards and eight TDs. … Winner of this game will advance to play San Antonio Johnson or Los Fresnos in the next round.
The game has changed as we enter the new season.
Similar to how the football postseason is played, the UIL has split the upcoming basketball playoff format into two divisions -- meaning there will be more state champs, and one less game needed to acquire the title.
Out of San Antonio, there are a numbers of programs, on both the boys' and girls' side, that could potentially make their way to their backyard of the Alamodome.
For the boys, Veterans Memorial (5A) reached that point last year. But, as it stands, Brennan and Wagner seem to be poised for another lengthy run this winter. Don't sleep on Harlan, Somerset, or Jay, though.
Meanwhile, the Brennan and Boerne girls' programs wound up in the state final-four a year ago, and will be eager to repeat that effort, with Wagner, Churchill, Cibolo Steele, and Harlan right on their heels.
As teams begin their respective tournament seasons, it's time to examine the most elite teams that the San Antonio-area has to offer in 2025.
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VYPE SATX BOYS TOP-10 (Class 6A-4A)
*Last section indicates 2024 result
1. Brennan Bears (6A) -- 31-5; 16-0 in District (Regional Semifinalists)
2. SA Wagner Thunderbirds (5A) -- 24-12; 9-5 (Regional Semifinalists)
3. Harlan Hawks (6A) -- 23-12; 10-6 (Regional Quarterfinalists)
4. Somerset Bulldogs (4A) -- 26-12; 12-0 (Regional Semifinalists)
5. Jay Mustangs (5A) -- 24-9; 10-6 (Regional Quarterfinalists)
6. SA Jefferson Mustangs (5A) -- 21-16; 12-4 (Area Finalists)
7. SA Veterans Memorial Patriots (5A) -- 40-2; 14-0 (State Semifinalists)
8. O'Connor Panthers (6A) -- 26-13; 10-6 (Regional Finalists)
9. Boerne-Champion Chargers (5A) -- 31-6; 12-2 (Regional Quarterfinalists)
10. Floresville Tigers (4A) -- 26-9; 9-3 (Regional Quarterfinalists)
Honorable Mentions: New Braunfels, Davenport, East Central, Alamo Heights, Clemens
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VYPE SATX GIRLS TOP-10 (Class 6A-4A)
1. Brennan Bears (6A) -- 32-4; 16-0 in District (State Semifinalists)
2. Boerne Greyhounds (5A) -- 34-5; 10-2 (State Semifinalists)
3. SA Wagner Thunderbirds (5A) -- 29-5; 14-0 (Regional Quarterfinalists)
4. SA Churchill Chargers (6A) -- 28-11; 12-4 (Regional Quarterfinalists)
5. Cibolo Steele Knights (6A) -- 29-9; 9-1 (Regional Quarterfinalists)
6. Harlan Hawks (6A) -- 21-12; 12-4 (Regional Semifinalists)
7. SA MacArthur Brahmas (5A) -- 25-12; 15-1 (Area Finalists)
8. Clark Cougars (6A) -- 33-3; 15-1 (Regional Finalists)
9. Floresville Tigers (4A) -- 24-14; 10-2 (Regional Quarterfinalists)
10. Sotomayor Wildcats (6A) -- 23-10; 11-5 (Area Finalists)
Honorable Mentions: Brandeis, McCollum, Southside, East Central
Entering the final week of the regular season, Harlan is currently tied with Sotomayor for the No.2 spot in the district, behind only Brennan - the one district opponent both teams have fallen to this Fall.
As we touched on in their Week 9 preview against Taft, the Hawks (8-1) feature one of the most efficient offenses in the Alamo City, having scored roughly 43 points per contest throughout the season, under the direction of coach Eddie Salas.
In terms of star-power, look no further than junior signal-caller Aldric Trotter, whose dual-threat capability has put the district on notice. As it stands, Trotter is averaging just under 200 passing yards a game with 18 touchdowns to just two interceptions, in addition to his notable contributions (488 yards, 8 TDs) to the ground-game.
The duo of Rice-commit Payton Matthews (Sr. WR) and Caelan Grbic-Schultz (Sr. WR) continues to cause trouble for opposing secondaries, as the two have combined for nearly 1,100 yards and 16 scores through the air.
Matthews also plays a role in the rushing attack, with 306 yards (23 carries) and three more touchdowns to his name.
The go-to guy in the backfield remains senior Adrien McDade, however, who has accumulated well over 500 yards and 6 TDs.
Meanwhile, Brock Potter (Sr. LB), Craig Sanders (Sr. LB/DB), Robert Gonzales (Jr. LB), Alexander Ciccarello (Sr. DL), Dwayne Wingfield (Sr. DB), Kody Brown (Sr. DB), and Addon Palmer (So. DB) cover each phase of the defense.
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On the other side of the ball, Sotomayor is enjoying their best season to date, since becoming a varsity program in 2022.
Most recently, the Juan Morales-led Wildcats throttled Warren 41-0 at the end of October, improving their record to 7-2, which secured their first-ever playoff-berth, and sky-rocketed their standing in our weekly SATX rankings.
Similar to Harlan, they have a 6-1 record in the district, making this game all the more crucial.
Despite the team's relative youth, the offense has had no trouble moving the ball down-field.
Sophomore running back Cameron Grady surpassed the 1,000-yard mark against Warren (Oct. 26th) and is currently averaging 116 per contest, with 11 combined scores in 2024.
Sotomayor's quarterback, Chauncey Moon (So.) has been just as vital to the rushing attack, with 732 yards (81.3 average) and 8 TDs thus far, in addition to a respectable 10-2 TD-INT passing ratio.
The primary targets for Moon have been seniors McKell Johnekins (10 rec, 197 yds, 5 TDs) and Carl Little (14 rec, 131 yds, 3 TDs), which compels defenses to not key in on the run as much.
The greatest asset for the Wildcats, however, is arguably their defense, which has limited opponents to a mere 17 points per game and has forced 16 turnovers throughout this Fall.
Senior LB Shawn Wasley has been an absolute monster. His decisive range across the field has resulted in 101 tackles and two interceptions. This should undoubtedly garner him a first-team, all-district selection after he was named to the second-team a year ago.
Wasley is aided in the defensive effort by Aaron Adejobi (Jr. DB), Manny Gutierrez (Fr. LB), Tristin Woodruff (Sr. DL), Michael Inweh (Sr. DB), Tyce Washington (Jr. DL), and Isaiah Espinoza (Sr. DB).
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It all comes down to this. In the final week of the regular season, Harlan (8-1) and Sotomayor (7-2) battle for silver in District 28-6A, at Gustafson Stadium on Thursday (7:00 pm).
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