After a season filled with drama and intrigue, Texas high school basketball reaches its pinnacle as the UIL state championships take center stage in San Antonio.
With the new playoff structure splitting the 6A bracket into divisions, more teams have a shot at bringing home gold.
In the final game of the season, the 6A-Division I title will be decided between Houston’s Bellaire Cardinals and Dallas powerhouse Duncanville Panthers.
For Bellaire (27-10), history has already been made. Earlier this week, the Cardinals reached the State Tournament for the first time, then extended their milestone with a 65-57 semifinal win over Brennan.
Led by Coach Bruce Glover, Bellaire boasts one of the most dynamic players in Texas—superstar Shelton Henderson. The state’s No. 1-ranked player in the Class of 2025, Henderson is a force on both ends of the court.
His 6-foot-7 frame, scoring ability, and all-around impact were on full display in the semifinals, where he posted 26 points, 20 rebounds, and 4 assists. A state championship—and possibly a State MVP honor—would be the perfect way to cap his high school career before heading to Duke.
Of course, Henderson isn’t alone. Three-star guard L.J. Andrews, who holds offers from Texas A&M, George Mason, Lamar, and Nicholls State, plays a key role, while seniors Jaren Brown (F), Kohlman Dutton (G), Ejypt Gibbs (F), and sophomore Jadarian Williams (G) have all contributed to Bellaire’s historic run.
However, the Cardinals will face their toughest challenge yet in Duncanville.
Duncanville (26-7) is no stranger to this stage, having reached the State Tournament nine times, including four straight appearances from 2019 to 2022. Under longtime coach David Peavy, the Panthers have become a powerhouse and now seek their first state title since 2021—and their sixth overall.
After splitting the District 11-6A title with Lancaster (13-1), Duncanville dominated Temple (58-33), Wylie (70-56), Grand Oaks (84-68), and Rockwall (79-30) before edging out Allen 77-74 in the semifinals.
Senior guard Kayden Edwards, a TCU-signee, has been the driving force behind Duncanville’s success, averaging 26 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals per game.
Alongside him, standout point guard Christopher Hunt Jr. (offers from Sam Houston State, Texas State, etc.) has been equally effective, averaging 14 points and 4 rebounds while leading the team in field goal percentage (53%).
The Panthers’ depth is another key factor. Beckham Black (9 PPG, 5 APG, 3 RPG), Cam Smith (9 PPG, 6 RPG, 2 APG), and Gary Jones (6 PPG, 3 RPG, 1 APG) round out one of Texas’ most complete squads, eager to add another championship to their storied history.
With two elite teams set to clash, the stage is set for an unforgettable UIL 6A-D1 State Championship in the Alamodome on Saturday night (7 PM).