GAMES
RANKINGS
BRACKETOLOGY: Shadow Creek, Marshall, Stafford, Hitchcock are VYPE's State Favorites
Let’s start in Class 6A DI Region III, where it gets pretty dicey in the second round.
Cypress Creek and Seven Lakes would make for a tough second-round matchup along with Atascocita vs Fort Bend Travis, Bellaire facing Cinco Ranch, and Summer Creek against Pearland. That happens, if all goes to plan in the first round.
Seven Lakes finished 30-5 on the season and second in the district behind Jordan. Their two district losses came by a total of two points. Isaiah Santos is a STUD, and one of the top players in the state.
Atascocita ran the table in a tough district and coach David Martinez leans on captains Jase Mason and Jaylen Fenner. Fort Bend Travis won the FBISD and is led by coach Craig Brownson. The Tigers are balanced and deep with Dylan Campbell and Timi Ibikunle leading the charge. Bellaire is headlined by national recruit and Duke signee Shelton Henderson and Anthony Andrews. The Cards are senior-heavy. Ridge Point and Pearland is a toss up.
In Region II, Grand Oaks leads the way for the city, who opens up with a scrappy Nimitz squad. They would likely face district champ Klein in round two. Aldine is a wild story going winless last year and into the playoffs this year. Cypress Ranch should get by Klein Forest. Duncanville lays in wait for all comers in this bracket.
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The Class 6A DII Region III bracket is TOUGH.
Shadow Creek is THAT team. Houston’s No. 1 Class 6A team is loaded going 30-2 on the season.
The Sharks have the best line up with Michael Collins, Bryce Jackson (Houston), Aiden Law and Julian Cullier all dangerous on both ends of the floor.
They have the best shot at advancing to State from this Region, but don’t sleep on Katy Jordan, Clear Springs and CE King. Jordan is balanced in the backcourt with Jaden Holt and Elijah Black and have athletic size as well.
With that being said, it is Shadow Creek’s to lose. They are just too talented.
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In Region II, College Park is sneaky good with the backcourt of Ian Inman (Colorado) and Aiden Buckman. Cypress Springs has a puncher’s chance coming out of the lower side of that bracket.
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The Class 5A DI Region III bracket has Beaumont Westbrook looming, who is the favorite. Spring Woods has had a breakout season with brothers Tavionn, Trae and Torian Pickens leading the way, however, it might be Crosby who has the best shot in this bracket coming out of H-Town. Evan Egans, Phillip Jackson and Tyler Eaden are solid scorers and went 10-2 in district play.
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The bottom of the Class 5A DII, Region III bracket is not cool… at all. Fort Bend Marshall is the No. 2 Class 5A team in the State, while Friendswood and Kingwood Park both won their respective districts. Barbers Hill is TOUGH and long as well. Up top is Randle and Iowa Colony, who are also talented. VYPE’s prediction is that FB Marshall battles through the toughtest bracket in all of the UIL Tourney and earns their way to State.
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Houston’s most dominant team this season has be Class 4A DI power Stafford. It’s the year of the Spartan as they went 34-0 so far this season. Stafford should roll to State with a bouncy team, led by Skyler Holt. He is a human-highlight reel.
In Class 4A DII, it’s the familiar names of Yates, Wheatley, Silsbee and La Marque, who will challenge for a Final Four spot. La Marque comes out of Region IV, while everyone else is in Region III.
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Can Hitchcock win State for the third staight time? It would be unpresedented, if so. The ‘Dogs are 23-8 on the season and have the swag to hoist the hardware again. Gone are Lloyd Jones III and Kelshaun Johnson, who have already enrolled in college, leaving Elijah Sherwood to do the heavy lifting. It’s going to be a road, but it can be done.
2024-25 Fort Bend Travis Basktball
THE STATUS: Updated VYPE HOU Basketball Rankings entering district race; Travis, Alief Taylor skyrocket
Regarding the boys' side, Fort Bend Travis has experienced a meteoric rise in success, now that they currently maintain an 18-2 record, swiftly putting their district -- and the city for that matter -- on high alert.
As expected, Fort Bend Marshall (5A), Shadow Creek, Katy Jordan, Seven Lakes, Atascocita, and Ridge Point have been among the several programs to flourish and should anticipate lengthy runs in the ensuing postseason.
Don't sleep on the likes of Bellaire, Clear Springs, Friendswood (5A), Cinco Ranch, Iowa Colony (5A), Barbers Hill (5A), and Grand Oaks, though, as they have proven to be more than capable of winning the close contests.
Meanwhile, Stafford (23-0) has yet to face defeat within Class 4A, which bodes well for a team that's eager to make another run for State.
On the girls' side, Cypress Springs is certainly living up to the hype thus far, considering they've gone 18-3 despite facing a gauntlet of formidable opponents in their first couple of months.
Dawson (23-4) and Pearland (21-6) will be battling for District 22-6A in the coming weeks, while Clear Creek (20-4), Clear Brook (22-2), and Dickinson (17-8) will do the same in 24-6A, creating some enticing match-ups for audiences to witness.
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the season, so far, has been the rapid level of success that Alief Taylor has enjoyed. As it stands, the Lions are 21-4 and should only continue to gain momentum on the road towards the Alamodome.
However, teams such as Hightower, Grand Oaks, Tomball Memorial, Summer Creek, and Cinco Ranch might have something to say about that.
With that in mind, see who's making waves on the H-Town basketball scene as we approach what should be a thrilling second half of the season.
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Alief Taylor Lions
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
VYPE HOU BOYS BASKETBALL TOP-20 (Class 6A-4A)
***Last section indicates current overall record/district record
1. Fort Bend Marshall Buffaloes (5A) -- 23-2; 3-0
2. Shadow Creek Sharks (6A) -- 18-2; 5-0
3. Katy Jordan Warriors (6A) -- 20-2; 5-0
4. Seven Lakes Spartans (6A) -- 20-5; 4-2
5. FB Travis Tigers (6A) -- 18-2; 2-0
6. Atascocita Eagles (6A) -- 14-4; 2-0
7. Ridge Point Panthers (6A) -- 15-5; 2-0
8. Cinco Ranch Cougars (6A) -- 21-3; 5-1
9. Friendswood Mustangs (5A) -- 20-3; 3-0
10. Clear Springs Chargers (6A) -- 20-3; 2-0
11. Bellaire Cardinals (6A) -- 14-7; 3-0
12. Grand Oaks Grizzlies (6A) -- 19-6; 6-0
13. Stafford Spartans (4A) -- 23-0; 3-0
14. Barbers Hill Eagles (5A) -- 15-6; 2-0
15. Iowa Colony Pioneers (5A) -- 16-8; 2-0
16. College Park Cavaliers (6A) -- 16-8; 4-2
17. Katy Tigers (6A) -- 20-3; 3-2
18. Summer Creek Bulldogs (6A) -- 13-9; 1-1
19. C.E. King Panthers (6A) -- 10-7; 2-0
20. Cypress Springs Panthers (6A) -- 16-8; 2-1
Honorable Mentions: Cypress Falls, Hitchcock, Mayde Creek, Booker T. Washington, FB Bush, Pearland, Willis, Clements, Dickinson, FB Austin, Nimitz, Tomball Memorial, Yates
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VYPE HOU GIRLS BASKETBALL TOP-20 (Class 6A-4A)
***Last section indicates current overall record/district record
1. Cypress Springs Panthers (6A) -- 18-3; 5-0
2. Dawson Eagles (6A) -- 23-4; 8-0
3. Clear Brook Wolverines (6A) -- 22-2; 3-1
4. Pearland Oilers (6A) -- 21-6; 7-1
5. Clear Creek Wildcats (6A) -- 20-4; 4-1
6. Alief Taylor Lions (6A) -- 21-4; 4-0
7. Hightower Hurricanes (6A) -- 19-5; 5-0
8. Grand Oaks Grizzlies (6A) -- 21-3; 8-0
9. Summer Creek Bulldogs (6A) -- 12-10; 4-0
10. Tomball Memorial Wildcats (6A) -- 19-4; 7-1
11. Manvel Mavericks (6A) -- 20-6; 6-2
12. Fulshear Chargers (6A) -- 20-7; 3-1
13. C.E. King Panthers (6A) -- 14-5; 3-1
14. Cinco Ranch Cougars (6A) -- 17-5; 7-1
15. Klein Bearkats (6A) -- 20-6; 5-2
16. Cypress Falls Eagles (6A) -- 17-4; 4-0
17. Tomball Cougars (6A) -- 18-5; 5-3
18. Dickinson Gators (6A) -- 17-8; 4-1
19. Katy Taylor Mustangs (6A) -- 19-5; 7-1
20. Shadow Creek Sharks (6A) -- 18-8; 5-3
Honorable Mentions: Montgomery, Klein Collins, Tompkins, Houston Memorial, FB Austin, Westfield, Cypress Ranch, Barbers Hill, Willowridge, North Shore, Hitchcock, Klein Oak, Wheatley