GAMES
RANKINGS
THE STATUS: VYPE SATX Updated Basketball Rankings in the heat of district-play; Steele, Alamo Heights soar
The new year is upon us, and the San Antonio high school basketball scene is already buzzing with intense district match-ups.
As we head into the heart of the season, it’s clear that the competition is heating up, with several teams emerging as front-runners, while others are making significant strides toward the top of the rankings.
At the top of our list, Brennan continues to reign as the area's powerhouse. The Bears have faced some of the toughest opponents in the state, including heavyweights like Allen, Fort Bend Marshall, and St. Francis Episcopal, and have emerged with an impressive 20-2 record.
Despite these challenging tests, they remain a dominant force and will anticipate a district championship in the near future.
One of the biggest surprises of the season has been the resurgence of Cibolo Steele. After a heartbreaking near-miss for the playoffs last year, the Knights have come back with a vengeance. With a remarkable 22-2 record, they’ve soared to the No. 2 spot in our rankings, turning heads with their improved play.
In the crowded District 26-5A race, Alamo Heights and SA Wagner are neck-and-neck, with AH currently holding the edge after their 67-58 win over the Thunderbirds last Friday. Meanwhile, Northside Jay (28-5A) and Boerne Champion are close behind, making things even more competitive for 5A supremacy.
In the 6A category, teams like SA Johnson, Reagan, and Harlan are making noise, while Davenport stands out as a Class 4A contender worth watching.
As district titles are up for grabs, let’s take a closer look at the teams making the most noise in the Alamo City basketball scene.
...
*Parentheses indicates the team's district
*Last section indicates current overall record/district record
VYPE SAN ANTONIO BOYS TOP-10 (Class 6A-4A)
1. Brennan Bears (28-6A) -- 20-2; 7-0
2. Cibolo Steele Knights (29-6A) -- 22-2; 3-0
3. Alamo Heights Mules (26-5A) -- 21-4; 6-1
4. SA Wagner Thunderbirds (26-5A) -- 18-7; 6-1
5. Jay Mustangs (28-5A) -- 22-2; 7-0
6. Boerne Champion Chargers (26-5A) -- 21-5; 4-3
7. SA Johnson Jaguars (27-6A) -- 17-8; 4-0
8. Reagan Rattlers (27-6A) -- 16-6; 3-1
9. Harlan Hawks (28-6A) -- 15-8; 6-1
10. Davenport Wolves (26-4A) -- 19-4; 0-0
Honorable Mentions: Clark (27-6A), Clemens (29-6A), East Central (29-6A), New Braunfels (26-5A), Pieper (26-5A), Brandeis (27-6A), Sotomayor (28-6A), SA Veterans Memorial (26-5A)
DOWN TO THE WIRE: Previewing a critical UIL VB State Semis matchup -- Bellville vs. Davenport
Let's just get right into it.
On one of the court, you have the Bellville Brahmas who are enjoying one of the most exemplary seasons they've seen in recent years, from a statistical stand-point -- currently touting a record of 43-5.
Coach Susan Brewer's squad is no stranger to this stage, given that they reached this point in 2022, before falling to eventual State Runner-Up Aubrey.
However, the Brahmanettes have displayed nothing less than sheer dominance throughout this postseason, as they have swept each opponent (FB Willowridge, Burnet, Livingston, and most recently Hargrave) up to this point.
In terms of star-power, take your pick between the likes of Bailey Scheerer (Jr. MB), Sydney McKay (High Point-signee), Rebecca Lucksinger (Jr. MB), Emmy Novicke (Sr. L), and Samantha Marik (Sr. OH).
Bellville is the traditional power in this match-up, having made State appearances in three of the last four years. But, they will have the ambition of claiming the program's first state title since 2005, when they were still in Class 3A.
...
However, the new power has unquestionably been that of Davenport.
The reigning UIL-4A Champions picked up right where they left off last year, ranking among the top teams to come out of the San Antonio-area.
Similar to their opponent, the Wolves have been just as commanding entering the State Semis.
They have toppled Eastside EC (3-0), La Vernia (3-0), Calhoun (3-0), and Floresville (3-1) over the course of the past two weeks to make their way back to the Final-Four, improving their record to 39-8 in 2024.
Coach Taylour Toso's rotation has spread the wealth when it comes to overall stats.
In the offensive department, Emily Williams (311 kills) and McKaleigh Mattson (306 kills) run the table.
But if I were to pick an MVP for the team, it would be Alexis Dahl. As it stands, the junior setter has been all over the place, having registered 725 assists, 442 digs, and 267 kills on the year, making her a jack of all trades for Davenport.
Furthermore, Logan Strong (794 digs, 584 receptions), Dakota Hart (339 digs), and freshman Kylie Dahl (259 assists) round out what could be the most balanced crew in the state.
...
There's no room for error at this stage, and fans should be in for a show when these two power-programs face off Tuesday night (6:00 pm) at the Austin Burger Center in Sunset Valley, TX.