GAMES
RANKINGS
5 Way-Too-Early 2021-22 Basketball Predictions
The UIL and TAPPS basketball seasons wrapped up their respective seasons last week through the weekend. While the DFW didn't have the banner year it did in 2018-19, the teams representing the Metroplex brought back five State Titles.
Duncanville (boys), Argyle (boys), DeSoto (girls), Dallas Bishop Lynch (girls) and Fort Worth Southwest Christian (girls) all were crowned state champions over the last week.
Like I did for the football season, I'm going to offer up some top-of-mind, knee-jerk predictions for the 2021-22 season - so here we go.
Duncanville's Run Might Be Over
Duncanville's three-year run has been highly impressive. Coach David Peavy has done a masterful job of making Duncanville the premier basketball program in the area - and probably the state - either with or without some of the top talent in the state. The team wins.
I think that ends, though, in 2021-22. Although, I won't be surprised to see them back at state next year, I think there are a number of teams within the DFW primed to take Duncanville down.
Hedging Bets on McKinney
To tailcoat off the previous idea, I think McKinney is the team to beat out of the area. Ja'Kobe Walter, as a sophomore, showed he's a stud and with a number of key contributors returning to next year's team, McKinney will have lots of eyes and expectations coming its way.
All-In on Mackenzie Buss, Lake Dallas
Mackenzie Buss has been a phenomenal player for Lake Dallas the last two years. Each year, she's taken great leaps in showcasing her talents, and I expect that to continue next season. With her continued growth and another stacked team coming back in 2021-22, Lake Dallas will be a team to be feared in 5A.
A Full, Uninterrupted Season
Kind of a cheat from the football article, but like football, I don't expect the season to be shortened or have any team suffer major interruptions in its schedule. We're seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, and hopefully by November, we've officially turned the corner. The 2021-22 tournament season is going to be crazy and a welcome return to normalcy.
DFW Hoops Bounces Back
While the DFW did take home five total championships this year, I expect that number to reach double digits next year. Granted, there are a lot of great teams and coaches across the state at all levels and organizations. However, the DFW is simply stacked like no other with talented players in both public and private schools in the '22 class.
DFW Girls Basketball: UIL State Preview
Here we are. State Week for both the UIL boys and girls basketball seasons. The first two days of State are reserved for the girls' side of things, and that is where we will start.
Let's get into it.
6A State Championship
Time: 7 p.m.
Date: Thursday, March 11
Location: Alamodome (San Antonio)
It's No. 1 vs. No. 2.
After all the games, all the upsets, the Top 2 ranked teams (TABC rankings) in the state meet for the right to hoist the 6A State Championship trophy. When the season started, many of prognosticators had penned in this matchup for the title.
Both DeSoto and Cypress Creek are looking for their first state titles in program history with each program having been to this spot twice before. In the last two years, each of these teams have appeared in the State Championship, only to fall a game short of the ultimate dream - DeSoto in 2019; Cypress Creek in 2020.
For DeSoto, it has a lot of quality wins this year, including beating 11-time state champ Duncanville three times and downing TAPPS juggernaut Bishop Lynch. DeSoto's only losses were to an out-of-state team and a forfeit to Cedar Hill due to an altercation that unfolded in those team's first meeting in district play.
For Cypress Creek, it is looking to finish off an undefeated season, which would be the first time that has happened since Duncanville in 2016. Cypress Creek was 41-0 last year heading into the State Championship before losing to Duncanville.
DeSoto
| TEAM |
Cypress Creek
|
2 | STATE RANK | 1 |
27-2 | RECORD | 32-0 |
W7 | STREAK | W32 |
2 (2019) | STATE APPEARANCES (MOST RECENT) |
2 (2020) |
0 | STATE TITLES (MOST RECENT) | 0 |
67 | BIGGEST WIN |
77
|
63.3 | POINTS SCORED PER GAME |
76.3
|
32.6 | POINTS ALLOWED PER GAME |
33.8
|
PLAYOFF JOURNEY | ||
Killeen Shoemaker (69-18) | BI-DISTRICT |
Houston Lamar (109-38) |
Tyler Legacy (65-26) | AREA |
Katy Cinco Ranch (67-29) |
Garland Sachse (56-23) | REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS |
#14 Houston Heights (59-31) |
#12 Langham Creek (74-41) | REGIONAL SEMIFINALS |
Humble Summer Creek (70-41) |
#3 Duncanville (52-39) | REGIONAL FINALS |
#11 Alvin Shadow Creek (61-50) |
#4 South Grand Prairie (63-52) | STATE SEMIFINALS | #7 Converse Judson (55-34) |
5A State Championship
Time: 7 p.m.
Date: Wednesday, March 11
Location: Alamodome (San Antonio)
It's hard to call a defending state champion a "Cinderella story," but that's kind of where we are. A lot of the 2019-20 Frisco Liberty team returned but the team only finished third in 9-5A behind state-ranked Frisco Lone Star and Frisco Memorial.
Through a strong defensive mindset, Liberty is back at the State Championship game - marking its third straight trip to the finals.
In meeting Cedar Park - the state's No. 1-ranked team - it will be a contrast of styles. Cedar Park averages nearly 30 more points a game than Frisco Liberty while holding opponents to the low 30s. Not counting four straight forfeit wins, Cedar Park hasn't played a game inside of 10 points since a 60-53 win over Austin Lake Travis on November 20. Compared that to Liberty, which has played in four of its playoff games decided by seven points or less.
Frisco Liberty | TEAM | Cedar Park |
Unranked | STATE RANK | 1 |
22-8 | RECORD | 26-1 |
W6 | STREAK | W24 |
3 (2020) | STATE APPEARANCES (MOST RECENT) | 0 |
1 (2020) | STATE TITLES (MOST RECENT) | 0 |
44 | BIGGEST WIN |
61 |
39.0 | POINTS SCORED PER GAME | 68.8 |
29.7 | POINTS ALLOWED PER GAME |
31 |
PLAYOFF JOURNEY | ||
McKinney North (29-27) | BI-DISTRICT | Kerville Tivy (58-22) |
Carrollton Smith (67-23) | AREA | San Antonio Highlands (92-44) |
#21 Frisco Memorial (33-28) | REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS | Comal Canyon (61-40) |
North Forney (49-30) | REGIONAL SEMIFINALS | #6 CC Veterans Memorial (61-39) |
#12 Wylie East (39-32) | REGIONAL FINALS | #5 Georgetown (44-12) |
#8 Lubbock Cooper (39-37) | STATE SEMIFINALS | #15 Beaumont United (75-51) |