GAMES
RANKINGS
Photo by VYPE Media's Bradley Collier.
4 Austin/San Antonio Boys Basketball Teams Chase UIL's Top Prize
2019-2020 Season Record: 33-3
UIL State Final Four Appearances: 2020
Players To Watch: Kyle Schaefer, Tanner Brown and Gavin Gibson
State Semifinal Opponent: Duncanville (29-5)
Other State Reps: Dickinson (32-5) and Wylie (32-7)
Prediction: San Antonio Brandeis' most successful boys basketball season to date produced the program's first regional championship, but its first trip to the UIL state final four will be a short stay because it has to play the state's top ranked team (Duncanville) in the UIL 6A state semifinal round.
UIL 5A's San Antonio Wagner Thunderbirds
Photo by VYPE Media's Bradley Collier.
2019-2020 Season Record: 35-5
UIL State Final Four Appearances: 2009, 2010, 2017, 2019 and 2020
Players To Watch: Journee Phillips, Jasean Jackson and Braelon Seals
State Semifinal Opponent: Mansfield Timberview (29-8)
Other State Reps: Lancaster (36-1) and Fort Bend Hightower (33-5)
Prediction: San Antonio Wagner boys basketball is making its fifth UIL state final four appearance since the 2008-2009 season and will get critical revenge against the team it lost to in the 2018-2019 UIL 5A state championship game (Mansfield Timberview) before falling in its third UIL state title game in the past four seasons.
UIL 3A's San Antonio Cole Cougars
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2019-2020 Season Record: 32-6
UIL State Final Four Appearances: 1967, 1968, 1989, 2006, 2012, 2019 and 2020
Players To Watch: Vince Iwuchukwu and Jordyn Arnette
State Semifinal Opponent: Peaster (34-5)
Other State Reps: Coldspring-Oakhurst (36-4) and Dallas Madison (22-12)
Prediction: San Antonio Cole boys basketball advanced to the UIL state final four for the seventh time in history and for the second straight season. The Cougars will move a step closer to their first state championship since the 1988-1989 season by topping Peaster in the UIL 3A state semifinal, but will ultimately fall in the 2019-2020 state final.
UIL 2A's San Saba Armadillos
2019-2020 Season Record: 21-8
UIL State Final Four Appearances: 1928 and 2020
Players To Watch: Sean O'Keefe, Logan Glover and Risien Shahan
State Semifinal Opponent: Martin's Mill (39-0)
Other State Reps: Shelbyville (36-3) and Gruver (30-5)
Prediction: San Saba boys basketball is making its first UIL state final four appearance since the 1927-1928 season, but its season will conclude with a loss against 39-0 Martin's Mill in the UIL 2A state semifinal round.
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Photo by VYPE Media's Bradley Collier.
5 Austin/San Antonio Girls Basketball Teams Chase UIL's Top Prize
UIL 6A'sConverse Judson Rockets
2019-2020 Season Record: 33-8
UIL State Final Four Appearances: 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020
Players To Watch: Kierra Sanderlin and Amira Mabry
State Semifinal Opponent: Duncanville (38-3)
Other State Reps: Cypress Creek (40-0) and McKinney (22-12)
Prediction: Converse Judson has a very accomplished girls basketball program and is coming off a remarkable comeback against Westlake to win its fourth straight UIL 6A Region IV title. The Rockets got a huge boost from Kierra Sanderlin (19 of her game-high 30 points in the fourth quarter) in their regional final victory and also have important experience from back-to-back UIL 6A state title game appearances and their state championship from a year ago. But, they aren't enough to win Converse Judson a second straight state crown. The state's 18th ranked team has to face No. 1 Duncanville in the state semifinal round, so the Rockets' 2019-2020 season is expected to conclude on Friday.
UIL 5A's San Antonio Veterans Memorial Patriots
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2019-2020 Season Record: 31-7
UIL State Final Four Appearances: 2018 and 2020
Players To Watch: Sahara Jones, Brenna Perez and Vivian Castro
State Semifinal Opponent: Mansfield Timberview (31-8)
Other State Reps: College Station (32-7) and Frisco Liberty (29-11)
Prediction: San Antonio Veterans Memorial's very dominant three-year varsity girls basketball program has won at least 31 games and advanced to a regional final in every season in its history and will make its second UIL state final four appearance this week. The Patriots are led by Texas A&M signee Sahara Jones and fellow seniors Brenna Perez and Vivian Castro. The group's experience and talent will match up well in what is expected to be a very competitive UIL 5A state semifinal against fellow state top 10 team Mansfield Timberview and would also come in handy in a likely battle against College Station in the classification's state title game. But, don't forget about the program's under the radar characteristic. The players and coaches are extremely motivated to top their UIL 4A state runner-up finish from the 2017-2018 season and that will ultimately result in Judson ISD's second straight UIL girls basketball state championship (2018-2019 UIL 6A state champ Converse Judson).
UIL 4A's Fredericksburg Battlin' Billies
2019-2020 Season Record: 33-8
UIL State Final Four Appearances: 1951, 1985, 1995 and 2020
Players To Watch: Audrey Spurgin, Ella Hartmann and Brittley Bowers
State Semifinal Opponent: Argyle (32-6)
Other State Reps: Fairfield (33-4) and Dallas Lincoln (26-8)
Prediction: Fredericksburg's remarkable run during the 2019-2020 season produced its fourth UIL state final four berth and its deepest playoff push since the 1994-1995 season, but Friday's UIL 4A state semifinal game will record the Battlin' Billies' final result of the campaign. That's because they face one of the state's dynasties. Argyle girls basketball has won six UIL state championships since 2006, including the last five, and has advanced to seven consecutive UIL state final fours, so the Lady Eagles will soar towards another state title.
UIL 3A's Schulenburg Shorthorns
2019-2020 Season Record: 34-4
UIL State Final Four Appearances: 2003 and 2020
Players To Watch: Brynlee Hollas and Erica Otto
State Semifinal Opponent: Shallowater (37-2)
Other State Reps: Woodville (35-4) and Winnsboro (29-7)
Prediction: Schulenburg has a talented roster of multi-sport athletes, but it's been awhile since the Shorthorns have reached this round and that lack of experience will show in Thursday's UIL 3A state semifinal loss against 37-2 Shallowater.
UIL 2A's Mason Cowgirls
Photo by VYPE Media's Bradley Collier.
2019-2020 Season Record: 33-4
UIL State Final Four Appearances: 2018, 2019 and 2020
Players To Watch: McKenzie Cano and Jesse Armstrong
State Semifinal Opponent: Muenster (35-4)
Other State Reps: Gruver (36-2) and Grapeland (34-5)
Prediction: Mason will lean on its third consecutive UIL state final four appearance in a UIL 2A state semifinal win against Muenster, but will eventually suffer its second straight season-ending loss against a very hungry Grapeland squad that lost the 2018-2019 UIL 2A state title game by four points.
For more sports coverage, follow Thomas (@Texan8thGen) and VYPE (@VYPEATX/@VYPESATX) on Twitter.
Looking to get more involved? Check out ShopVYPE for fresh gear that supports local schools and the VYPE U Ambassador Program. To sign up for the VYPE U Program, apply at VYPEU.com.