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Shadow Creek's Michael Collins
THE PLAYMAKERS: Buzzer Beaters powered by UTMB Health
Here are the UTMB Athletes of the Week, as the Winter season continues to unfold in the new year.
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Kamryn McLaurin -- Clear Brook Girls Basketball
Justin Hartojo (VYPE)
What a difference a year makes.
After going through their fair share of ups and downs last winter, things have only been looking up for Clear Brook this time around.
As it stands, the Wolverines are 23-2 are among the most highly-regarded squads, not just in our updated Houston rankings, but in the entire state.
Offensive production has been in ample supply for head coach Mileka Loydrake's roster, and while the two-time District MVP Rezia Castillo (Sr. PG) and Chardel Terrell (Sr. G) are playing phenomenally, Kamryn McLaurin deserves just as much praise.
McLaurin earned first-team, all-district honors in 2024 and looks to be on the same trajectory, if not better, considering she's remained one of the team's leading scorers.
Clear Brook now has their sights set on securing the District 24-6A title in the coming weeks, but they'll have some stiff competition with Clear Creek and Dickinson vying for the same distinction.
A'Zyua Blair -- Pearland Girls Basketball
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
As expected, Pearland is red-hot entering the second half of the season, with a 21-6 record to show for it.
The Oilers raised eyebrows recently, when they competed in the Sandra Meadows Classic just before New Year's.
After they toppled the reigning state champs Duncanville in a 68-63 overtime thriller, coach Jere' Adams and co. gave the No.1-ranked team in Texas, the Boswell Pioneers, a run for their money before narrowly falling 44-39.
They were then defeated by St. Francis (Georgia) -- once again by a close margin (53-51) -- to wind up placing 4th overall in the tournament, which is still an impressive accomplishment, given the quality of opponents they faced.
Pearland features several stars, but few have been more essential than sophomore point guard A'Zyua Blair.
On average, Blair puts up 19 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals per game, meaning she can impact any phase of the game.
With the combined efforts of Blair, senior Eliece Perry (13 ppg, 9 rpg), and sophomore Shiloh Grays (9 ppg, 8 rpg), the Oilers are going to be contending with rival Dawson this month (1/25 rematch) for District 22-6A supremacy.
Stay tuned.
Michael Collins -- Shadow Creek Basketball
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
When it comes to Texas high school hoops, it simply doesn't get much better than Shadow Creek.
Boasting a record of 19-2, the Sharks are literally 7 points shy of perfection-- their only losses this season came at the hands of state powers, St. Michael's (49-46) and Lake Ridge (70-68).
Regardless of how those two matches ended, this team has proven that they're capable of contending with the state's best.
What makes Shadow Creek so threatening, aside from their irrefutable athleticism, is the fact that they play unselfish ball and each player finds ways to contribute.
However, it's hard to argue against Michael Collins being named the Team MVP down the line.
Collins put up a team-leading 23 points in their recent 82-41 trouncing of Pearland last Friday, which extended their district record to 6-0 on the year.
Of course, he's not alone, considering Bryce Jackson (21 pts), Julian Cuillier (12), Aiden Law (11), and Adin Lewis (10) each had impressive showings in the same win.
Basketball is a team game, but Collins is that dude.
Journey Lovett -- Dawson Girls Basketball
Justin Hartojo (VYPE)
With Coach Sharee Griffin at the helm, the Eagles (23-4) are coming off an exemplary performance at the Aggieland Invitational to end December, in which they claimed the 3rd Place trophy.
The No. 2-ranked team in our updated H-Town rankings has exceeded expectations the winter and look to continue proving the doubters wrong -- hence their recurring hashtag on Twitter "#NotSatisfied".
This was a truly difficult decision to make, because there a number of individuals who should (and likely will at some point) be on this list.
Mia Barre (Jr. G) is a three-point specialist (she scored 7 in one game at the tournament), while Jaycee Ingram (Sr. F) provides a unique brand of skill and quickness, in addition to veteran experience.
However, Journey Lovett deserves some recognition.
In addition to being named to the Aggieland Invitational All-Tournament team, the junior guard has been Dawson's "Player of the Game" on a number of occasions - most recently in their 77-22 win against Alvin last Friday.
Standing at 6 feet tall, Lovett combines size with finesse, which can make her a handful for any opponent.
Team-wise, Dawson will now gear up for the second round of district-play, and do so with a remarkable 8-0 record in 22-6A.
First up is Tuesday night's meeting with Manvel (20-6; 6-2), on the path towards a district championship and more.
Madden Hill -- Clear Springs Basketball
Clear Springs picked up right where they left off a year ago, when they went 28-10 and reached the Region III-6A Final, only to start this year with a pristine record of 21-3.
They enter the new year on the heels of winning the Conroe Christmas Classic with their 52-39 win over Crosby, prior to making a statement by dominating the reigning district champs Dickinson (79-42) last Friday.
However, one of the most notable headlines regarding the Chargers this winter has been the emergence of freshman point guard Madden "Mighty" Hill.
In his debut with CSHS, Hill has consistently lit up the scoreboard, while efficiently dishing the ball out to his teammates, and making key contributions on defense.
Despite facing a red-hot Dickinson squad, he went on to put up 18 points, 6 assists, and 8 rebounds to help the team clinch a crucial district win.
Alongside the towering Izuchukwu Emelife (Sr. PF/C) -- who was named the MVP of the Conroe tournament and continues to gain attention from college recruiters -- the pair will be a force worth reckoning as they battle their way towards a potential District 24-6A title and ensuing playoff run.
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