GAMES
RANKINGS
THE FAB 5: Greater Houston well represented in State Tourney
“We played are really tough tournament schedule and that experience prepared us though for tough times this season and culminated in tonight,” coach Bruce Glover said. “Now, when I go on and this team moves one, we will always be able to look back and remember this team. It’s really huge.”
Duke signee Shelton Henderson lead the way with 26 points and 20 rebounds.
“There is that famous story about the horse, ‘Sectretariat’,” Glover said. “When they cut him open, he had a heart twice as big as other horses. That is Sheldon Henderson.”
Next up for Bellaire is Duncanville in the State Finals.
"This is everything," Henderson said. "I came in here my freshman year and told the coaches I was going to win one for them. We knew we came in here as the underdogs and just had to play our game. We couldn't get caught up in the fans and the media. We just locked in and got it done."
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Katy Jordan also made school history beating San Antonio Harlan, 57-36, in the Class 6A DII Semifinal. Jaden Holt and Elijah Black make up on one of the best backcourts in the state and will now face Denton Guyer in the Finals on Saturday at 5 pm.
The FB Marshall Buffs were in Goliad, Texas and took down Alamo Heights, 47-29 in the Class 5A DII to return to the State Finals for the first time since 2017. The Buffs are on a 22-game winning steak. Marshall will face Mansfield Summit on Saturday.
Booker T. Washington is back in the Finals. The Eagles handled LBJ Austin, 76-56, in the Semis and will face power Dallas Kimball in the Finals on Friday. Robert Jones, Sam Johnson and Jalen Webb lead the way for Washington.
The Wheatley Wildcats have run the gauntlet in the playoffs. The Wildcats beat La Marque, 49-44, in the Semis to advance to the Finals. Wheatley has beaten Silsbee and Yates as well in the postseason. The ‘Cats will face Kennedale in the Class 4A DII Finals. Coach David Burrell leans on Quinton Sanders and Marquan Elder on the court.
Columbus advanced in Class 3A DI to face Tatum, while Kountze will play Paradise in the Class 3A DII Finals.
Beaumont West Brook of southeast Texas is 37-2 and will face Birdville High in the Class 5A DI Finals.
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.