GAMES
RANKINGS
Does Hightower have enough to reach State?
THE PREDICTIONS: Who advances to State in Houston girls hoops?
The pseudo Regional Tourney tips off tonight in the new UIL girls basketball playoffs, and it’s a toss-up.
In Class 6A DI Region III, it would seem that Summer Creek would be the favorite, having so much playoff experience over the years. The Bulldogs fell in the State Semis to Duncanville in OT a year ago and are led by Kennedy Simpson. They will face Cypress Falls (28-5), who has a trio of lead birds in Dazlyn McClenon, Gisselle Jackson and Makenzie Haynes.
THE GALLERY
On the other side of the bracket, it’s Katy Taylor vs Dawson. The Eagles are a heavy favorite going undefeated in district play and blowing out their opponents. Katy Taylor has had a great season and finished third in district play.
In Region II, The Woodlands will face defending State Champ Duncanville in the third round. Coach Ashley Davis has TURNED this Highlander program around Aiden Pino, Isa Alaniz and Rachael Roberts are the big three for TWHS. Duncanville is too tough defensively and can run the floor at a break-neck pace.
How about those Nimitz Cougars, who won their district and are led by crafty guard Aniah Richard. Chloe Williams and Tatiyanna Cole do work in the paint along with Kira Hubbard. Cedar Hill is salty and plays in a brutal district with Duncanville, DeSoto and South Grand Prairie.
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THE PREDICTION
Summer Creek will face Dawson for the right to got to State. VYPE goes with Dawson with Jaylynn Perez-Richard, Kendall Ford, Mia Barre and Jaycee Ingram to advance in a mild upset. In Region II, the road ends for TWHS and Nimitz after great seasons. They just run into to big of buzz saws to advance.
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The Class 6A DII divsions are a blood-bath.
In Region III, Hightower and Fulshear battle out west, while Alief Taylor and Clear Brook match talent for talent. Huge star power in these match-ups, starting with Alief Taylor’s Nataliyah Gray (Mississippi State), Fulshear’s Ruke Ogbevire, Hightower’s Chandler Caver (Loyola-New Orleans) and Kailee Beaudion-Foliaki (Northeastern) and Clear Brook’s Rezia Castillo (A&M-Commerce), Chardel Terrell (UTEP) and Kamryn McLaurin. If they were to meet, Alief Taylor and Fulshear are district-mates and split their series… by three points per game.
In Region II, Cypress Springs has two of the top players in the state in Ayla McDowell (South Carolina) and Jemini Mitchell. They face a legendary DeSoto team, which has lost a little luster with all the drama surrounging the program. Grand Oaks and Lancaster is going to be legit. Grizzly guard Bree Riley is a tough guard who can score and is uber-confident. State Top 5 Lancaster counters with Makenzie White, Monique Phoenix and Arianna Davis.
THE PREDICTION
VYPE goes with Alief Taylor vs Hightower in the finals with Hightower advancing to State. The Hurricanes just have a tremendous inside-out game with multiple scoring options. In Region II, Cypress Springs should advance to the Final Four beating Lancaster in the Regional Finals.
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In Class 5A DI, La Porte went 28-10 and won its district. The Bulldogs will face Hendrickson in the third round of Class 5A DI Region III bracket, while Barbers Hill will face Pflugerville in the Regional Semis. The Hill is 30-7 and won their district easily.
THE PREDICTION: Both Houston teams advance. La Porte is a bit of a sleeper while Bryan Harris of Barbers Hill has already won a State Title with Manvel. Experience matters.
PUSHING THE PACE: Summer Creek, FB Austin, Cy Springs trending in VYPE Girls Rankings
Summer Creek, FB Austin and Cypress Springs are Houston’s Big Three in 2024 heading into the girls basketball postseason.
Summer Creek and Fort Bend Austin are the queens of Class 6A Region III, while Cypress Springs and Klein Collins hope to get past the likes of DeSoto and Duncanville in Region II.
Class 5A will be an interesting battle with Lake Creek, Randle, Manvel and Montgomery trying to knock off Region III defending champion Fulshear. There is so much individual talent in the city as McDonald’s All-Americans Justice Carlton (Seven Lakes) and Me’Arah O’Neill (Episcopal) make their final playoff run.
Kinkaid and Rosehill Christian have legit shots are winning their respective leagues.
Stay tuned.
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VYPE’s Top 20 Public School Girls Basketball Teams
No. 1 Summer Creek
No. 2 FB Austin
No. 3 Cypress Springs
No. 4 Pearland
No. 5 Klein Collins
No. 6 Hightower
No. 7 CE King
No. 8 Seven Lakes
No. 9 Tompkins
No. 10 Lake Creek
No. 11 Katy Taylor
No. 12 Langham Creek
No. 13 Randle
No. 14 Dickinson
No. 15 Fulshear
No. 16 Dawson
No. 17 Katy
No. 18 Manvel
No. 19 Klein Oak
No. 20 Montgomery
Others To Watch: Nimitz, Tomball, Cinco Ranch, Memorial
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VYPE’s Top 5 Private School Girls Basketball Teams
No. 1 Kinkaid
No. 2 Rosehill Christian
No. 3 Episcopal
No. 4 The Village School
No. 5 Second Baptist School
Others To Watch: Concordia Lutheran, Bay Area Christian, Cypress Christian