CLASS 5A
Region I
DeSoto (26-3): Battle-tested by the area’s toughest district, and with one of the best coaches in Texas, three-time titlist Chris Dyer
South Grand Prairie (22-6): Finished third in 7-5A behind DeSoto and Duncanville, but the 2013 5A runners-up could get back to Austin
Region II
Plano West (20-6): Junior F Mickey Mitchell hasn’t been cleared to come back from a back injury, but this loaded line-up is still dangerous
CLASS 4A
Region I
Trophy Club Byron Nelson (23-7): A regional finalist last year, Byron Nelson is looking for more with junior 6-7 C Emmanuel Nzekwesi
Region II
Lancaster (26-4): Double-double machine Elijah Thomas has the state’s No. 2 team poised for a return to Austin for the first time since 2010
South Oak Cliff (24-5): James Mays II has one of his deepest teams ever, with nine players with more than 100 points and 50 rebounds
CLASS 3A
Region I
Kennedale (33-0): The state’s only unbeaten team in Classes 5A to 3A, but could face big hurdles in Region I with Abilene Wylie and Burkburnett
Region II
Madison (23-3): Junior SG Admon Gilder has been poring in buckets (23.3 ppg) for defending 3A champs
Triple A Academy (20-6): The Class 1A-Div. I champs will be looking to Austin on Monday, to see if they must forfeit four district wins and get the 4th place seed
Watch out for…
Duncanville: According to coach Kenny Boren, this team doesn’t mind flying under the radar. After an up-and-down non-district schedule, Duncanville (18-11) finished second in one of the toughest districts in the state. Omar Sherman, a 6-9 power forward who has signed with Miami, is a bruiser with a nice outside touch (17.1 points, 8.4 rebounds) while junior Matt McQuaid is a sharpshooter (12.2 points, 3.4 assists).
Euless Trinity: Behind 6-11 center Myles Turner, Trinity cruised to the 6-5A title. Turner, one of the most heavily recruited players in the nation, will continue to draw double- and triple-teams in the postseason, necessitating Adrian Wong and company to knock down jumpers if Trinity (24-6) will advance. In last year’s 5A playoffs, 6-5A teams went 1-4.
Kimball: It’s a familiar spot for Kimball (19-6), the second-place team in 11-4A behind South Oak Cliff. Kimball also finished second in district in 2012 and 2013, but still made the state final. D’Angelo Allen (13.3 points, 10.2 rebounds) is trying to advance to the state tournament for the fourth time. Point guard Jawun Evans (22.8 points, 7.3 assists), forward Trent Brinkley (12.8 points, 8.7 rebounds) and Allen make for a potent trio.
First-round games to watch
Arlington Bowie (24-5) vs. Justin Northwest (23-7): Bowie narrowly missed out on the 3-5A title in the final game of the season, a 52-47 loss to Arlington Martin. Northwest — with wins over Plano West, Plano East and Richardson Berkner — is a tough draw.
Cedar Hill (18-10) vs. Killeen Harker Heights (25-4): The fourth seed out of 7-5A gets the 8-5A champs. It’s a rematch of a game in the Austin Westlake holiday tournament, where Harker Heights — now ranked No. 11 in the state — beat Cedar Hill, 69-65.
Carter (14-14) vs. Woodrow Wilson (19-8): Should be a great match-up in the paint between Carter’s 6-7 forward Jeremy Combs (North Texas signee, 20.6 points and 12.4 rebounds) and Woodrow’s 6-9 center Kerwin Smith (Grand Canyon signee, 12.7 rebounds and 4.2 blocks).
Arlington Seguin (13-16) vs. Whitehouse (25-5): This isn’t the same Seguin team that made last year’s 4A Region II final. But it has been tested, with non-district losses to DeSoto, SGP, and Triple A. Whitehouse — with three-sport star Patrick Mahomes — played a much lighter schedule.
