Several players will have the opportunities to increase their stock with great performances during these Regional Finals. 

If you're interested in one of the venues hosting a double header for the State Semis, simply call or text your coaching staff and express your wishes.  If indeed the nominated facility is a fair neutral site, then it's a possibility.  Closed mouths can't get fed.  

WED. MAR 4th
Grand Oaks blasted Dallas Lancaster 72-46 to advance to their first ever, Regional Final.  Beating Lancaster was a shock to many, but the margin (+26p) was the actual eye opener.  Grand Oaks was clicking offensively (23/41fg) while Lancaster was not (11/40fg).  At some point in that game Grand Oaks made multiple treys (11/16) in a row while Lancaster missed multiple shots in a row.  It was a total balanced attack by Grand Oaks. Jonathan Wade led the charge with 12p, Morgan Luzey '26 had 11p 6a, Trey Pinkard '27 (committed to High Point) supplied 10p 4a 3s & Edube Joseph '27 posted 10p 9r.  Plus, Dariyun Cox '26 and Danny Roland '26 scored 9p each.  Whenever your leading scorer is 12p and you win by more than 25p, that's the prime ingredient in "total team effort".  I had projected that this game could be the upset of the evening, and it was!  Go ahead and scroll down to yesterday's post and read for yourself.

UTSA signee Nas Price wore a padded arm sleeve while giving it all he could muster despite obviously not 100% after suffering an elbow injury in the previous game.  Atascocita jumped out to a double digit lead and appeared to be on their way to blowing this thing away.  Then in a matter of minutes, Seven Lakes was right back in after Sean Mwesigwa heated up from downtown (all while Price was out taking a breather).  Isaiah Santos '27 made a few impressive plays.  Next thing you know, the Spartans took the lead, and this was a ball game.  When the dust settled, Atascocita prevailed 78-66 and handed Seven Lakes (#8 nationally by Max Preps) their first and last lost of the season.  New Mexico State signee, Jachai Cantave (26p) was flat out masterful from beginning to end of this contest.  This was one of those performances (against at Top 10 nationally ranked undefeated team) that made the entire transfer back home to Atascocita well worth it.  Adam Boyd (inked with Louisiana Tech) added 23p and was very effective with his length.  

BAKER'S DOZEN
All season long I've beaten the table about the potency of the area's Class of 2027 (current 11th graders).  I wanted to describe this as a "Doug's Dozen" but after counting them up, there are 13 instead of 12 Juniors within the very recruitable Class of 2027.  In case you didn't know, thirteen is known as a "Baker's Dozen" because the cook would often keep the extra one for his own consumption. 

Each player listed below will serve as a magnet to draw various college coaches to Greater Houston with hopes of gaining traction on the recruiting trail.  The goal of the community should be to maximize the trips for those college coaches to the point where it would need at least 2 days to make a good lap and put eyes on each of the prospects.  The key is for guys to do whatever they can to NOT bad mouth or negatively describe other players, especially when a college coach specifically asks about him.  The simple talking point should be something like.... "He's a really talented player" and NOT "he's sorry as hell" or "My kid gave him 30 last summer".  It's time for that type of shyt to stop in this city.  This is the "cheat code" to turning the city hot (like it used to be).  I'm at a space in my life where it truly becomes fun at passing along the game. 

That Class is paced by Reese Alston (Second Baptist HS '27) and he is currently celebrating back to back TAPPS 5A State Titles while rising up the charts to #14 nationally (by ESPN).  He is without question, the Magna Cum Laude of this class.  If you considered this a concert, then Alston would have a "Back Stage Pass".

This means, the following guys are seated on the "Front Row", and include nationally ranked: Isaiah Santos (Shadow Creek HS '27), Payton Jones (Beaumont United HS '27), Jae'Quarian Lincoln (Humble HS '27), Landon Veal (Houston Christian HS '27) & Chase Richardson (Friendswood HS '27) who missed the second half of the season with an injury.  

Then, there are a few more who are poised to become house hold names this summer on the grassroots scene.  These guys have not attained any natonaly ranking (yet), and have "Floor Seats on the Aisle" to the concert:
Alim Olajuwon (Episcopal HS '27), Damon Miles (Clear Lake HS '27), Dylan Jones-Bynum (Cinco Ranch HS '27), Royce Shelton (Atascocita HS '27), TroyNelle Belle (Dickinson HS '27), Tyson Forrest (College Park HS '27), 

Marwanne Fadika (Katy Jordan HS '27) is without question a current "Floor Seat" holder, and has officially turned a corner while guiding the Warriors into the Regional Finals.  I really like the consistency of this young man, as well as his ability to make big plays during big game moments.  Here are three of the post season stat lines for Fadika.  Also, each of these games were "lose and season over" type situations.
Mar 2nd  W 68-60 over Shadow Creek:  25 6a 6r
Feb 28th W 62-59 (OT) over Heights:  25p 6a 4r *huge treys to rally team to victory
Feb 25th W 64-63 over Foster:  22p 5a 6r *game winning 2ft with :06 to go 

TUE. MAR 3rd
It seems like every other team has received some sort of "wake up" call this post season.  On Monday, Yates HS found themselves in a dog fight before surviving to live another day.  Katy Freeman led 38-32 at the break.  Then, Yates used a 28-13 run through the 3rd period which put the Lions ahead by 9.  Freeman used a late surge which basically ran out of time before falling short, 84-80 at the Merrell Center.  Unsigned SR guard, Dakari Bolton produced arguably his best offensive output of the season - 36p (7/10ft) while Roman Flanagan scored 19p (7 in 4Q) & Joshua Wallace hit all 11 of his points during the decisive second half.   Yates won despite leading scorer Aiden Mohammed netting only 6p and Ninth grader, Lamar Hensley (recently scored 43p in a game last week) was limited to 8p in the win. 

Freeman went 7/11 from the free throw line in the final frame.  Those missed freebies match the final margin.  The Golden Eagles, have no 12th graders on the roster, got 22p from Louis Kathios '27, 17p by Chase Wilridge '27, Ninth grader Aiden Lusane '29 went for 15p & Kenneth Akinruntan '28 posted 7 of his 13p in the 4th period.  The two teams combined for over 35 turnovers and merely 11 three pointers.

OTHER NEWS!
Balls will surely be bouncing around the area this evening as the Regional Semis for boys resume.  Surely most of the eyes are laser beamed at Atascocita vs. Seven Lakes.  However, there are several other very good games on deck.   
REGION II
Can Klein Oak beat Duncanville?
Rylan Kelly (signed w/ Sam Houston State) would need to bring his "A" game.  Plus, 10th graders Tyrie Wooten and Malcolm Epps would need to play like seasoned seniors.  Lastly, Klein Oak must treat the name on the front of Duncanville jerseys just as it they were "The Woodlands" or "Cy Woods".  Do NOT get caught up or mesmorized on by whom you are playing.  There ain't no Ryan Holland or Anthony Black enrolled at that school anymore.  If attained, Klein Oak cold find themselves in the Regional Final.  

Can Grand Oaks beat Dallas Lancaster?
The DFW powerhouse has been here and done that, many times over.  However, Grand Oaks plays a smarter brand of hoops which could produce the upset of the evening.  Trey Pinkard '27 will likely see candy defenses tossed his way from the opening tip.  This means other players such as Morgan Luzey '26 and Edube Joseph '27 must step up and exceed their averages.  

Cy Springs vs Horn
Cy Springs should win this game, but it may not be as easy as it appears.  Horn finished 4th place behind Duncanville, Lancaster & Waxahachie in a very tough district.  They are battle tested, and so is Cy Springs.  Ife Bolaji '26 and CJ Ideozu '26 must control the boards while avoiding foul trouble.  Possessions matter, in this game!

Cy Ranch vs Sachse
Both teams have lost 14 games this season.  However, Sachse lost 5 games and finished 3rd place in District 9 which has no teams remaining in the playoffs.  Josh Goodwin is one of the area's top unsigned seniors.  As he goes, so does Cy Ranch.   

MON. MAR. 2nd
There is only one play-off game taking place today:  Yates vs Katy Freeman @ Merrell Center, 6p.  This marks the first time Katy Freeman has not only made the playoffs, but they are in the 3rd round.  Credit Wes Kohl for walking right into this supreme situation.  As for Yates, they are on a collision course for the Tri-Match against arch rival Wheatley HS.  The Wildcats will face Stafford on Tuesday evening on the campus of Texas Southern University.  That's not a cake walk at all.  It's a game that Wheatley can win, but it's also a game that Stafford can win. 

If indeed Wheatley gets Yates in the 4th round, the location for that game will be at Delmar, Friday evening.  TSU is not an option because Prairie View is playing there on Thursday.  At any rate, the winner of that game would likely draw LaMarque.  That would be one heckuva clash right there.  Stay tuned.