Broncos make case for No. 1 rank in 5A
SUGAR LAND — One year after Region III got a reprieve from the state’s best boys basketball district, Fort Bend ISD has announced its return to the elite.
Fort Bend Bush and Elkins have established themselves as two of the top teams in the state, but when they went toe to toe at Wheeler Field House on Friday night, those in attendance saw exactly what they might see at the regional tournament in March.
Bush survived two Elkins shots in the final seconds and came up with the final rebound with less than a second left after a mad scramble to win 61-60.
Elkins (23-2, 6-1 District 23-5A) entered the game ranked No. 1 in the state. Bush, a former No. 1, was ranked No. 3.
The Broncos (18-6, 7-0) are likely to move to the top of the rankings for the second time this season next week. That could give Fort Bend ISD the top two spots in the Class 5A poll.
Fort Bend ISD rising
Counting Fort Bend Marshall, the school district could have three teams ranked in the top 10.
That would be quite the feat, but Bush coach Ronnie Courtney is not surprised.
“This is not anything new being in Fort Bend as long as I have,” Courtney said. “We have veteran guys like (Elkins) coach (Albert) Thomas and all the other guys.
“It means a lot to the district and the communities that are a part of these schools. To have three of us in the top 10, that says a lot for our kids and the coaches out here.”
Fort Bend’s success began in 1994 when Willowridge won the Class 5A state title.
Willowridge later won back-to-back titles in 2000-01 thanks to the McDonald’s All-American duo of T.J. Ford and Daniel Ewing. The 2000 team also had Ivan McFarlin. Courtney coached both teams.
The next year, Hightower won the first of two regional titles. In 2008, the school district went on one of the best collective runs the state has seen.
Four Fort Bend ISD teams — Bush, Dulles, Hightower and Travis — won five of the next six regional championships.
During that time, the school district had a maximum two teams in every regional tournament. In 2011, 2012 and 2013, the regional final pitted two Fort Bend ISD teams against one another.
Led by Courtney, Bush won the 5A state title in 2010. The next year, Aaron and Andrew Harrison donned Travis uniforms for the first time and led the Tigers to back-to-back state tournaments, winning it all in 2012.
Minor dip last season
Six Fort Bend ISD teams won first-round playoff games last year, but none got further than the third round. It was the first time since 2007 no Fort Bend ISD team made it to the regional semifinals.
That seems a shoo-in to change this year with Bush, Elkins and Marshall in Class 5A. Travis and Hightower in 6A should make deep runs, too.
Before the postseason, though, Elkins and Bush will meet again. The rematch is set for Feb. 16 at Hopson Field House.