Tough tests await in regional tourneys
Warren may face rival Brennan for trip to state
Warren and Brennan will have a home-court advantage when the Region IV-6A tournament begins Friday at Northside Sports Gym.
Will playing on their home court be enough to garner a spot in the UIL state tournament?
Warren (31-6), the runner-up in District 29-6A, plays District 27-6A champion San Marcos (37-3) at 5:30 p.m. District 29-6A champion Brennan (30-7) faces District 25-6A champion Round Rock Stony Point (33-1) at 7:30 p.m. The winners face off at 2 p.m. Saturday for a berth in the state tournament, which begins Thursday at the Alamodome.
Warren possesses one of the state’s most dominant players in 6-foot-8 senior forward Jaylen Crockerjohnson, who tallied 22 points, 20 rebounds and six blocks in the Warriors’ 62-42 victory against district rival Taft on Tuesday at NSG.
Crocker-johnson, who is signed with Arkansaslittle Rock, averages 22 points and 11.8 rebounds per game. He has added range to his game by going 26-of-84 from beyond the arc.
Senior guard Aden Mendez averages 15.7 points and 4.3 assists.
San Marcos has two of the state’s top recruits, including unsigned 6-6 small forward Malik Presley, listed No. 11 by 247Sports on its state rankings for the 2023 class. Kaden Gumbs, a senior guard signed with Texas State, is No. 22.
Brennan was one win away from a state berth last year after the Bears lost to Austin Westlake in the regional final.
Brennan returns four
starters from that team, including 6-3 sophomore guard Kingston Flemings, the Express-news Newcomer of the Year last season.
Flemings is averaging 14.7 points, 5.2 assists and 2.2 steals, all team-bests, this season.
Three other Bears average double figures in scoring with 6-3 sophomore guard Camden Cowgill (12.2), 6-6 freshman guard/ forward Isaiah Ward (11.5) and 6-7 senior forward Robert Jackson (10.4).
Stony Point has won 17 straight since losing against Mansfield Summit on Dec. 28.
The Tigers are led by 6-6 junior forward Josiah Moseley, one of the state’s top recruits (No. 13) in the class of 2024. He averages 21.6 points and 9.1 rebounds per contest.
Here’s a look at the other regional tournament involving local teams:
Region IV-5A
Last year’s region finalists Boerne Champion and the San Antonio Veterans Memorial Patriots will meet for a state-tournament berth if they win Friday.
Champion (31-5) plays the Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial Eagles (26-11) and the Patriots (34-4) face Corpus Christi Miller (29-5) in the semifinals at Littleton Gym.
The Patriots, champions of District 26-5A, feature a balanced scoring attack led by juniors Damarion Dennis (13.7 points) and Gervai Maeweathers (10.4).
The Patriots finished three games ahead of Champion and Wagner, which tied for second in the 26-5A standings.
Senior guard Braden Baum and junior Charlie Georgelos return from the team that advanced to the state tournament.
Senior guard Dakarai
Hodge, a starter two years ago, is back after missing last season with a knee injury.
Champion defeated the Patriots in the regional final last year to advance to the state tournament for the first time. Meanwhile, the Patriots were making their first playoff appearance.
Region IV-4A
Three area teams are vying for a state berth at the 4A regional tournament at Texas A&m-kingsville.
Boerne (27-4) plays Somerset (26-9) on Friday. Boerne defeated Somerset in last year’s regional championship to advance to the state semifinals for a second year in a row.
The Greyhounds have won 22 straight and have been bolstered by the addition of several football players who joined the team after Boerne advanced to the state championship. Senior guard Barrett Pape leads the team in scoring (16.7). Senior forward Houston Hendrix, an all-state safety in football, is the team’s leading rebounder (7.2).
Somerset will be tough to beat with senior guard Matthew Soto (26.6 points per game) and Tre Pullins (14.4 points, 11.6 rebounds).
Pleasanton (31-6), which tied Somerset for the District 29-4A championship, faces Stafford (30-7) in the other semifinal.
The Eagles are led by senior guard R.J. Marquez (16.0 points, 4.5 assists, 4.2 steals).
Others
After graduating three key starters, Cole is two wins against from making a fourth straight UIL state tournament appearance.
Those three — Silas Livingston, Trey Blackmore and Dre Ray — started on the Cougars’ Class 3A state title squad.
Juniors James Livingston and Kenny Atunrase have led the Cougars this year.
Cole faces Corpus Christi London in the Region IV-3A semifinal on Friday in Seguin. Cole downed London in the same round last year.
Lytle (32-6), led by senior Jordan Baldarez’s 25.9 points and 11.9 rebounds per game, plays Santa Gertrudis Academy (28-8) in the other semifinal.
At the Region IV-2A tournament at Buda Johnson, Stockdale (22-9) is searching for its first state berth. The Brahmas, who play Thorndale on Friday, are led by senior Parker Martinez (27.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 4.0 steals).