Tompkins makes history
Tompkins stands alone as Houston-area school at state and first boys basketball team to represent Katy district
JENNY DIAL CREECH
With just over a minute to play in the boys Class 6A Region III final at the Berry Center, Tompkins basketball players couldn’t hide the joy pouring out of them on the court.
They were up big on Alief Taylor — a trip to the state tournament inevitable.
A packed student section, everyone on their feet, jumped up and down, waiting impatiently for the final buzzer.
Coach Bobby Sanders let a grin spread across his face.
He had been to this point in the playoffs — as a guard on Brookshire Royal’s 1991 team that made it to the regional semifinals before losing 70-69 to eventual state champion Hardin-Jefferson.
When he interviewed for the job at Tompkins five years ago, he brought up the loss. He still thinks about it and what he learned from that day.
As a coach, he wanted the chance to get there again.
And when that happened, it would be different.
“I know what it feels like to get here and lose,” Sanders said after Tompkins’ 60-43 victory over Alief Taylor on Saturday. “This is a lot better.”
History of sports success
Sanders and the Falcons will be another bright spot in the Katy Independent School District record. Katy ISD is no stranger to athletic success.
Whether it’s Katy High School making its almost yearly trip to state football, Cinco Ranch and Morton Ranch dominating the area in soccer, Katy Taylor making a regular appearance at the state tennis tournament or various teams representing the region come state baseball and softball time, the district has tasted success in nearly every sport.
Saturday, the district added to its list. Tompkins (29-8) — which opened in 2013 — is the first team to represent the school district at the boys state basketball tournament.
The school opened five years ago when nearby Seven Lakes was overflowing. At that point, Seven Lakes owned the district in basketball. The competition has since spread and Tompkins has taken on the basketball crown.
Katy has never been known for its boys basketball, partially because boys sports like football, baseball and soccer have dominated the scene in the suburb west of the city.
The schools have had some girls basketball success. The Mayde Creek girls basketball team made the state tournament in the 1990s. In the 2000s, the Cinco Ranch girls team was a regular at the regional tournament for a handful of years.
Seven Lakes and Morton Ranch have had strong boys teams in the last decade, but few have challenged to be the best from Region III. This year, though, Tompkins has been on the radar since Day One.
And throughout the postseason, the Falcons looked like the team that was supposed to make the trip to San Antonio next weekend.
The Falcons put on a show Friday night, scoring 97 points en route to crushing Deer Park.
Saturday was a little more interesting, as an athletic and long Alief Taylor squad put up a valiant fight in the first half, keeping it close and competitive.
Overwhelming Alief Taylor
But in the second half Saturday, Tompkins emerged as the team that has been state-ranked all season. More impressive than any bucket in the second half was the team’s defensive adjustment. Every player on the court adapted to what the Lions were throwing at them.
They took over the pace and went on a 15-5 third-quarter run to take control over Alief Taylor.
That kind of skill makes Tompkins a threat as it heads into the state tournament, where South Garland, Allen and Austin Westlake will also compete for the 6A title. The Falcons might be overlooked; they are the lowest-ranked team in the championship bracket.
But based on Friday and Saturday, they shouldn’t be.
Sanders and his staff knew they had something special with this team. The talent stood out from the start. With players like guard C.J. Washington, who led the team with 20 points Saturday, to Division I signees Jamal Bieniemy (Oklahoma) and Kristian Sjolund (Georgia Tech), Sanders knew skill wouldn’t be a problem.
But competing in a region as tough as the greater Houston area would require more than a handful of talented players.
Positive signs early
“The players have been talking about going to state since August,” Sanders said. “But I would say I saw it around February. I wanted to know our defense was good enough and we proved that today.”
The team is the lone one standing from the Houston area, as Class 5A’s Elkins and 4A’s Brazosport and Yates lost Saturday.
“There’s a sense of pride that comes with being the last team standing in Houston,” Sanders said.
And being the first to make it from the Katy district, where teams in other sports are often among the area’s favorites, thrills Sanders and his team.
“It means a lot,” Sanders said. “A whole lot.”