By WILLIAM WILKERSON

SPECIAL TO THE STAR-TELEGRAM

Looking ahead at this week’s boys and girls high school sports action:

Boys basketball

5A state semifinals: North Crowley (36-1) vs. San Antonio Madison (32-7), Friday, 8:30 p.m., Frank Erwin Center, Austin

4A state semifinals: Fort Worth Southwest (30-6) vs. Houston Wheatley (29-5), Thursday, 8:30 p.m., Frank Erwin Center, Austin

3A state semifinals: Kennedale (31-5) vs. Silsbee (29-6), Thursday, 2 p.m., Frank Erwin Center, Austin

More than the “Willie Show.” Willie Warren came up with 47 big reasons as to why he is considered one of the top prep players in America, scoring 47 points during North Crowley’s 111-56 victory over Midland Lee in the Class 5A Region I final on Saturday. There’s no doubt he’s deserving of that McDonald’s All-American label. But the Panthers (36-1) have other weapons, which they proved in the regional semifinals in a monumental win over Duncanville, which had previously won 74 straight games against Texas teams. Dontee Kinney and Tony McGilveary each scored 12 points in the win. P.J. Colley had nine points but it was his defense that held Duncanville’s Shawn Williams to five points that deserves attention. North Crowley has won 32 straight since its Nov. 16 loss to Fort Bend Hightower, which lost to Houston Madison in the regional semifinals. Madison lost to Fort Bend Dulles in its regional final.

Southwest on the rise. Fort Worth Southwest wasn’t regarded as one of the top 20 teams in Class 4A according to the latest installment of the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches poll on Feb. 18. That was the day before Southwest walloped Stephenville 98-62 in the first round of the playoffs. Four wins later, the Raiders are in the 4A Final Four. To make things that much sweeter, Southwest defeated No. 2 and previously undefeated Amarillo Palo Duro 104-100 in overtime of its regional finals game. The win sent Southwest to the UIL state tournament for the first time since 1989, and it will be coach Scott Gray's first appearance in Austin. He announced before the playoffs began that he would not return to Southwest next season. Southwest's opponent, Houston Wheatley (29-5), knocked off No. 1 Houston Yates in double-overtime.

Boys soccer

Tigers still on the prowl. It would be easy to get caught up in your own success if you were 17-0-1 and 11-0-0 in district play. Don’t expect that from the Mansfield Tigers. Head coach John Fazekas has had talks with his team about becoming complacent as it nears the end of District 4-5A play.

“One of our goals was to win district without losing a game. We still have that in mind,” he said. “Sometimes our guys think just because we beat them last time it will be an easy game. Well, we just need to remind them that, `hey, it’s not going to be that way. ' '' A perfect example of this came in its latest victory against Burleson on Feb. 26. The Tigers had previously beaten Burleson 5-1 on Jan. 25 and had to settle for a 1-0 shootout victory the second time around. “We need to get back and realize they are coming to get us,” Fazekas said. “We are a senior-loaded team of guys that have been on varsity for the past three or four years. We expected to be good this year and the guys are staying focused and grounded, taking things one game at a time.” The Tigers have shut out six of their last eight opponents and have five district games left. “Defensively is where we are strongest,” Fazekas said. “We have excellent keepers and our defense is very solid. We always strive to make our defense as strong as possible. When we are on it is hard for teams to stay up with us.”

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