Check out the mid-season report for Fort Worth-area high school basketball teams
The Texas high school basketball season is at the midway point and some schools in the Fort Worth-area are the best in the state. Here’s what to expect during the second half.
Mid-Season MVP
BOYS
Finley Bizjack, Sr., G, Byron Nelson
Bizjack, the 4-star Butler bound point guard has scored 725 points through 25 games for the Bobcats, who are ranked No. 22 in the Class 6A state rankings.
Bizjack is averaging 29 points per game.
Bizjack is the No. 1 ranked Fort Worth-area player and reigning district MVP. He has knocked down 81 3-pointers and is averaging nearly four assists and five rebounds per game.
GIRLS
Camryn Tade, Sr., G, Southlake Carroll
The newest Army commit has averaged 20 or more points each of the past three seasons, making her one of the all-time best scorers in Carroll program history.
Tade recently surpassed 2,000 career points.
On the season, Tade, who is the No. 4 ranked area player, is averaging 21 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game, while knocking down 35 3-pointers.
She has Carroll rolling to 14 straight wins and an undefeated district record.
Tade was all-area offensive player of the year as a junior.
Top teams to watch
BOYS
Arlington Martin (22-3, 5-0 in 8-6A): The Warriors are looking for a repeat trip to the 6A Region 1 tournament. They lost to McKinney in the regional final. Martin has won 15 of the last 16, its only loss came against Killeen Ellison in the Whataburger final.
North Crowley (20-6, 6-0 in 3-6A): The Panthers started the season with their 700th win all-time. They will be looking for a return trip to the regional tournament.
Byron Nelson (21-4, 5-1 in 4-6A): Led by Bizjack, the Bobcats have scored 64 points per game. When Bizjack is on, it’s hard to stop Byron and the Bobcats.
Brewer (22-3, 5-0 in 5-5A): The Bears are looking for a district title for the third straight season. Brewer has won seven straight games and is allowing 40 points per game this season.
Mansfield Summit (21-2, 8-0 in 8-5A): The Jaguars have made the regional tourney in back-to-back years and looking for another. Summit has only lost two games and ride an 11-game winning streak.
GIRLS
Southlake Carroll (22-3, 8-0 in 4-6A): The Dragons are looking for their third straight trip to the regional tourney. Tade leads the way followed by the Jordan sisters, sophomore Milania and twin freshmen Natalia and Gianna.
Brewer (21-3, 6-1 in 5-5A): After a hiccup in district play, the Bears should rebound to win 5-5A and be a contender for a lengthy playoff run. Brewer is allowing under 37 points per game.
Argyle (24-3, 8-0 in 7-5A): The move up from 4A to 5A hasn’t shown any effects for the Eagles so far. They’ve outscored opponents by over 500 points, an average of 55 to 34 per game.
Mansfield Timberview (27-3, 11-0 in 8-5A): This might be the Timberview from a few years ago, when the Wolves were led by Chennedy Carter. Their three losses came against opponents with a combined record of 61-15.
Peaster (21-5, 8-0 in 8-3A): If the Greyhounds were going to get over the hump and go to state, this is the year. Their roster features just one non-senior and they’re led by dynamic duo of Payton Hull and Brooklyn Bosher, two players in the S-T Top 25.
Darkhorse teams
BOYS
Keller (15-10, 5-1 in 4-6A): The Indians have picked up some key wins this season behind Brooks Bahr and McNeese State bound Parker Hannah, who recently returned to action.
Keller Central (19-5, 5-1 in 4-6A): The Chargers made history last season with a trip to the third round and they could be in for another run this year. They’re the only team to beat Byron Nelson in district play.
Mansfield Legacy (17-6, 4-2 in 11-6A): Playing in the toughest district in the state, the Broncos have showed a lot of grit, completing most of their schedule without top player TCU bound forward Isaiah Manning.
FW Wyatt (9-10, 6-0 in 7-5A): Wyatt’s overall record isn’t pretty to look at, but the Chaparrals have lost to some good teams like 4A power Oak Cliff Faith Family and 4A No. 1 Dallas Carter.
District 7-5A: Grapevine is on a roll, but don’t count out Birdville, Colleyville Heritage, Richland and Argyle. The second half will be a six team race for four spots.
GIRLS
Mansfield Lake Ridge (22-8, 5-3 in 11-6A): The 11-6A girls district is just as tough as the boys and the Eagles are right in the thick of things behind one of the best players in the state, Texas A&M bound Kylie Marshall.
Midlothian Heritage (24-6, 10-1 in 8-5A): The Jaguars have fared well with its move up to 5A with only one loss in district, to top team Timberview.
Glen Rose (29-1, 3-0 in 6-4A): The Tigers are about to be the first area team to 30 wins this season. They started the year a remarkable 25-0. They’re outscoring teams by over 30 points per game.
Kennedale (13-10, 6-1 in 10-4A): The Wildcats have had some bumps, but with top scorer Reagan Jackson (25.4 points per game), expect them to make another deep playoff run.
Brock (24-5, 7-1 in 8-3A): The Eagles had a good run last season, and their only loss in district came against top team Peaster. The defense is allowing 31 points per game.
Others: Boys- Alvarado, Kennedale, Glen Rose, Peaster, Brock, Lipan, Liberty Christian, Fort Worth Christian Grapevine Faith, Arlington Oakridge; Girls- North Crowley, Boswell, Keller, Mansfield Legacy, Mansfield Summit, Godley, Nolan Catholic, Grapevine Faith, FW Southwest Christian, FW Lake Country
Teams on the rise
Arlington Sam Houston
Both the boys and girls teams are having incredible seasons. The boys have beaten North Crowley and FWC, lost to Denton in double overtime, beat 3A No. 1 Dallas Madison and lost to Arlington Martin by four. They snapped a 25-game district losing streak. They were 3-22 last season and 0-21 in 2020-21. It’s their first 15-win season since 2009.
The girls, meanwhile, are 16-8 overall and 4-3 in district. The defense is allowing 38.8 points per game. The last time the girls team won at least 15 games came in the 2007-08 season.
FW Eastern Hills boys
The Highlanders are 19-6 overall and 5-0 in District 9-4A. After starting the season 0-3 and 2-5, Eastern Hills is 19-3 and 17-1. That includes two tournament wins.
It’s their most wins in a season since 2016-17 when they won 21 games.
Keller Central girls
The Chargers started the season 17-2.
Central went 4-24 last season and 0-12 in district. The Chargers are 22-9 and 4-4 this season.
They’ve already matched their most district wins in a season in the past six years with the 2020-21 season. Their 22 wins are most in the Max Preps era (2007).
Coach of the Year candidates
BOYS
Scott Curran, Byron Nelson: The Bobcats are one of the top teams in DFW and could see a trip to the regional tourney for the second time in three seasons. Their four losses have come by teams with a combined 80 wins.
John Osborn, Arlington Martin: Osborn and the Warriors are the highest ranked 6A team in the area (No. 3). They were one win away from state last season.
Emund Prichett, Mansfield Summit: The Jaguars are looking for their third straight trip to the regional tourney, all under Prichett. All their district wins have come by double-digits.
Darius Williams, Arlington Sam Houston: Williams and Texans are having one of their best seasons in the past two decades. They’re averaging over 60 points per game and sit in second in 8-6A.
Gerald Sledge, Keller Central: The Chargers are one win away from 20 wins for the second straight season, which would be a first in program history. Central is tied for first in 4-6A.
GIRLS
Tracie Robbins, Byron Nelson: Robbins is her first season with the Bobcats and have them with their most overall and district wins in three years. The Bobcats are in the playoff race for 4-6A and a postseason berth would be their first since 2017-18.
Ramsey Ghazal, Glen Rose: Ghazal has led the Tigers to a 29-1 record with a 25-0 start.
Kit Kyle Martin, Mansfield Timberview: Martin has another great Timberview squad that should win district and make a deep playoff run to at least the regional tourney.
Robyn McCoart, Southlake Carroll: The reigning all-area coach of the year could be in for another coach of the year award as the Dragons look primed to make another trip to the regional semifinals.
Tiffany Miller, Everman: The Bulldogs are 8-0 in District 6-5A. A district title would be their first in the Max Preps era (2007). It’s already their most district wins since 2017-18 (8-6). Before that, it was 11 during the 2009-10 season.
This story was originally published January 19, 2023 at 10:38 AM.
