North Crowley’s greatness is consistent. Can they bring a state title back to Fort Worth?
North Crowley boys basketball is a longtime staple of excellence in the Fort Worth-area, and the extensive list of accomplishments showcases just how dominant the Panthers have been.
North Crowley secured its 750th win in program history and claimed its 10th consecutive district championship during the 2023-2024 season. On Tuesday, North Crowley (30-3) finished a perfect district play run with a 94-80 victory over Crowley.
Due to the program’s accomplishments and consistency, head coach Tommy Brakel was selected to be the head coach of the West team in the McDonald’s All-American game that will take place on April 2, 2024 in Houston.
Brakel said it’s an “incredible honor.”
“It really is an honor to go and accept it on behalf of all of the former players we’ve had and all of the former coaches,” Brakel said. “They have worked so hard to make us as successful as we’ve been in 26 years.”
Since winning a state championship in 2008, North Crowley has appeared in a regional quarterfinal 13 times and has made nine regional semifinal appearances. The Panthers have struggled to get over the regional semifinal hump but have consistently stayed among a small group of elite Texas high school basketball programs.
Ahead of the playoffs, North Crowley is ranked No. 3 in Class 6A by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches and is the No. 1 ranked Class 6A team in the Star-Telegram’s Fort Worth-area rankings.
On Monday, the boys basketball bi-district round will begin. Freshman point guard Isaak Hayes said the team’s main goal is to win state, and the program is certainly among top contenders.
Another contender is Duncanville (18-9), the No. 11 ranked Class 6A team in the state. Brakel credited Duncanville and other Dallas-area programs for their success, but added that good basketball is played throughout the entirety of Dallas-Fort Worth.
“It’s so easy to focus on that east side because of all of the phenomenal programs that are out there,” Brakel said. “But it’s the entire Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex that can play the game at a very high level because we go out and we do it on a national stage too.”
Brakel said it “means a lot” to represent Fort Worth on the grand stage and that the team takes pride in it.
“I grew up playing and then coaching early in my career against Robert Hughes,” Brakel said. “Robert Hughes is the winningest coach in high school basketball history. So, to be able to kind of take that torch and represent Fort Worth basketball is huge to us.”
The players powering the Panthers
Brakel said senior KD Davis, who leads the team with 12 points per game, has been the heart and soul of the Panthers for years. According to Brakel, Davis is one of the best defenders in the history of the program and can take away any team’s best player with elite instincts, athleticism, movement and length.
“He guards the team’s best offensive player, regardless of position,” Brakel said. “He shows up every night and gets three, four or five offensive rebounds. He’s a four year Letterman. He was a McDonald’s all American nominee.”
Another impact player is senior forward Justin McCray, who leads the team in total rebounding. McCray is a bit undersized at 6-foot-4 but makes good use of his leaping ability, averaging over four offensive rebounds and nine total rebounds per game.
“Great instincts,” Brakel said of McCray. “He’s a good athlete. Just really plays well. He’s a good out of area rebounder. He doesn’t have just a ton of size, but he is a really good jumper and he anticipates where the ball is going to come off.”
The most efficient shooter on the team is Hayes, who shoots 40% from the three point line and 84% from the free throw line. Brakel said he has been unbelievable in his freshman season.
“Isaak shoots it so well,” Brakel said. “He stretches the floor and helps guys in ways that they don’t even realize he’s helping him”
Senior guard Kamoni Sieber, who leads the team in charge percentage and averages nine points per game, is also a key contributor. Brakel called him one of the most intelligent players in North Crowley’s history.
“He’s a good position defender and so he knows when to slide over and take a charge and when not to,” Brakel said. “He’s taken some big ones in some big games.”
Brakel also mentioned that senior Eric Moore is one of the most consistent players the program has had. He mentioned that Moore, as well as Sieber and McCray, do a great job of leading by example and putting forth full effort.
The keys to a deep playoff run
Some of Brakel’s consistent messages to the team have been to defend every game, rebound the basketball and to play fast while avoiding turnovers. Hayes described Brakel’s coaching style as a mixture of new school and old school.
On Friday, North Crowley defeated Chisholm Trail 51-35 despite shots not falling. Chisholm Trail is District 3-6A’s second place team but the Panthers still found a way to get the job done.
Brakel said that teams can often “hit a snag or two” in the postseason, and that North Crowley can rely on the defense to be consistent when putting up consistent points gets tough.
“Defense can travel,” Brakel said. “Defense will hopefully travel for us in the postseason as well.”
To have success in the playoffs, Hayes said the team will need to come together and trust each other. He said it’s time the city of Fort Worth has another team win state championship gold.
“Fort Worth needs something good,” Hayes said. “They kind of need us to win state. We want to bring it back to the city. It would mean a lot.”
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