Bearcat breakthrough: Aledo boys basketball rises to newfound success with new head coach
Arguably, Aledo High School is the most accomplished football program in Texas’ history.
The UIL-record 12 state championships speak for themselves. On top of the football success, Aledo won a state baseball title in the 2013-14 season and made it to the state soccer tournament in 2018. Softball has three state championships and made it to the state semifinal last year.
With all the school-wide athletic dominance, one sport has struggled to get over the hump: Boys basketball.
Since the 2005-06 season, Aledo haa totaled a mediocre 85-124 district record, according to Max Preps. They saw some success, but never reached a level of dominance many Bearcat fans are accustomed to.
The 2024-25 season, however, has been a different story.
Aledo boys basketball (27-5, 11-1) clinched a district championship for the first time in the program’s history. On Friday, Jan 10, the Bearcats defeated Brewer (18-15, 8-3) in a 50-47 thriller. Afterward, the team celebrated with the District 5-5A title.
“I’m super happy for our players and their families and our community,” head coach Brian Blackburn said. “Everything you need to be successful is there, and so I’m just happy our guys were able to capitalize on the things in place to help us be successful.”
Blackburn is in his first year as Aledo’s head coach, and he has quickly led the Bearcats to newfound success. He said his coaching style revolves around four core values: Passion, servant leadership, thankfulness and toughness.
As soon as he took over the job over the summer, he saw dedication and preparation from the team. Aledo had a 20-13 season in 2023 and, with the right improvements, had the potential to have the best season in program history.
“The work that our guys put in — We just went in and worked really hard in the gym during the off-season,” Blackburn said. “And I was proud of that. And you can see the work ethic from the start.”
On both ends, Aledo plays aggressively and tries to control the tempo. Defensively, guards don’t shy away from forcing turnovers and center Townes Vanhuysen, a passionate, energetic player, does a solid job controlling the paint with his 6-foot-6 frame.
Besides Vanhuysen, Aledo lacks loads of height but fights for extra possessions with a sneakily great ability to rebound and a relentless pursuit of loose balls. Offensively, Aledo heavily relies on perimeter shots and fast break opportunities.
“We really want to push the ball, shoot threes and try to score 70 points a game,” Blackburn said. “And so I think that appealed to the guys. They were bought in really early. We have really special players too.”
Running the offense is senior guard Joaquin Pacheco, one of the most talented scorers, ballhandlers and playmakers in the Fort Worth-area. On any given night, Pacheco has the ability to go for 30 points; he is a focal point of the Bearcat offense that opposing defenses must focus on.
“When you when you have someone like that to build a team around that can really score, then it makes our jobs as coaches a lot easier,” Blackburn said. “And then everybody just knows their role and plays really hard and super unselfish.”
Against Brewer, Pacheco had an off night, as the Bears hounded him with aggressive defense and double teams. Even with the tight coverage, Pacheco impacted the game by making the right reads out of double teams, pushing the tempo on the fast break and playing tight, physical perimeter defense.
Looking ahead: What can Aledo accomplish in the playoffs?
With Aledo’s No. 1 spot in the Class 5A Division I bracket secured, the Bearcats have solid positioning heading into the postseason. In the bi-district round, the Bearcats will likely face Denton, the second-ranked large school from District 6-5A.
Despite the strong district performance, Aledo is not ranked by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches. Regardless of public perception, the Bearcats arguably have their best team in program history and want to prove themselves with a strong postseason run.
“I think all coaches just want their team to be peaking at the right time,” Blackburn said. “And I feel like we’re doing that. We just want to make sure that we limit the three bad plays in a row. We don’t want one bad play to turn into three. In the playoffs, possessions become more valuable.”
Aledo may run into some tough competition, but the team is ready for the challenge. To Pacheco, the Bearcats’ ability to fight is what makes the team stand out.
“We believe that we can beat any team,” Pacheco said. ‘ And it just feels awesome to win with this team. Everybody knows their role, and everybody does their part. … I think we’re one of the best teams in the state.”
This story was originally published February 10, 2025 at 11:14 AM.
.jpg)