Fort Worth-area game of the year? North Crowley, Keller to clash in bi-district round
The Texas high school boys’ basketball playoffs are here.
In the opening bi-district round, two of the Fort Worth area’s top teams will clash: North Crowley and Keller. The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday at Arlington Martin High School.
The Panthers and Indians are very familiar with each other and have met in the regional quarterfinals in the last two seasons.
In 2023, North Crowley eliminated Keller in an 80-78 overtime thriller. In 2024, Keller got revenge and stunned the Panthers, securing a 71-66 victory in the regional quarterfinals. The Indians went on to a regional final, where Plano East, the eventual state champion, eliminated them.
“After we eliminated them, I feel like they came in last year with a little bit of an extra edge,” North Crowley head coach Tommy Brakel said. “A little bit more of a chip on their shoulder. We’ve got a bit of that edge and a bit of that chip this year. You never want you season to end. And when somebody takes something from you, you want to get it back.”
Now, with the UIL’s newly implemented split-division format, the two squads will face off in the Class 6A Division I bracket. Although the game will be an intense clash between two familiar programs, it is not a “true rivalry” game, according to Brakel.
The two teams will play with an intensity to extend their seasons, but Brakel emphasized there is no animosity.
“(Keller) is not a district team that year after year after year we’ve played them,” Brakel said. “But it’s getting that way quick. When you play a team three consecutive years in the postseason, it has the feel of a rivalry game.”
Keller coach Zach Weir shared a similar mindset, saying the kids may have some extra energy and motivation. He said he wants them to control their emotions and maintain a routine.
“The most important game is the one that’s right there in front of you,” Weir said. “So, treat it like any other game. You’re going to miss shots, you’re going to make shots. You’re going to have turnovers, you’re going to make plays.”
Both Keller and North Crowley have dealt with injury issues in the 2024-25 season. Sophomore Isaak Hayes, an all-around star for the Panthers, missed time with a shoulder injury but has been back in the lineup since late January.
North Crowley finished the regular season on a positive note, seizing a dominant 76-56 victor over No. 8 Crowley, a rival. Even with the positive momentum, the Panthers have work to do to figure out their identity after recovering from injuries, according to Brakel.
Keller got hit hard with the injury bug as well. Senior Steven Ramirez, the 2024 Star-Telegram Offensive Player of the Year, is out for the season with a knee injury. Senior Parker Viers and junior Sawyer Bennett are also out for the year.
“The way they’ve handled it is great,” Weir said. “They’ve been tough. They’ve been resilient and very, very together. They’ve handled it together. And Steve (Ramirez) is still a huge part of who they are and what we’re doing. You know, he’s coaching them up on during practice.”
Despite losing key talent, the Indians managed to keep hold of first place to secure their fourth consecutive district championship. North Crowley, in arguably Texas’ toughest district, finished in second behind Mansfield Lake Ridge, ending a district title run that started 10 years ago.
Even with the changes both teams have endured throughout the regular season, the Panthers and Indians are two of the Fort Worth area’s premier programs. The split division format allows for the powerhouses to meet in round one, which is early for the caliber of talent.
“At the end of the day, you’re going to toss it up and play 32 minutes with two really good basketball teams,” Brakel said. “One team is going to play a little bit better than the other.”
Last year’s matchup was one of the most intense Texas basketball games of the year, largely due to both Keller and North Crowley having solid crowd support.
“How exciting was the game last year?” Weir said. “And so, it’s kind of the same thing now. Arlington Martin, hopefully, will be packed. It’s going to be super duper fun. Unfortunately, a really good team is definitely going to go home. But that’s part of it. It will be really exciting.”
This story was originally published February 15, 2025 at 4:05 PM.
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