Fort Worth Boswell girls basketball defeats Hightower to win Class 6A D2 state championship
When Fort Worth Boswell was eliminated in the 2023-24 season, senior Camille Williams knew the Pioneers would bounce back.
She made a bold prediction during a Fall tournament, guaranteeing that her team would win a state championship. Although Williams set a high bar, it was one that the Pioneers met and exceeded.
After an undefeated district title, No. 2 Boswell ended up beating three ranked teams to make it to the program’s first state title game. With strong team defense as the focal point, the Pioneers defeated No. 9 Fort Bend Hightower 51-42 to claim the UIL high school girls basketball Class 6A Division II state championship.
“It’s a testament to them, to get back to this point,” Boswell head coach John Reese said. “The off-season work, the summer work, the attention to detail all season long — the resilience of this team and the unwavering commitment to get back here and prove that they belonged.”
The victory gives Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD its first girls’ basketball state championship. For the city of Fort Worth, it’s the first in 18 years.
“We talked about representing (Fort Worth), representing their families, EMS and Boswell,” Reese said. “And we just wanted to come down here and make sure that we represented well. These ladies are prideful.”
Throughout the season, Reese consistently preached that the team “holds the pen” and can write the legacy they leave for their school, teammates and community. Boswell’s goal was to “kick the door down” and avoid settling for anything less than its main goal: A state title.
“It means a lot,” Reese said. “These ladies made history. And the first thing I told them is don’t be satisfied with just making it to the finals. (Boswell) hasn’t been here for so long. The city of Fort Worth hadn’t won a state championship for so long. So, let’s go win another one.”
In the game’s first three minutes and 34 seconds, both teams failed to score. Williams, the No. 36 ranked senior in the nation by ESPN, got the Pioneers on the board with a layup on a well-designed inbounds play.
“I wouldn’t say we were nervous,” Williams said. “We might’ve come out a little shaky, but that happens. I think we bounce off each other — once one starts scoring, we all get going.”
Both teams struggled to create separation until the last minute of the second quarter, when Boswell (39-2) went on a 6-0 run to take a 25-18 lead into the break. At that point, the Pioneers were shooting 1 of 15 from three-point range, but the defense stood strong.
“We talked to them at halftime about the fact that we’re going to make shots,” Reese said. “The ball is going to go in the basket. Just continue to defend.”
In the third, a few three-pointers started to fall. Boswell hit three in the frame and took a 13-point lead into the fourth quarter. To close the game, Boswell sophomore Seleste Massey’s two field goals helped the Pioneers maintain their lead.
Massey, the game’s most valuable player, scored 16 points on 7 of 12 shooting and also had six rebounds. Sydney Durrah, another sophomore, scored a game-high 17 points on 5 of 15 shooting.
Williams, a senior, rounded out the scoring with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Senior Haleigh Jackson scored four points but tallied a team-high six assists.
“At the end of the day, when you have seniors who don’t care who scores and don’t care who gets the limelight, it’s just about winning,” Reese said. “And that’s amazing.”
Throughout the season, Boswell players have talked about “magic” being within the team. To Williams, it’s all about the chemistry.
“When we play together, no one can stop us,” Williams said. “And I know that for a fact.”
This story was originally published March 1, 2025 at 7:01 PM.
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