Day 1 of the UIL boys basketball state championships: No. 1 Lipan prevails

Boys basketball state championship Fast Break - Day 1: See results from around the area and state-wide in Classes 1A and 2A from the Alamodome in San Antonio. Lipan takes the Class 2A Division II title.

No. 1 Lipan takes care of No. 2 Martin’s Mill in 2A DII

The pollsters at the Texas Association of Basektball Coaches got this one correct as No. 1 Lipan faced No. 2 Ben Wheeler Martin’s Mill in the Class 2A Division II state title game for a second year in a row. Martin’s Mill won it all in 2025, but Lipan took home the gold this time in a 47-34 win on Thursday.

It was the fifth consecutive trip to the championship game for Lipan (39-1) and the sixth overall state title (2026, 24, 23, 18, 17 and 1994). The Indians have won 5 state titles in the past 10 seasons and have made it to at least the state semifinals 17 times.

Martin’s Mill (34-5) was playing in its fourth state championship game. The Mustangs won state titles in 2025 and 1949.

Lipan’s only loss this season came in the second game, 40-37, to Class 4A Dallas Roosevelt, who finished fifth in the District Of Doom (11-4A) behind No. 1 Dallas Carter, No. 3 Dallas Kimball, No. 21 Dallas Pinkston and No. 22 Dallas Lincoln. Carter (DII) and Kimball (DI) will be playing for Class 4A championships on Friday.

Lipan took advantage of woeful shooting by Martin’s Mill in the first half to take a 20-8 lead at the break. The Mustangs made only 3 of 18 shots from the floor, including 1 of 9 from beyond the arc.

“I thought our defense was great,” said Lipan head coach Brent Gaylor. “We’ve always hung our hats on being one of the best defensive teams. Last year when we were down here we were not.

“They were the better defensive team last year and we talked about that last spring and at the beginning of this year and throughout the season. I think we flipped the script on them this year. That’s a great team and a great program over there at Martin’s Mill.”

Billy Smith led the Indians’ balanced scoring in the first half, with all 6 of his points for the game coming on a pair of three pointers in the second quarter.

But a third quarter rally by Martin’s Mill left the Indians with a scant 25-23 lead heading into the final frame. The Mustangs dominated inside during the 15-5 run in the third behind a pair of seniors in 6-foot-8 Ryder Marsh and 6-foot-5 Archer Schneider.

Lipan was clutch in the fourth quarter, however, hitting 16 of 16 free throws to keep Martin’s Mill at bay. All of Lipan’s foul shots for the game came in the fourth period.

“It was pretty impressive and pretty clutch,” said Brent Gaylor of the Indians’ success at the free throw line. “With great players like this that love the big moments and cherish them, it was big.”

Championship Game MVP Court Gaylor led the way for the Indians hitting 6 of 6 from the stripe as did Evan Lott. Court Gaylor led Lipan with a game-high 16 points and pulled down 7 rebounds.

Lott had 11 points and 4 rebounds and senior Darius Steed finished with 8 points and a game-high 9 rebounds for Lipan. Marsh and Schneider led the Mustangs with 8 points each.

“I’m so proud of these guys, especially number 50 (Lipan’s only senior Darius Steed) over there with all that he’s accomplished this year,” said Brent Gaylor. “He’s one of the best teammates that I’ve ever coached and he just loves this team.

“He’s the first player in Lipan history to play in four state championship games, which is pretty remarkable considering Lipan’s basketball history. I’m proud of all my players, but Darius has meant a lot to this program over the years.”

Panhandle edges No. 10 San Augustine for 2A DI title

The Panhandle boys basketball team was making its first appearance in a state championship game and the Panthers made the most of it by holding off San Augustine 61-58 in the Class 2A Division I state title game on Thursday.

Panhandle (27-6) was unranked coming into the championship game against No. 10 San Augustine (23-6). The Panthers did have to knock off No. 25 Hale Center and No. 8 Waco Meyer during their playoff run.

The Wolves were playing in their second state title game. San Augustine won the Class 2A championship in 1973.

Championship Game MVP Caden Armes gave Panhandle a 17-8 lead when he hit a three pointer at the first quarter buzzer. But San Augustine rallied behind junior Max Renfro who hit a three pointer to cap a 10-0 run that put the Wolves up 18-17 with 5:58 left in the half.

Luke Schmucker gave the lead right back to Panhandle 40 seconds later with a three and the Panthers took a 27-24 lead into the break. A jumper in the paint by Armes gave Panhandle its biggest lead of the game at 48-37 with 6:40 left in the game.

But San Augustine whittled away at the deficit and a layup by Tymorian Cartwright cut the lead to 52-51 with 2:35 left in the fourth quarter. Armes was clutch down the stretch for Panhandle making 3 of 4 free throws in the final 13 seconds including a pair at the 10-second mark that gave the Panthers a 61-56 lead.

Armes finished with a team-high 17 points for Panhandle to go along with 4 rebounds and 5 assists. Schmucker and Coope Brinkley (11 rebounds) chipped in 11 points each for the Panthers.

Max Renfro had a game-high 22 points for San Augustine while D’Adria Renfro finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds for the Wolves.

Valley runs away from Fayetteville for 1A DI title

Corbin Taylor poured in 26 points for Turkey Valley as the Patriots ran away with a 66-48 win over Fayetteville in the Class 1A Division I state championship on Thursday.

It was the first state title for Valley (30-4), ranked No. 9 in the state in Class 1A by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches, after the Patriots were defeated by Perrin-Whitt in the championship game last season. It’s the only two title-game appearances for Valley.

Valley dominated the paint behind Championship Game MVP Corbin Taylor, a 6-foot-8 sophomore, and his older brother Kanyon Taylor, a 6-foot-10 senior. The Patriots out scored No. 7 Fayetteville 42-18 in the lane and out rebounded the Lions 36-16 in a game where Fayetteville never had a lead.

Corbin Taylor completed a double-double with 10 rebounds while Kanyon Taylor chipped in 18 points and 8 boards. Carson Tucker added 13 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists for Valley.

The tallest player on the roster for Fayetteville (31-7) is senior Jack Schley at 6-foot-2. Mason Fenhaus led the Lions with 18 points and 5 assists while Schley added 15 points and a team-high 5 rebounds.

Valley started with an 11-0 run to open the game, but the Lions countered with a 9-2 run of its own on 3 consecutive three pointers to close the gap. The Patriots opened a 30-15 lead at the half with a 15-4 advantage in the second quarter.

Fayetteville is still searching for its first boys basketball state title after reaching at least the state semifinals 4 times.

Top-ranked Jayton routs Kennard for 1A DII championship

Jayton made it three in a row as the Jaybirds blasted Kennard 78-45 in the Class 1A Division II title game on Thursday behind a 28-point, 15-rebound, 5-assist performance from all-around athlete Sean Stanaland.

It was the third-straight state title in four consecutive championship game appearances for Jayton (29-3), No. 1 in the state in Class 1A according to the TABC. Jayton lost to Graford in the 2023 title game, lost to Slidell in the 2019 championship game and lost in the state semfinals in the Covid-shortened 2020 state tournament.

It was the fifth championship game appearance for No. 13 Kennard (27-11), but the first since 1973. The Tigers lost in the state semifinals in 2002 (to Brock) and last season, but won titles in 1967, 68, 70 and 73.

Stanaland, a Texas State University signee in track and field, was the Championship Game MVP for the Jaybirds. Jayton led by as many as 37 points in the game after a made foul shot by Stanaland pushed the lead to 76-39 with 2:22 left in the game.

Colt Gentry added 25 points and 8 rebounds for the Jaybirds with Dayton Bleiker chipping in 11 points, including 3 threes. Jayton out scored Kennard 49-27 in the second half.

Devante Toliver paced the Tigers with 15 points and 5 assists and Deuce Harrell contributed 14 points. Kennard struggled from beyond the arc making 3 of 21.

This story was originally published March 12, 2026 at 5:08 PM.