The UIL boys basketball state playoffs will be tipping off Thursday, and several East Valley squads have their sights set on a long run.
The district certification deadline for UIL is Tuesday, so some teams don’t yet have matchups or finalized game details. But many programs do know the first obstacle they’ll have to cross in the postseason.
In District 32-6A, the Los Fresnos Falcons clinched the No. 2 seed, followed by Harlingen High and Harlingen South. Harlingen South will be playing at 7 p.m. Friday at La Joya High. Los Fresnos coach Marco Hinojosa said it “looks like” the Falcons will face off with PSJA North at 7 p.m. Friday, location to be determined.
The Harlingen High Cardinals closed the regular season with a 52-51 win in the Bird Bowl. Michael Castillo drilled a 3-pointer at the final buzzer to lift the Cardinals over Harlingen South. Harlingen High will ride its six-game winning streak into a bi-district contest against Edinburg North, tipoff at 7 p.m. Friday at home.
Brownsville Pace earned the District 32-5A championship by going 13-0 in the district season after the Vikings and Donna High mutually agreed not to play their season finale Friday. The Vikings will play McAllen Memorial in the bi-district round, with the game tentatively set for Thursday. Pace coach Jose Luis Ramirez said details will be finalized after the flip Monday.
The Port Isabel Tarpons defeated Hidalgo 47-42 on Thursday to clinch the District 32-4A championship, their first district title in 31 years. They’ll face off with Robstown in Round 1 and are still working out details. Raymondville ended the season on a five-game winning streak to earn the district’s No. 3 seed and will battle Corpus Christi Tuloso-Midway at 7 p.m. Friday in Falfurrias. La Feria is the No. 4 seed and will play at 7 p.m. Friday at Kingsville King.
In Class 3A, the Lyford Bulldogs will square off with the TABC No. 16 Santa Rosa Warriors at 6:45 p.m. Thursday at Lyford’s Veterans Gym. Brownsville IDEA Frontier will face Monte Alto at 7 p.m. Thursday at Donna IDEA. Brownsville Jubilee defeated Santa Rosa in the regular season finale 73-69.
The Santa Maria Cougars, ranked No. 23 by the TABC, lost to Premont on Saturday, creating a tie with the Cowboys atop District 32-2A. Cougars coach Albert Briones said the teams are trying to figure out a tiebreaker that will determine seeding and the district title before the certification deadline Tuesday. Briones wants to play a rubber match, but Premont wants to flip. Seeding and playoff information is pending.
TABC No. 9 San Perlita came from behind to defeat No. 10 Tilden McMullen County 78-73 on Saturday to clinch the District 32-1A No. 1 seed and the Trojans’ fourth consecutive championship. The Trojans will face Knippa, game details pending.
The TABC No. 9 Brownsville St. Joseph Bloodhounds sit atop the TAPPS District 4-5A standings. TAPPS pushed the district certification deadline back to Feb. 20 due to the inclement weather, so the Bloodhounds will have to wait for their playoff picture to clear up.
