HALTOM CITY
North Crowley entered a Class 6A Division I regional final against Allen with a “bad taste” in its mouth, according to point guard Isaak Hayes.
That’s because North Crowley fell to Allen in the 2025 regional semifinals. But in a fast-paced rematch, North Crowley (33-3) flipped the script.
The Panthers seized a slight advantage in the first quarter and maintained it the rest of the way to defeat Allen 72-55 Friday at Thomas Coliseum to advance to their first state semifinal since 2008, the year they last won a boys’ basketball state title.
Allen’s Bennett Mosley (13) attempts to shake the defense of North Crowley guard Isaak Hayes (22) during the first half of a UIL Class 6A Division I boys regional final basketball game at Thomas Coliseum in Haltom City, Texas, Friday, March 6, 2026. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram
“I like that we stayed the course,” North Crowley head coach Tommy Brakel said. “We just stayed the course and won every quarter. And that was one of the goals going into the game — just keep grinding the entire game. It was always going to be a game of runs.”
North Crowley, ranked No. 2 in Class 6A by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches, will face No. 6 Duncanville at a time and place yet to be determined.
“We’ll enjoy this one for 15, 20 minutes, and then we’ll start preparing for them,” Brakel said.
North Crowley head coach Tommy Brakel talks to the team during quarter change against Allen at the end of the first half of a UIL Class 6A Division I boys regional final basketball game at Thomas Coliseum in Haltom City, Texas, Friday, March 6, 2026. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram
Duncanville took down Cypress Ranch 49-41 to advance. No. 4 San Antonio Brennan and No. 5 Humble Atascocita still remain in a grueling gauntlet of a playoff bracket.
North Crowley stays the course
The Panthers got off to a strong 13-6 start against Allen (24-7), the TABC’s No. 24-ranked squad, and took a 13-10 lead into the second quarter. That’s when Hayes went to work.
North Crowley guard Isaak Hayes (22) drives to the corner against Allen’s Austin Lowenberg (5) during the second half of a UIL Class 6A Division I boys regional final basketball game at Thomas Coliseum in Haltom City, Texas, Friday, Mar. 06, 2026. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram
He went on a quick individual 8-0 run, hitting an NBA range 3-pointer, a catch and shoot 3-pointer, and two free throws in less than two minutes of play. He finished with 18 points in the contest.
“To beat Allen and go to state, it means a lot,” Hayes said. “We have a chance to go do something special.”
North Crowley took a 29-22 lead into the half.
A pair of third quarter 3-pointers from Trey Hall, who finished with five makes beyond the arc and 17 points, helped North Crowley build its lead to 48-38 entering the fourth quarter.
“I feel blessed to make it to round five,” Hall said. “We came together. Last year, we weren’t together. We’ve had good team bonding and everything. And that’s the priority — coming together.”
North Crowley guard Isaak Hayes (22) and wing Trey Hall (11) box in Allen’s Nehemiah Lawrence (1) during the first half of a UIL Class 6A Division I boys regional final basketball game at Thomas Coliseum in Haltom City, Texas, Friday, March 6, 2026. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram
One of the highlights of the final frame was and one layup from Jonathan Fox, who tallied 15 points. He recently made national headlines when he finished a 360 dunk off an alley oop from Hayes in the regional semifinals.
“He has been playing great,” Brakel said. “And he has been playing great all year long. He made some huge plays for us tonight on both ends of the floor.”
With disciplined, patient play, the Panthers maintained it as Allen eventually had to intentionally foul. Five fourth quarter free throws from Alex Barther II helped seal the deal.
North Crowley head coach Tommy Brakel has a few words with an official as they play Allen during the second half of a UIL Class 6A Division I boys regional final basketball game at Thomas Coliseum in Haltom City, Texas, Friday, March 6, 2026. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram
Allen was led by fiesty 5-foot-6 guard Nehemiah Lawrence, who finished with a team high 19 points.
With the win, the Panthers are one away from their first trip to a state championship since 2008.
“I just feel blessed,” Fox said. “I’m so glad that I’m here. Round five. I’ve never been here before, and it feels great. … We have a lot of good players. A lot of guys that can really help us win. We got shot blockers and shooters. We’ve got finishers. We’ve got everything in one team that you can dream of.”
North Crowley guard Dontre Grandberry (3) left hooks one over the Allen defense during the first half of a UIL Class 6A Division I boys regional final basketball game at Thomas Coliseum in Haltom City, Texas, Friday, March 6, 2026. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram 
Allen head coach Clark Cipoletta gestures to his team on defense against North Crowley during the first half of a UIL Class 6A Division I boys regional final basketball game at Thomas Coliseum in Haltom City, Texas, Friday, March 6, 2026. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram 
North Crowley guard Kameron Price (2) dribbles away 45 of the remaining 57 seconds of the half against Allen during the first half of a UIL Class 6A Division I boys regional final basketball game at Thomas Coliseum in Haltom City, Texas, Friday, March 6, 2026. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram 
North Crowley wing Trey Hall (11) pushes ahead of Allen’s Bennett Mosley (13) during the first half of a UIL Class 6A Division I boys regional final basketball game at Thomas Coliseum in Haltom City, Texas, Friday, March 6, 2026. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram 
North Crowley guard Kameron Price (2) tosses the ball away from Allen’s Bennett Mosley (13) on the sidelines during the second half of a UIL Class 6A Division I boys regional final basketball game at Thomas Coliseum in Haltom City, Texas, Friday, March 6, 2026. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram
This story was originally published March 6, 2026 at 9:35 PM.
.jpg)
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Charles Baggarly is a high school sports editor and reporter for the Fort Worth Star Telegram. He graduated from TCU in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and served as TCU 360’s sports editor. Connect with Charles on Twitter or via email.