Birdville forward Gabriel Zachariah (0) holds the trophy in the air surrounded by his teammates after clinching a spot in the state semifinals after a 50-49 UIL Class 5A Division I regional final win against Denton at Flower Mound High School in Flower Mound, Texas, Friday, March 6, 2026.
Miles Meador
Special to the Star-Telegram
The UIL Texas high school basketball state semifinals are here.
Four Fort Worth-area teams are set to play: North Crowley, Birdville, Mansfield Summit and Brock. Here is a preview ahead of the action.
Birdville aims to take down 5A kingpin
With just about 10 seconds left in a Class 5A Division I regional final, Birdville’s Avery Webb stepped back for what could be the highest stakes shot of the UIL Texas high school basketball season. He made it, sealing the Hawks’ thrilling victory over Denton, a team that beat them twice in the regular season.
Birdville players jump and celebrate in the stands with fellow students after clinching a spot in the state semifinals after a 50-49 UIL Class 5A Division I regional final win against Denton at Flower Mound High School in Flower Mound, Texas, Friday, March 6, 2026. Miles Meador Special to the Star-Telegram
Now, the Birdville Hawks are set to face Frisco Heritage 7 p.m. Tuesday at Hebron High School in a Class 5A Division I state semifinal.
Birdville is aiming to return to the Alamodome; in 2025, the Hawks reached the state title game and fell to West Brook 63-57 in an overtime heartbreaker.
The road back to the state semifinals has been treacherous, and Birdville now faces an even bigger challenge in Frisco Heritage.
Birdville head coach Anthony Holman holds up the fully cut net toward the Birdville crowd after clinching a spot in the state semifinals after a 50-49 UIL Class 5A Division I regional final win against Denton at Flower Mound High School in Flower Mound, Texas, Friday, March 6, 2026. Miles Meador Special to the Star-Telegram
The Coyotes are ranked 1 in Class 5A and No. 20 in the nation — they’ll have a big chip on their shoulder against Birdville.
The Hawks, in one of the loudest, craziest environments of the season, eliminated Heritage in the 2025 semifinals. Birdville was ranked No. 25, and Heritage sat at No. 7 ahead of the upset.
Birdville has come a long way since then, and has commanded the respect of the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches with a No. 6 ranking, but will need to recreate some of that playoff magic and play a near perfect game to take down Heritage again.
Birdville guard Avery Webb (13) follows through on a three pointer, defended by Denton’s Lojok Loliwa (10), that would end up being the go-ahead, winning shot in a UIL Class 5A Divison I regional final at Flower Mound High School in Flower Mound, Texas, Friday, March 6, 2026. Miles Meador Special to the Star-Telegram
The Hawks have skyrocketed to the top with Birdville alum Anthony Holman at the helm. He has been within Birdville ISD for over a decade and took over as head coach in 2021, when Jeff Fitch retired.
Holman has coached and developed a few of Dallas-Fort Worth’s standout performers. That includes 6-foot-7 forward Sawyer Dotson, a Lipscomb pledge, and Webb, a St. Mary’s pledge.
Birdville guard Avery Webb (13) drives to the basket to attempt a shot while two Denton defenders close in on him in a UIL Class 5A Division I regional final at Flower Mound High School in Flower Mound, Texas, Friday, March 6, 2026. Miles Meador Special to the Star-Telegram
Dotson and Webb, arguably the most impactful players in the history of Birdville basketball, will play not only to advance but to keep their high school basketball careers intact.
Birdville forward Sawyer Dotson (1) goes up to the rim for a dunk on a fast break against Denton in a UIL Class 5A Division I regional final at Flower Mound High School in Flower Mound, Texas, Friday, March 6, 2026. Miles Meador Special to the Star-Telegram
If Birdville wins, a potential rematch with West Brook in San Antonio is a possibility, as the Bruins have a semifinal against Glenn.
Reigning champion Summit to face Lovejoy
Mansfield Summit has quickly become one of the premier programs in Dallas-Fort Worth.
After its first state tournament appearance in 2023, the Jags won a Class 5A Division II state title in 2025. Now, they have an opportunity to get return to San Antonio to defend it.
Mansfield Summit (31-6) will face Lucas Lovejoy (29-8) Tuesday at SMU. Tip off is slated for 7 p.m.
Mansfield Summit head coach Emund Prichett draws up a play during timeout against Everman in the first half of a UIL boys basketball game at Summit High School in Mansfield, Texas, Thursday Jan. 22, 2026. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram
Summit holds a No. 7 Class 5A ranking from the TABC, while Lovejoy is unranked. In the regional finals, Summit trounced Burges 50-30, extending its winning streak to six games.
Summit won the District 8-5A title but did fall to Timberview on Feb 10. Since then, they’ve outscored opponents by an average of 26.1 points per contest.
Mansfield Timberview guard Jonathan Williams (2) turns the corner on Mansfield Summit guard Mason Williams (0) during the first half of a UIL boys basketball game at Mansfield Timberview High School in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday Feb. 10, 2026. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram
The Jags saw a fair amount of roster turnover after the state title, with senior Ian Sedah graduating and standout guard Theo Brannan transferring to South Central Prep in Oklahoma.
But they’ve continued to protect their reputation as one of Dallas-Fort Worth’s best defensive squads under head coach Emund Prichett.
North Crowley to clash with Duncanville
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Brock aims to topple Dallas Carter
Historically, Brock has been a small school boys basketball powerhouse with seven state tournament appearances since 2012.
But Tuesday, for the first time in program history, Brock will play in a Class 4A Division II state semifinal. Brock will face Dallas Carter (29-6) at the Arlington ISD Athletic Center. Tip off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Brock’s Colt Matlock (5) brings the ball up court guarded by Fort Worth Dunbar’s Josiah Williams in a Class 4A Division II area-round playoff game on Thursday, February 26, 2026 at Aledo High School in Aledo, Texas. Armando Lutz Courtesy to the Star-Telegram
Brock will have an extremely tough opponent in Carter, the TABC’s No. 1 ranked squad in Class 4A. Carter has won 22 games in a row, which includes a regional final win over 2025 state champion Kennedale, while Brock holds a 12 game win streak.
Both are district champions. Dallas Carter has yet to win a state title and will make its fourth state tournament appearance. Brock has three state titles (2002, 2003, 2015) and appeared in its last title game in 2021.
Brock’s Eli Paez (1) shoots over Fort Worth Dunbar’s Dreyon Crear (4) in a Class 4A Division II area-round playoff game on Thursday, February 26, 2026 at Aledo High School in Aledo, Texas. Armando Lutz Courtesy to the Star-Telegram
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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.