Players celebrated their win against Duncanville with fans and the football team during the second half of a UIL Class 6A Division I boys semifinal basketball game at Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center in Fort Worth, Texas, Monday, March 10, 2026.
Bob Booth
Special to the Star-Telegram
FORT WORTH
In a Class 6A Division I state semifinal in front of a boisterous sold-out crowd at Wilkerson-Greines, North Crowley senior guard Tyler Hastings stepped off the bench to the free-throw line with 15 seconds left. His team trailed Duncanville by 2 points.
He missed the first shot. At that point, North Crowley faced an uphill battle.
Hastings intentionally missed the shot, and his teammates rebounded. He broke to the corner and pulled up with confidence, hitting a go-ahead 3-pointer with 15 seconds left, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
Duncanville could not respond, and after officials discussed fans rushing the court with time left on the clock, play resumed and North Crowley won 52-49 to advance to the Class 6A Division I state championship.
Teammates lift North Crowley guard Tyler Hastings (15) after he scored the winning bucket, defeating Duncanville in a UIL Class 6A Division I boys semifinal basketball game at Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center in Fort Worth, Texas, Monday, March 10, 2026. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram
North Crowley (34-3) will make its first appearance since 2008, when it won its sole state title, against Brennan at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
“It felt amazing, and my teammates had my back,” Hastings said. “And that’s whether I make it or miss it. To me and my teammates, this means everything, and we’re going back to the state championship. And now we just have to go finish it.”
Players celebrated their win against Duncanville with fans and the football team during the second half of a UIL Class 6A Division I boys semifinal basketball game at Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center in Fort Worth, Texas, Monday, March 10, 2026. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram
Hastings, who had about two minutes of playing time before entering for the injured Kameron Price, said he has practices that shot often and is “always ready” regardless of minutes.
Brakel raved about his commitment to his craft, particularly his shooting, and called his shot one that the team wanted.
“Tyler is one of the best players and best young men in our program,” Brakel said. “ … My heart was literally breaking for him. And then somehow, the basketball gods step in turn it around.”
North Crowley wing Jonathan Fox (21) seals the game with two free throws against Duncanville during the second half of a UIL Class 6A Division I boys semifinal basketball game at Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center in Fort Worth, Texas, Monday, March 10, 2026. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram
It’ll be the first time the city of Fort Worth is represented in a state championship contest since North Crowley’s 2008 title, and the first time ever Cowtown will be represented in a boys basketball Class 6A championship.
“This city, this program, this community — it just means the world to me,” Brakel said. “It has been my life. I grew up with this city, school and program. It means a ton.”
North Crowley head coach Tommy Brakel cuts down the winning net after defeating Duncanville in a UIL Class 6A Division I boys semifinal basketball game at Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center in Fort Worth, Texas, Monday, March 10, 2026. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram
It’s been a long time coming for Brakel’s program, which has 11 regional semifinal appearances since its last state title.
“I’ve seen 25 or 30 ex players tonight,” Brakel said. “We didn’t just win the game for the 14 guys in uniform. We won it for all these kids that year in and year out battled. And got to levels like this but maybe came up just a little but short.”
North Crowley head coach Tommy Brakel reacts in the final seconds against Duncanville during the second half of a UIL Class 6A Division I boys semifinal basketball game at Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center in Fort Worth, Texas, Monday, March 10, 2026. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram
They’ve had some tough losses the last couple of years, where things simply didn’t fall their way. Luck, which Brakel consistently says is key in Class 6A basketball, was finally on their side.
“I don’t care if its luck, prayers — whatever,” Brakel said. “We’ll take all of it we can get. I’m really excited for the guys. Really excited for Tyler. And really excited for the opportunity to represent Fort Worth in San Antonio.”
North Crowley forward Alex Barther (1) shoots over Duncanville guard Jirehn Mitchell (3) during the first half of a UIL Class 6A Division I boys semifinal basketball game at Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center in Fort Worth, Texas, Monday, March 10, 2026. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram
North Crowley seized a slight 15-14 advantage in an intense, fast-paced first quarter. The next frame saw both offenses slow down and struggle from the field; Duncanville took a 21-20 lead into the half with North Crowley’s premier defenders Kameron Price and Trey Hall in foul trouble.
“I prayed in the locker room before coaches started talking,” Hall said. “And I told myself that it’s going to be alright. Keep fighting.”
North Crowley wing Jonathan Fox (21) rim hangs against Duncanville during the first half of a UIL Class 6A Division I boys semifinal basketball game at Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center in Fort Worth, Texas, Monday, March 10, 2026. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram
Duncanville picked up the pace in the third quarter, taking a 38-34-lead into the fourth.
“We knew they were going to be athletic,” Brakel said. “They were physical. They were going to play hard. You see all that on tape. They were holding teams in the 40s every game.”
The North Crowley Panther bench signals a turnover by Duncanville during the first half of a UIL Class 6A Division I boys semifinal basketball game at Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center in Fort Worth, Texas, Monday, March 10, 2026. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram
Hall kept the Fort Worth Panthers in the game with 11 third-quarter points and a thunderous slam to give his team some momentum.
North Crowley’s Isaak Hayes struggled with his shot at times but found a groove late in the fourth quarter to keep his team in striking distance for Hasting’s heroics.
“We are doing this for the city,” Hayes said. “We are doing this for Fort Worth.”
North Crowley guard Isaak Hayes (22) leads the pack down court against Duncanville during the first half of a UIL Class 6A Division I boys semifinal basketball game at Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center in Fort Worth, Texas, Monday, March 10, 2026. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram
This story was originally published March 10, 2026 at 10:10 PM.
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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.