<\/p>\n
Cleburne guard Alyssa Franklin brings the ball downcourt ahead of Arlington Heights guard Hope West during the first half of the Class 5A Division I bi-district playoff Monday at Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center in Fort Worth.<\/p>\n
Bob Booth<\/p>\n
Special to the Star-Telegram<\/p>\n
FORT WORTH<\/p>\n
It\u2019s been quite the year for the Cleburne girls basketball team.<\/p>\n
After missing the playoffs the past four seasons, the team is back in the postseason. And the Yellowjackets didn\u2019t just sneak in the bracket, but thoroughly dominated their competition, sweeping through 14 games to win an undefeated district title, the school\u2019s first in 12 seasons.<\/p>\n
And Cleburne wasn\u2019t satisfied with an appearance.<\/p>\n
On Monday at Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center, Cleburne (25-8, 14-0) continued its sizzling season and seized its first playoff victory since 2021 with an 80-15 Class 5A Division I bi-district victory<\/a> over Fort Worth Arlington Heights. Cleburne started the game on a 39-2 run.<\/p>\n \u201cOur kids have bought in from the beginning,\u201d Cleburne head coach Tiffany Hill said. \u201cIt started last year, when we lost by two points and we missed the playoffs. We came back hungry, and we knew what was right in front of us. So, we took advantage of every opportunity to get better and grow.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m super excited to help lead this team during this playoff run.\u201d<\/p>\n With a well-rounded team defense and constant pressure of the ball handler, Cleburne created plenty of opportunities for its fast-break offense to thrive. The team was fast, relentless and smart, showing elite conditioning while making team-first plays with the ball.<\/p>\n The Yellowjackets completed what Hill believes to be one of the team\u2019s pillars.<\/p>\n \u201cDefensive pressure and defensive intensity,\u201d Hill said. \u201cJust being solid all the time and scoring in transition. We didn\u2019t have to run too many sets tonight because we put a lot of defensive pressure. We got up quite a bit early, and we were just able to execute throughout the game.\u201d<\/p>\n At a school that has struggled to compete in team sports against some of the area\u2019s fiercest competition, the girls basketball team gives Cleburne ISD a winner \u2014 and an extremely dominant one.<\/p>\n The Yellowjackets, ranked No. 16 by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches<\/a>, have cemented their status not just as one of the best Class 5A teams in the Fort Worth area, but one of the best in Texas.<\/p>\n One of the driving forces of Cleburne\u2019s stellar campaign is senior Lily Sheppard, a transfer from Mansfield Summit who earned Star-Telegram All-Area<\/a> and TABC All-Region honors as a junior.<\/p>\n \u201cLily is special,\u201d Hill said. \u201cShe is one of the only high school kids I know that has gone to four different schools in four years. … She is resilient. She has helped us out so much on the offensive side and defensive side. She\u2019s a great kid. … I\u2019m just blessed to be able to coach her this year.\u201d<\/p>\n The turnaround<\/p>\n Hill is in her second season leading Cleburne girls basketball. In her first campaign, the team posted a 7-7 district record, which was a vast improvement from the 5-11 record the season prior. The Jackets didn\u2019t make the playoffs, but set up a strong foundation for future success.<\/p>\n \u201cIt gave us a belief,\u201d Hill said. \u201cIt let us know what we\u2019re capable of. And we just kind of use this year to build on what we already had \u2014 that base and foundation.\u201d<\/p>\n According to Hill, the basketball growth has been key, but so have the relationships that have been built off of it. That chemistry has created a winning environment and a trust that finds its way back to the court.<\/p>\n \u201cGetting them to play not just for you, but for each other,\u201d Hill said. \u201cThat\u2019s really what it\u2019s about. Getting them to enjoy the game and do things that are new. To challenge them.\u201d<\/p>\n Hill also said player-led faith and prayer are a vital aspect of the team experience.<\/p>\n \u201cMost importantly, we keep God first,\u201d Hill said. \u201cWe pray, and we know that everything is through God\u2019s work. And we\u2019re just grateful to be able to ply this game.\u201d<\/p>\n Looking ahead to Denton Ryan<\/p>\n The path ahead, however, is treacherous, even for a promising team. In the area round, Cleburne will face the TABC\u2019s No. 2-ranked Class 5A squad, Denton Ryan, at 7 p.m. Friday at the Arlington ISD Athletics Center.<\/p>\n Facing a program like Denton Ryan fresh off an undefeated run in district is a tough matchup, and a product of split-division formats creating early challenges. Cleburne, however, knows it\u2019ll have to face Denton Ryan eventually.<\/p>\n Sheppard echoed Hill, saying that defense has made Cleburne a championship-caliber team. Against Ryan, the Jackets will continue to rely on it.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not just a one-person show, it\u2019s all of us together,\u201d Sheppard said. \u201cStraight defense for 31 minutes, and then work out offense to get what we want.\u201d<\/p>\n Hill said the team is ready and emphasized that the schedule the Jackets created helped prepare them for this moment. Cleburne holds wins over Class 6A schools Allen and Mansfield and two wins over a really solid Mansfield Summit squad.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re prepared for the battle,\u201d Hill said. \u201cAnd we know Denton Ryan is a great team. … I feel like our team is ready. They\u2019ve been battle-tested. We put them through a hard preseason and a hard district. Our district is very tough.\u201d<\/p>\n This story was originally published February 18, 2026 at 4:30 AM.<\/p>\n Cleburne guard Arajai Burks (22) defends Arlington Heights guard Taniyah Clemons during the first half of the Class 5A Division I bi-district playoff Monday at Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center in Fort Worth. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram <\/p>\n
Arlington Heights guard Aleyah Ivory (15) attempts to block the shot by Cleburne guard Beckett Roe during the first half of the Class 5A Division I bi-district playoff Monday at Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center in Fort Worth. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram <\/p>\n
Cleburne head coach Tiffany Hill watches her team\u2019s offense against Arlington Heights during the first half of the Class 5A Division I bi-district playoff Monday at Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center in Fort Worth. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram <\/p>\n
Arlington Heights guards Nyasia Washington (left) and Hope West tie up Cleburne guard Arajai Burks during the first half of the Class 5A Division I bi-district playoff Monday at Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center in Fort Worth. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram <\/p>\n
Cleburne forward Lily Sheppard shoots for two against Arlington Heights center Ni’ja Washington (25) during the first half of the Class 5A Division I bi-district playoff Monday at Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center in Fort Worth. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram <\/p>\n
Cleburne center Lauryn Carrizales (left) gets double-teamed by Arlington Heights under the basket during the first half of the Class 5A Division I bi-district playoff Monday at Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center in Fort Worth. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram <\/p>\n
Cleburne guard Arajai Burks (22) drives into the lane defended by Arlington Heights guard Taniyah Clemons during the first half of the Class 5A Division I bi-district playoff Monday at Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center in Fort Worth. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram <\/p>\n
Cleburne head coach Tiffany Hill encourages her team against Arlington Heights during a timeout in the first half of the Class 5A Division I bi-district playoff Monday at Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center in Fort Worth. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram <\/p>\n
Arlington Heights forward Aliyah Thompson (right) attempts to block the shot of Cleburne guard Arajai Burks during the first half of the Class 5A Division I bi-district playoff Monday at Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center in Fort Worth. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram <\/p>\n
Cleburne head coach Tiffany Hill shouts out instructions against Arlington Heights on the defensive end during the first half of the Class 5A Division I bi-district playoff Monday at Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center in Fort Worth. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram
Cleburne forward Arrisa Turner (13) gets a look defended by Arlington Heights guard Brooklynn Gold (22) during the first half of the Class 5A Division I bi-district playoff Monday at Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center in Fort Worth. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram <\/p>\n