MaxPreps Texas Top 25 high school boys basketball rankings

The scene shifts to the University of Texas' Erwin Center in Austin for the final weekend of the UIL boys basketball season. The state championships begin with semifinals Thursday and Friday. Titles in all five classifications will be decided on Saturday.

Judson (Converse), the No. 1 team in MaxPreps Texas Top 25, draws the top seed based on its 36-1 season record. But don't expect a cakewalk for the champions of Region IV. Class 5A semifinal opponent Allen impressively navigated through a dangerous field to win the Region II title.

In the other Class 5A semifinal, DeSoto and North Shore square off with the right to go to Saturday's title game. Each has only three losses. Two of DeSoto's defeats were to out-of-state teams in tournaments.

In Class 4A, an attractive Thursday semifinal matches Region III champ Beaumont Central against Dallas Kimball. Kimball is making its fifth state tournament appearance in the last six years. Amarillo and Clemens (Schertz) square off in the other semifinal.

Madison (Dallas) returns to defend its Class 3A state title. The Trojans will keep an eye out for Yates (Houston), a basketball power that has missed making the state tournament once in six years.

See the MaxPreps UIL boys basketball playoff brackets and the Texas boys basketball computer rankings

In last weekend's TAPPS state tournament, Prestonwood Christian (Plano) held off John Paul II (Plano) 46-45 in the 5A championship game to win its third-straight crown.

(Last week‘s ranking in parenthesis, * denotes season over):


1. (1 last week) Judson (Converse) 36-1
The Rockets punched their ticket to Austin for the Class 5A state tournament with a 52-41 victory over Madison (San Antonio) in the Region IV title game. Tony Allen scored 17 points and Tanner Leissner contributed 10 rebounds and three blocks. Judson also had playoff wins over Churchill (San Antonio) and Edinburg North. Next is a state semifinal against Allen set for 8:30 p.m. Thursday.

2. (2) DeSoto 31-3
The Eagles, Class 5A state champs in 2003 and 2009, are two wins away from another title after defeating Bowie (Arlington) 59-51 in the Region I final. Takedrick Brown hit five 3-pointers and scored 22 points. DeSoto also defeated Harker Heights and Coronado (Lubbock). Up next is North Shore (Houston) in a state semifinal set for 3 p.m. Thursday in Austin.

3. (3) North Shore (Houston) 33-3
The Houston area will be well-represented in the Class 5A state tournament by the Mustangs, a 60-58 winner over Fort Bend Bush (Richmond). Kerwin Roach helped North Shore reach the state tourney for the second time with 18 points and five rebounds. The Mustangs also had playoff wins in the week over Manvel and Cypress Lakes (Houston). Up next is DeSoto in a state tournament semifinal set for 3 p.m. Thursday.

4. (5) Fort Bend Bush (Richmond) 30-6*
The Broncos came close but were eliminated in the Class 5A Region III title game by North Shore (Houston), 60-58. In the week, Bush recorded playoff wins over Port Arthur Memorial and Cypress Woods (Houston).

5. (14) Allen 27-8
The Eagles emerged as the Class 5A Region II champion by defeating Atascocita (Humble) 65-58 in the title game with Nick Rutherford scoring 27 points. Allen rolled in previous wins during the week over Lakeview Centennial (Garland) and Spring Dekaney (Houston). Up next is No. 1 Judson (Converse) in a state semifinal set for 8:30 p.m. Thursday.

6. (4) Manvel 30-5*
The Mavericks saw a strong campaign come to an end in a Class 5A Region III quarterfinal loss to North Shore (Houston), 71-64. Leon Gilmore led Manvel with 22 points.

7. (7) Churchill (San Antonio) 31-4*
Despite 27 points from Ben Mammel, the Chargers' season ended in a 54-43 loss to No. 1 Judson (Converse) in a Class 5A Region IV quarterfinal.

8. (8) Atascocita (Humble) 29-7*
Elimination for the Eagles came in a Class 5A Region II title game loss to Allen, 65-58. Zach Haney led Atascocita with 18 points. Earlier in the week, the Eagles defeated College Park (Conroe) and Berkner (Richardson).

9. (12) Madison (Dallas) 28-3
The 2013 Class 3A state champions are back in Austin to defend their title after routing Lone Star (Frisco) 72-44 in the Region II championship game. Cameron Bryant and Admon Gilder scored 18 each for the Trojans. Other playoff wins in the week came at the expense of Wilmer-Hutchins (Dallas) and Kilgore. Up next is Houston (San Antonio) in a state semifinal set for 1:30 p.m. Thursday.

10. (13) Bowie (Arlington) 29-7*
Outside shooting woes led to the overachieving Vols' demise in a 59-51 loss to DeSoto in the Class 5A Region I title game. Slashing guard David Chavlovich led Bowie with 12 points. Bowie had playoff wins in the week over Coronado (El Paso) and Hebron.

11. (10) Hebron (Carrollton) 26-8*
The Hawks were scoreless in the final four minutes of a 42-40 season-ending loss to Bowie (Arlington) in a Class 5A Region I semifinal. Tyler Williams led Hebron with 12 points. Williams scored 28 in a midweek regional quarterfinal victory over Duncanville, 52-44.

12. (NR) Kimball (Dallas) 23-8
The Knights advanced to the Class 4A state Final Four for the fifth time in six years by ousting Lancaster in the Region II title game, 66-62. Jawun Evans led Kimball with 24 points. The Knights outscored Lancaster 30-17 in the fourth quarter. Next is a state semifinal against Beaumont Central set for 7 p.m. Thursday in Austin.

13. (NR) Beaumont Central (Beaumont) 31-4
The Jaguars polished off Fort Bend Marshall (Missouri City) 67-57 in the Class 4A Region III title game as E'Torrian Wilridge scored 22 points. During the week, Central had wins over Pflugerville Connally and Friendswood. Up next is Kimball (Dallas) in a state semifinal set for 7 p.m. Thursday in Austin.

14. (9) Lancaster 31-5*
With a berth in the state tournament in sight, a disastrous 30-17 fourth quarter cost the Tigers in a 66-62 loss to Kimball (Dallas) in the Class 4A Region II title game. Antwon Portley led Lancaster with 21 points.

15. (19) Cypress Woods (Cypress) 27-6*
The Wildcats lost a 60-59 heartbreaker to Fort Bend Bush (Missouri City) in a Class 5A Region III semifinal. Justin Jones and Samir Sehic each scored 11 points. Earlier in the week, Woods eased past Seven Lakes (Katy) 79-76.

16. (6) Plano West (Plano) 23-7*
The Wolves were eliminated in a Class 5A Region II quarterfinal by Berkner (Richardson) 75-73 despite 27 points from D.J. Hogg.

17. (17) Prestonwood Christian (Plano) 34-4*
D.J. McGee sank two free throws with eight seconds remaining to send the Lions to their third-straight TAAPS 5A state championship with a 46-45 win over John Paul II (Plano). Schnider Herard had nine points and 10 rebounds and was named the MVP. Prestonwood reached the title game by defeating Cathedral (El Paso) in a state semifinal.

18. (16) Harker Heights 27-5*
The Knights gave DeSoto a battle in a Class 5A Region I quarterfinal before falling, 55-43. Josh Delaney led Heights with 16 points.

19. (18) Marcus (Flower Mound) 25-5*
The Marauders‘ campaign ended in a 63-62 loss to Harker Heights in a Class 5A Region I area playoff.

20. (22) Duncanville 20-12*
The Panthers' season ended in a Class 5A Region I quarterfinal loss to Hebron, 52-44. Omar Sherman led Duncanville with 19 points.

21. (23) South Grand Prairie (Grand Prairie) 23-7*
After ending the last two Hebron seasons, last year's Class 5A state finalist lost to the Hawks in an area-round playoff. The Warriors are the only Texas team to defeat DeSoto.

22. (21) Tascosa (Amarillo) 25-2*
Considered by many to be West Texas' best team, the Rebels were eliminated in an area playoff, 65-64, by Bowie (Arlington).

23. (NR) Yates (Houston) 22-9
The Lions earned their fifth state tournament berth in the last six years with a 103-86 triumph over Navasota in a Class 3A Region III final. Damion Lewis scored 25 to lead the way. Yates also defeated Silsbee and Mexia during the week. Up next is a state semifinal against Kennedale set for 3 p.m. Thursday in Austin.

24. (20) Cypress Lakes (Katy) 26-6*
After defeating Alief Taylor (Houston), the Spartans' season ended with a 75-52 loss to North Shore (Houston) in a Region III semifinal. De'Aaron Fox led with 17 points.

25. (11) Andress (El Paso) 31-3*
The plug was pulled on a landmark Eagles season by Amarillo, 54-44, in the Class 4A Region I title game.

Dropped out: No. 15 Keller, No. 24 Wheatley (Houston), No. 25 Seven Lakes (Katy)

On the bubble: Amarillo 27-5, Aransas Pass 33-7, Bushland 27-8, Clemens (Schertz) 33-4, Houston (San Antonio) 27-9, Kennedale 38-0, Ponder 30-7, Tatum 34-4.