High school basketball: Top 10 state playoff games to watch this weekend on the NFHS Network

State championships in California, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Texas along with a semifinal showdown in Illinois are among must-see games.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Jordan Divens
By
Mar 12, 2026, 11:00am
The weekend is loaded with high school basketball postseason action as 26 states will crown champions across multiple classifications.

We are highlighting 10 of the top matchups streaming this weekend on the NFHS Network. Some feature teams ranked in the MaxPreps Top 25 while others are highly-anticipated showdowns at the state level.

Other matchups Saturday on the NFHS Network that just missed the list include a potential showdown between East Lansing and Rockford in the Michigan Division 1 state title game, a potential contest of Lakota West (West Chester) vs. Centerville in the Ohio Division I state quarterfinals and a projected matchup of East St. Louis against Kaneland (Maple Park) in the Class 3A state title game in Illinois.

Read on for a look at games that have our attention in the coming days. All times are local.
Caleb Gaskins and Columbus look to close out their postseason run with unprecedented fifth consecutive Class 7A state title. (PHOTO: Troy Tsuma)
Caleb Gaskins and Columbus look to close out their postseason run with unprecedented fifth consecutive Class 7A state title. (PHOTO: Troy Tsuma)
California

Open Division state championship
No. 3 Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) (29-1) vs. No. 28 Salesian (Richmond) (29-3)
How to watch: NFHS Network
Time: 8 p.m., Saturday
What to watch for: Sierra Canyon enters the matchup favored to capture its first Open Division state championship since 2020 behind the dynamic duo of five-star senior Brandon McCoy and top 25 North Carolina signee Maximo Adams. Stanford signee Elias Obenyah is the catalyst for Salesian.

Florida

Class 6A state championship
How to watch: NFHS Network
Time: Noon, Saturday
What to watch for: In a rematch of the 2025 state title game, St. Thomas Aquinas looks to repeat behind junior Clarence Westbrook Jr., junior Kellson Sandi and American signee Drake Sandi. Evans aims to pull off the upset behind junior Abimael Belleus.

Class 7A state championship
No. 21 Columbus (Miami) (25-6) vs. Sarasota (25-6)
How to watch: NFHS Network
Time: 5 p.m., Saturday
What to watch for: Columbus looks to become the first team in state history to capture five consecutive state championships in the highest classification as the Explorers carry momentum from a dominant four-year run from the Boozer brothers. Five-star Miami signee Caleb Gaskins and top 100 Florida Atlantic signee Felipe Quinones lead the way.

Georgia

Class 6A state championship
How to watch: NFHS Network
Time: 7:30 p.m., Saturday
What to watch for: Perennial powerhouse Wheeler aims for its fourth state championship in the past six seasons and 11th overall behind Connecticut signee Colben Landrew, four-star junior Kevin Savage and Clemson signee Amare James. Kennesaw State signee Zyree Brown is the go-to guy for Pebblebrook.

Class 5A state championship
How to watch: NFHS Network
Time: 7:30 p.m., Friday
What to watch for: Alexander enters the state championship game as one of the hottest teams in the state, riding a 24-game win streak led by Colorado State signee Pops Dunson. Woodward Academy is anchored by a big three of four-star junior Jarvis Hayes Jr. and top 10 sophomores Myles Hayes and Bentley Lusakueno.

Illinois

Class 4A state semifinals
How to watch: NFHS Network
Time: 4:15 p.m., Friday
What to watch for: Benet Academy is led by North Dakota State signee Colin Stack, Eastern Illinois signee Jayden Wright and Edvardas Stasys. Brown signee Rykan Woo and Toledo signee Rashaun Porter lead the charge for DePaul College Prep. The game is a rematch of a 52-43 Benet Academy win and is the only matchup of MaxPreps Top 25 opponents this weekend.

North Carolina

Class 7A state championship
No. 33 Southern (Durham) (27-3) vs. No. 76 Mooresville (27-2)
How to watch: NFHS Network
Time: 7:30 p.m., Saturday
What to watch for: Southern has an elite one-two punch as sophomore A.J. Morman and junior Keyonee Terry average approximately 20 points apiece for a team that has won 19 consecutive games. Mooresville, which has won 17 straight, advances to its first state championship game after avenging one of its two losses in the semifinals.

Texas

Conference 6A Division 1 state championship
No. 13 North Crowley (Fort Worth) (34-3) vs. No. 49 Brennan (San Antonio) (33-3)
How to watch: NFHS Network
Time: 5 p.m., Saturday
What to watch for: Despite losing reigning MaxPreps Texas Player of the Year Kingston Flemings to graduation, Brennan has exceeded expectations with a rotation that features five players averaging double figures led by UTEP signee Donovan Criss. North Crowley is the top-ranked team from Texas powered by junior Isaak Hayes and senior Trey Hall.

Conference 5A Division 1 state championship
No. 15 Heritage (Frisco) (33-2) vs. No. 74 West Brook (Beaumont) (34-3)
How to watch: NFHS Network
Time: 11 a.m., Saturday
What to watch for: Heritage features one of the top tandems in the nation as SMU signee Cameron Lomax and five-star Duke signee Bryson Howard combine for 48.9 points per game on a team that has won 28 games in a row. West Brook is coming off a 28-point blowout in the semifinals anchored by senior Elijah Garrett.

Conference 6A Division 2 state championship
No. 18 Little Elm (36-2) vs. Westlake (Austin) (32-6)
How to watch: NFHS Network
Time: 7 p.m., Saturday
What to watch for: Stephen F. Austin signee Kensington Candler guides Little Elm into the program's first state championship game riding a 22-game win streak. Little Elm has a margin of victory of 21.8 points per game in state tournament play. Top 40 Texas signee Bo Ogden is the player to watch for a Westlake program in search of its first state title as well.

Related Content