Texas (UIL) high school basketball state championship preview: Class 2A team-by-team breakdowns
With four months of regular-season competition and five rounds of the postseason now in the rear-view mirror, the road to the Texas high school boys basketball state championships is set to come to an exciting end for the Lone Star State’s most elite teams.
Only 24 out of the state’s 768 total UIL boys basketball squads that reached the playoffs remain standing, with the final four teams in Class 1A-6A converging at the Alamodome in San Antonio for the 2023 UIL Boys Basketball State Tournament from Thursday, March 9, to Saturday, March 11.
Here’s an in-depth look at the four teams vying for the next Class 2A Texas high school basketball state championship at the 2022-23 UIL Boys Basketball State Tournament.
Class 2A state semifinals:
Lipan Indians (36-1) vs. New Home Leopards (31-7), 8:30 a.m. on Friday, March 10th, at the Alamodome in San Antonio
Flatonia Bulldogs (34-4) vs. LaPoynor Flyers (32-7), 10 a.m. on Friday, March 10th, at the Alamodome in San Antonio
Class 2A state championship game:
Lipan Indians (36-1)/New Home Leopards (31-7) vs. Flatonia Bulldogs (34-4)/LaPoynor Flyers (32-7), 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 11th, at the Alamodome in San Antonio
FLATONIA BULLDOGS
Regular-season finish: 34-4 overall, 11-1 finish in District 28-2A, Region IV-2A champions
How they got here:
- W 65-54 vs. Thorndale in regional finals
- W 46-43 vs. Port Aransas in regional semifinals
- W 62-50 vs. Milano in regional quarterfinals
- W 69-43 vs. Evadale in area round
- W 89-56 vs. Thrall in bi-district round
Head coach: Chris Sodek (4th season)
Total UIL state tournament appearances (most recent): Making first UIL Boys Basketball State Tournament appearance in school history
Total UIL state championships (most recent): None
Players to watch: Sr. G/F Holden Kloesel; Sr. G Keyshawn Green; Sr. C Jaidyn Guyton
Distance to Alamodome: 89 miles
What’s at stake: The Bulldogs enter the UIL Boys Basketball State Tournament riding a a seven-game winning streak and will be searching for their first state title in school history.
LAPOYNOR FLYERS
Regular-season finish: 32-7 overall, 10-0 finish in District 19-2A, Region III-2A champions
How they got here:
- W 53-43 vs. Martins Mill in regional finals
- W 68-57 vs. Timpson in regional semifinals
- W 88-74 vs. Grapeland in regional quarterfinals
- W 85-41 vs. Dawson in area round
- W 79-58 vs. Lovelady in bi-district round
Head coach: Jim Reid (2nd season)
Total UIL state tournament appearances (most recent): 11 (2022)
Total UIL state championships (most recent): Five (1995)
Players to watch: Sr. F Evan Almeida; Sr. F Cooper Gracey; Sr. C Dijuan Whitehead
Distance to Alamodome: 289 miles
What’s at stake: The Flyers are making their 11th trip to the UIL Boys Basketball State Tournament, but will be looking for their first state championship since 1995. LaPoynor — which is making its third appearance in the state semifinals in the past four years — will also be trying to secure their second state title at the Class 2A level and collect their sixth UIL state championship trophy overall.
LIPAN INDIANS
Regular-season finish: 36-1 overall, 12-0 finish in District 11-2A, Region II-2A champions
How they got here:
- W 43-30 vs. Tolar in regional finals
- W 61-37 vs. Wolfe City in regional semifinals
- W 37-24 vs. Itasca in regional quarterfinals
- W 60-43 vs. Cisco in area round
- W 85-38 vs. Valley Mills in bi-district round
Head coach: Brent Gaylor (5th season)
Total UIL state tournament appearances (most recent): 14 (2022)
Total UIL state championships (most recent): Four (2018)
Players to watch: Sr. G Tripp Phillips; Sr. G Tate Branson; Sr. F Reese Cook
Distance to Alamodome: 233 miles
What’s at stake: The Indians have reached each of the last three UIL Boys Basketball State Tournaments and have made it to the state semifinals in five of their last seven seasons. Lipan has 22 games in a row since its only loss of the year to Timpson, and has a chance to win its first state titles since earning back-to-back state championships in 2017 and 2018.
NEW HOME LEOPARDS
Regular-season finish: 31-7 overall, 12-0 finish in District 5-2A, Region I-2A champions
How they got here:
- W 77-65 vs. Floydada in regional finals
- W 60-32 vs. New Deal in regional semifinals
- W 53-36 vs. Christoval in regional quarterfinals
- W 72-41 vs. Sterling City in area round
- W 89-31 vs. McCamey in bi-district round
Head coach: Koby Abney (8th season)
Total UIL state tournament appearances (most recent): Two (1989)
Total UIL state championships (most recent): Seeking first UIL boys basketball state title in school history
Players to watch: Sr. G Reagan Fielder; Soph. G Caleb Cook; Sr. G/F Trey Evans
Distance to Alamodome: 384 miles
What’s at stake: The Leopards will be making their return to the state semifinals for the first time since 1989 and carry a 19-game winning streak with them into the UIL Boys Basketball State Tournament. New Home has never reached a state championship game in its program's history.
