By Michael Adams
madams@onthesidelinessports.com

The 2024 UIL girls basketball state tournament begins Thursday and continues through Saturday at The Alamodome in San Antonio.

Here is our preview for the UIL girls state basketball 5A tournament as we break down both semifinal matchups.

The schedule

All games are played at The Alamodome

Semifinals

7 p.m., Thursday: Frisco Liberty (32-7) vs. Richmond Randle (30-8)

8:30 p.m., Thursday: Mansfield Timberview (39-1) vs. Cedar park (27-11)

Championship

3 p.m., Saturday

More stories

• Cedar Park relishes role as the underdog heading into state tournament
• UIL girls state tournament schedule ant ticket information

The teams

Frisco Liberty

Record: 32-7

Mascot: Redhawks

Head coach: Ross Reedy

Road to the state tournament: defeated Carrolton Creekview 52-21; Hillcrest 60-21, Frisco Reedy 52-21; McKinney North 69-52; Princeton 52-26.

State tournament appearances: 5 (2016, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023)

State championships: 2 (2020, 2023)

Players to Watch: Jacy Abii, the No. 1 recurit in Texas, is averaging 20.7 points per game; Keyera Roseby (11.4 ppg).

Richmond Randle

Record: 30-8

Mascot: Lions

Head coach: Christy Westbrooks

Road to the state tournament: defeated Houston Northside 111-21; Crosby 62-39; Richmond Foster 52-42; Hendrickson 59-55; Barbers Hill 38-34.

State tournament appearances: None

State championships: None

Players to Watch: Alaysia Cook (13.9 PPG).

Mansfield Timberview

Record: 39-1

Mascot: Wolves

Head coach: Kit Kyle Martin

Road to the state tournament: defeated Lake Dallas 66-32; Aledo 70-32; Denton Ryan 64-44; Amarillo 55-52 (OT); Argyle 44-35.

State tournament appearances: 5 (2009, 2010, 2017, 2018, 2020)

State championships: 1 (2020)

Players to Watch: Chrishawn Coleman (12.9 PPG), Emilee Jones (12.5 PPG), Brooklyn Terry (12.3 PPG) and Kamryn Wilson (10.2 PPG).

Cedar Park

Record: 27-11

Mascot: Timberwolves

Head coach: Kami Williamson

Road to the state tournament: defeated San Antonio Pieper 49-41; San Antonio MacArthur 43-48; Liberty Hill 42-38; Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial 49-35; Glenn 45-44 (OT)

State tournament appearances: 2 (2021, 2022)

State championships: 2 (2021, 2022)

Players to Watch: Hope Edwards (scored 23 against Liberty Hill and 19 against Glenn); Kennedy Carlyle (1,000 career points, 500 career rebounds); Isabel Peters (member of 2021 and 2022 state championship teams).