Basketball

How 6A and 5A men’s basketball district races look as many teams start the second round of district play

By Michael Adams 
Austin Sports Journal 

There’s four weeks left in the 2024-25 Texas high school men’s basketball regular season. Most Austin-area districts finished the first round of district action on Friday, while a lot of the small school districts will wrap up the first round of district play this week.  

A new playoff format is set to change the landscape of the UIL basketball postseason. We decided to breakdown each of the Class 6A and 5A men’s basketball races and how the new division split will impact each district. Don’t worry, we’ll look at the small schools later this week.  

You can find the women’s basketball playoff bracketology here.  

Here’s how each district playoff race looks:  

District 25-6A 

Westwood’s Thomas Burke (15) dribbles the ball upcourt during a District 25-6A men’s basketball game on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024 at Westwood High School in Austin, Texas. (Michael Adams/Austin Sports Journal)

In the chase: Stony Point (10-0), Westwood (9-1), Round Rock (8-2), Vandegrift (5-4), Hutto (5-5) 

Outside looking in: Vista Ridge (3-7), Cedar Ridge (3-7) 

If the season ended today: 

Division I – (1) Westwood and (2) Round Rock 

Division II – (1)Stony Point and (2) Vandegrift 

Notable: If Hutto beats out Vandegrift for the fourth playoff spot, (Round Rock and Hutto would be in the Division I bracket, Stony Point and Westwood would be in the Division II bracket.  

District 26-6A 

In the chase: Westlake (6-0), Dripping Springs (4-2), Bowie (3-3), Lake Travis (3-3), Del Valle (3-3) 

Outside looking in: Akins (1-5), Austin High (1-5) 

If the season ended today: 

Division I – Del Valle and Lake Travis or Bowie  

Division II – (1) Westlake and (2) Dripping Springs 

Notable: Del Valle, Lake Travis and Bowie are in a dead heat for the third and fourth place. Lake Travis lost to Del Valle in the first round of district play and will have a rematch on Tuesday (weather permitting) at Lake Travis. The Cavaliers beat Bowie last week, while the Bulldogs beat the Cardinals. Either way, the two teams that survive will be in the Division I bracket.  

District 29-6A 

In the chase: Cibolo Steele (6-0), San Antonio East Central (5-1), Schertz Clemens (4-2), Converse Judson (3-3) 

Outside looking in: San Marcos (1-5), New Braunfels Canyon (1-5), Buda Johnson (1-5) 

If the season ended today: 

Division I – (1) Cibolo Steele and (2) San Antonio East Central 

Division II – (1) Schertz Clemens and (2) Converse Judson 

Notable: San Marcos, Canyon and Johnson face an uphill challenge if either team is going to challenge Judson or Clemens for a playoff spot. A two-game deficit with six games left to play is going to require an upset or two, and one of those teams to quickly emerge as a contender.  

District 22-5A 

In the chase: East View (6-0), Connally (3-3), Georgetown (3-3), Pflugerville (3-3), Hendrickson (3-3), Weiss (2-4) 

Outside looking in: Elgin (1-5)  

If the season ended today: 

Division I – (1) East View and (2) Georgetown 

Division II – (1) Pflugerville and (2) Connally  

Notable: East View has to win four games to claim the district title and is a sure bet to make the playoffs. The other three spots are to be determined as the remaining six teams are still alive. If Hendrickson makes the playoffs, they will join East View in Division I. If Georgetown makes it and Hendrickson doesn’t, Georgetown will join the Patriots in Division I. Weiss would be Division I only if both Georgetown and Hendrickson don’t make the playoffs. It might get a little clearer by next week.  

District 24-5A 

In the chase: McCallum (6-0), LASA (5-1), Cedar Creek (4-2), Anderson (3-3), Crockett (2-4)

Outside looking in: Bastrop (1-5)

If the season ended today: 

Division I – (1) Cedar Creek and (2) Anderson 

Division II – (1) McCallum and (2) LASA 

Notable: There the potential for a lot of upsets and changes to this over the next four weeks, so this race is anyone’s for the taking. McCallum is the front-runner and needs just two wins and a Crockett loss to clinch a playoff berth. LASA can claim its postseason ticket with three wins and and a Crockett loss. The real race to watch will be the one for the final two playoff spots. If Crockett or Bastrop claims that fourth playoff spot over Anderson or Cedar Creek, the Knights would jump to Division I and take the top seed.  

District 25-5A

LIberty Hill head coach Blake Boren looks on during a District 25-5A men’s basketball game at Rouse High School on Friday, Jan. 17, 2024 in Leander, Texas. (Michael Adams/Austin Sports Journal)

In the chase: Liberty Hill (6-1), Leander (6-1), Rouse (5-2), Glenn (5-2)

Outside looking in: Hays (3-4)  

If the season ended today:

Division I – (1) Leander and (2) Glenn

Division II – (1) Liberty Hill and (2) Rouse

Notable: The playoff picture is 25-5A is fairly clear. While Hays and Cedar Park (2-5) are still mathematically still in the race, both have pretty big holes to get out of. If Hays finds some magic, the Hawks would be in Division I unless both Glenn and Leander both make it, then they would be in Division II.

District 26-5A 

In the chase: San Antonio Wagner (8-1), Alamo Heights (8-2), New Braunfels (6-4), San Antonio Veterans Memorial (6-4), Pieper (5-5), Boerne Champion (4-5) 

Outside looking in: Boerne (3-7), Smithson Valley (3-7) 

If the season ended today: 

Division I – (1) San Antonio Wagner and (2) New Braunfels 

Division II – (1) Alamo Heights and (2) San Antonio Veterans Memorial 

Notable: Boerne Champion and Pieper have the potential to make things interesting in this playoff race. If New Braunfels and Wagner both make the playoffs, the two teams will be in the Division I bracket. If Piper or Champion claim a playoff spot over New Braunfels, then the Warriors or Chargers would take New Braunfels’ spot as the No. 2 seed in Division II.