Basketball

Way too early Austin area girls basketball rankings for 2025-26

By Michael Adams
Austin Sports Journal

The 2024 Texas high school girls basketball season officially came to an end last week, while the boys season ended Saturday.

Liberty Hill and Georgetown were the lone representatives in the UIL girls basketball state tournament. Both teams were senior heavy, but history tells us the Lady Panthers and Eagles won’t fall off that much.

A lot can change between now and November, but it’s never too soon for the way-too-early Austin-area girls basketball rankings and a look at 25 players to watch next season.

We will update this a few months before the start of the 2025-26 season, when we’ll do a clean sweep of the rankings. We wouldn’t want to look back and be wrong about anything in five months, of course.

Class 6A

Vandegrift’s Kiley Castaneda (30) guards Melayna Perkins (5) of San Marcos during a Class 6A Division II regional semifinal on Tuesday, March 18, 2025 at Bowie High School in Austin, Texas. (Michael Adams/Austin Sports Journal)

1. Vandegrift: Head coach Tiffany Litton has turned the Vipers into a basketball powerhouse. Guards Maddie Broxterman and Saania Khawaja are arguably the best backcourt in the Austin area.

2. Westlake: Head coach Vicki Benson has one of the best centers in the area returning in Tamia King, along with guard Wynne Thorne. The Chaps will be fine and looking to prove something after an early playoff exit this season.

3. San Marcos: The Rattlers had a record-breaking season in 2024, reaching the regional championship. San Marcos will return Melayna Perkins in 2025-26 and that will be enough to keep the Rattlers among the area’s top teams.

4. Vista Ridge: You can’t count out the Rangers, who put together a winning team year-after-year. Head coach Keith Allen will be without three seniors, but a young group led by sophomore Josie Cramer and Tegan Bourland is ready to step up.

5. Bowie: The Bulldogs lose McDonald’s All-American nominee Nyla Anderson, but will have a solid group of players returning. Don’t count Bowie out.

Class 5A

Cedar Park guard Ahnna Brinner looks to make a pass during the Class 5A Division II Region IV Championship between Liberty Hill and Cedar Park on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025 at Georgetown High School in Georgetown, Texas. (Michael Adams/ Austin Sports Journal)

1. Liberty Hill: The Lady Panthers will be looking to return to San Antonio, and with three returning starters, are in a good position to do that. Guards Regan Robbins and Lyndsey Bullock, along with forward Renee Stemmons will make Liberty Hill a favorite next season.

2. Bastrop: The Bears return most of their team that reached the Class 5A Division II regional semifinals, including freshman guard Zo’nai Cook. A much-improved young team will be a force next season.

3. Glenn: Soma Okolo is headed to the University of Miami, but guard Libby Lee has been a gamechanger the last two years and is ready to lead this team as a junior. The Grizzlies should be just fine next season.

4. Cedar Park: District 25-5A is the SEC of girls basketball in the Austin metropolitan area, and the Timberwolves will be right in the mix. Guard Ahnna Brinner and post Hope Richards will lead the way next year.

5. Pieper: The Warriors reached the 5A Division I regional finals this season before losing to San Antonio Wagner. Pieper loses McDonald’s All-American nominee Alisha Peavy, but will return a solid group for the 2025-26 season.  

Class 4A & others

Jarrell’s Aniya Taylor (0) sets up the Cougars’ offense during a District 24-4A women’s basketball game at Cougar Gymnasium on Friday, Jan. 31, 2024 in Jarrell, Texas. (Michael Adams/Austin Sports Journal)

1. Jarrell: The Taylor sisters – Aniya and Erica – return from a team that was relatively young and reached the Class 4A Division II regional semifinals.

2. Smithville: With guard Sydnie Brenner and forward Ladonije Lewis returning, look for the Lady Tigers to have another banner year under head coach Jaimie Kadlecek.

3. Granger: The Lady Lions return three first-team all-district players and the 27-2A sixth-man of the year from a team that won the district title.

4. Hyde Park: Sophomore Grace Bagen is a name fans should get familiar with. Bagen returns after leading the team in scoring (18.5 ppg) and is part of a returning nucleus for the Panthers.

5. La Grange: The Lady Leopards have one of the top backcourt combinations in the Austin area in guards Kylie Trilcek and Campbell Cooper. La Grange has a bad taste from this year’s regional semifinal loss to Salado.