High school basketball: Top 10 power rankings for Central Texas

Central Texas boys basketball teams are approaching the playoffs as the calendar enters February.

Most schools have four or less games left in district play, and a few teams have already clinched spots in the postseason, which for both UIL and TAPPS, start later this month and go through early March. 

In District 25-6A, the lone nine-school district in the Austin area, the district championship could be decided as soon as Tuesday. 

Hendrickson has secured at least a share of the District 23-5A title.

Here are the American-Statesman’s top 10 power rankings entering Feb. 5 with updates from Tuesday's action:

1. Westwood

The Warriors (25-2, 12-0 District 25-6A) had a bye Tuesday. They enter their game Friday at Round Rock having won 22 straight. Last Friday, Luke Carpenter scored 24 points and John McNair finished with 22 points in a 71-60 win over Hutto. 

2. St. Michael’s

Like Westwood, St. Michael’s (25-7, 5-2 District 3-6A TAPPS) had a bye Tuesday. The Warriors topped San Antonio Antonian Prep 82-68 on Friday behind double-doubles from Jayden Buchunam (27 points, 15 rebounds) and Nolan Barkley (15 points, 10 rebounds).

3. Westlake

The Chaps (24-6, 8-1 District 26-6A) edged Lake Travis 56-53 in overtime to avenge their only loss to a school from the Austin area. Bo Ogden had 18 points, Blake Cannatti tallied 12 points and Mack Martin added 11 points to pace Westlake, who plays at Del Valle on Friday. 

4. Lake Travis 

The Cavs (22-8, 8-1 District 26-6A) fell to Westlake. Will Slyker scored 12 points and both Kade Shaver and Tate Tapken had 11 points for Lake Travis. Friday, the Cavs hammered Dripping Springs 69-40 behind Aaron Mathis’ 17 points, four rebounds and three assists. Alex Jacob finished with 14 points and Slyker added 11 points in the win. 

5. Hendrickson

The Hawks (25-6, 9-0 District 23-5A) rallied to defeat Pflugerville 53-50 for their 17th straight win. Legend Samuel scored 17 points and Ryan Longoria joined him in double figures with 11 points to pace Hendrickson, which can clinch the outright district title with a win Friday over Connally. 

6. Round Rock

The Dragons (22-6, 11-2 District 25-6A) had three players in double figures as they topped Hutto 54-41 for their seventh win in a row. Teyo Barnett’s 17 points led Round Rock, with both Matthew Holland and Aaron Epstein tallying 10 points. 

7. Vandegrift 

The Vipers (24-6, 10-2 District 25-6A) beat Cedar Ridge 74-50 as Hayden Brannan poured in 24 points and Trey Block finished with 20 points. 

8. Glenn

The Grizzlies (22-9, 10-0 District 25-5A) defeated Hays 56-50 as Orden Roberts just missed a double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds. Hudson Roberts finished with 17 points and three steals. Friday, Glenn topped Liberty Hill 67-58 thanks to Justin Lee (15 points), Malik Etiobhio (13), Orden Roberts (13) and Dallas Hernandez (12) all reaching double figures in scoring. The Grizzlies can clinch a share of the district title with a win over Cedar Park on Friday. 

9. Bowie 

The Bulldogs (25-6, 6-3 District 26-6A) moved closer to a playoff spot with a 56-49 win over Akins behind 18 points from Joshua Baskin and Lamin Jabbi’s 12 points. Bowie will clinch a postseason spot if it defeats Austin High on Friday. 

10. Cedar Park 

The Timberwolves (20-7, 7-3 District 25-5A) edged Lockhart 53-46 thanks to Nolan Embry tallying 14 points and Lucas Sterling scoring nine points. Friday, they beat Rouse 69-63 in a critical win for their playoff hopes. Four Cedar Park players reached double figures: Sterling (17 points), Jace Reed (12), Day’Veon Curry (11) and Embry (10). 

District 26-6A

Del Valle 60, Dripping Springs 58: The Cardinals (11-19, 3-5) kept their postseason hopes alive with the win. Grant Reagan’s 16 points paced the Tigers in defeat, with Rushton Budge, A’Myron Hurst and Solomon Igharo all tallying 11 points. 

Austin High 80, Akins 58: Cason Davis’ double-double of 23 points and 10 rebounds led the Maroons (15-14, 3-5), who kept their playoff hopes alive with the victory. 

District 29-6A

East Central 86, San Marcos 79: Erni Lozano scored 22 points, Jordan Bernal finished with 16 points and seven assists and Tytan Crayton tallied 14 points and six rebounds in the loss for the Rattlers. 

District 24-5A 

McCallum 87, Cedar Creek 45: Ethan Plummer went off for a career-high 32 points, Darby Roldan finished with 20 points and Will Garnes and Josh Zuniga combined for 11 points as the Knights (13-13, 7-2) stayed in second place in the district. 

Bastrop 64, Crockett 45: Preston Alexander scored 22 points, Brent Carter had a double-double of 11 points and 12 rebounds and Diego Rangel finished with 15 points to lead the Bears (15-16, 6-3), who moved closer to securing a spot in the postseason. 

LASA 85, Navarro 31: The Raptors (10-17, 4-4) continued their late-season playoff push as Elijah Scott (18 points), Camino Rojas-Tang (16 points) and Aarush Baradwaj (15) all scored in double figures. Last Friday, LASA topped Bastrop 53-45 behind Oliver Crane’s double-double of 21 points and 12 rebounds and Jonah Cihock’s 17 points. 

District 25-5A

Rouse 54, Leander 47: In a big boost to their playoff hopes, the Raiders (17-13, 6-4) took the win behind DJ Gardner’s phenomenal all-around game of 19 points, eight rebounds, four steals and three assists. Gavin Glover’s double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds and Jazzmon Cheeves’ 10 points paced the Lions (11-16, 6-4). 

Liberty Hill 100, Lehman 42: Jacob McLeod poured in 31 points and also had eight assists, six steals and four rebounds to lead six Panthers (18-10, 7-3) in double figures. Dexter Gagne (15 points), Cole Borden (11), Johnny Garza (11), Drake Carsno (10) and Garrett Shillow (10) marked the other Liberty Hill players to reach double digits. 

District 25-4A

LBJ 88, Legacy Ranch 37: Marquis Murry II led all scorers with 22 points and Tre Riley (17 points) Christian Hawthorne (14) and DJ Johnson (12) joined him in double figures as the Jaguars (18-12, 10-0) rolled. 

Manor New Tech 90, Travis 62: Kingston Colter poured in 24 points, Donyae’ Larry scored 20 points and Isaiah Kinard had 13 points to lead the Titans (25-4, 9-1) in the rout. 

TAPPS

Brentwood Christian 56, Hyde Park 43: The Bears (15-14, 5-2 District 2-5A) secured a playoff spot as Evan Berger had a double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds, Zach Czerlinsky scored 16 points and Aiden Ott added 10 points.