SportzBuzz - May 2025 | The Buzz Magazines

By Todd Freed, Staff writer | April 27, 2025

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HISTORIC SEASON It was a special post-game celebration for the Bellaire Cardinals following its state semifinal victory over San Antonio Brennan. With the win, the Cardinals advanced to their first-ever UIL state championship final in boys basketball.

It was the greatest season in school history for the Bellaire Cardinals boys basketball team, which came within one victory of its first-ever state championship. The Cardinals advanced to the UIL 6A Division 1 State Final before falling to perennial powerhouse Duncanville by a heartbreaking 54-52 final in the state title game.

“It was an extremely rewarding season,” said longtime Bellaire head coach Bruce Glover. “We work with a great group of young men and our community has been overwhelmingly supportive. There was so much love and joy in what we were able to achieve. We knew it was a big deal for our team, but to see so many people backing us was just fantastic.”

In advancing to their first-ever state final, the Cardinals were led by a sensational season from 6-foot-7 Duke University signee Shelton Henderson, who scored 25 points with 15 rebounds in the state final versus Duncanville. A game earlier in the state semifinals versus nationally ranked San Antonio Brennan, Henderson lit up the scoreboard with 27 points in a decisive victory for the Cardinals.

“It just meant the world to win that state semifinal game to advance to the state final,” said Henderson. “It was extra special doing so with this group of guys for four years at Bellaire. We went through so much together and overcame a lot of adversity. So doing this together meant so much to me.”

EAGLES SOAR It was quite a celebration for the Second Baptist Eagles following its 65-47 victory over Arlington Grace Prep to win the TAPPS 5A State Basketball Championship.

With a decisive 65-47 win over Arlington Grace Prep in the state final, the Second Baptist Eagles secured the TAPPS 5A Boys State Basketball championship. The victory capped off a sensational 33-4 season as the Eagles brought home the fourth state basketball championship in school history.

“It was more exciting that you can ever imagine,” said Eagles junior Shia Francis. “Just being in the stadium with all those people chanting. You could barely hear your own thoughts. It was just awesome.”

“First of all, a lot of credit goes to the talented individuals on this basketball team,” said Eagles first-year head coach Taylor Land. He said what made this team stand out was “the team chemistry and just their unselfishness all season.”

“The chemistry was definitely amazing,” added Eagles senior Michael Pratt. “We had this unbreakable bond on and off the court. It was a fun group of guys to be around.”

Even with Pratt being the only senior on the entire roster, the Eagles still steamrolled through its four playoff victories by a 20-point margin of victory. Leading the way was super sophomore Reese Alston, who averaged 21 points per game over the entire season. “Really, it was all about trusting my teammates and trusting what our coaches drew up for us,” said Alston.

“When you look at the amount of growth from September to October to the end of the season in February, there’s no way our guys don’t improve without being extremely humble and coachable,” added Coach Land.

CHAMPS AGAIN St. Francis Episcopal captured the TAPPS 4A State Basketball Championship with a dominant 53-36 victory over Lubbock Christian in the state final. The victory marked the Wolves’ second straight state championship in boys basketball.

After capturing the first state championship in any sport last year for St. Francis Episcopal, the Wolves boys basketball team is now back-to-back state champions. St. Francis Episcopal defeated Lubbock Christian 53-36 in the state final to win the TAPPS 4A State Championship while finishing the season with a lofty 30-8 record.

“I think for our seven seniors to go out the way they did was amazing,” said Wolves head coach Harold Baber. “Four years ago, when these guys decided to attend St. Francis, I felt we were fortunate to have them here at our school. They could have gone to school at so many other places across Houston, but they believed in our program and the faith-based education of St. Francis Episcopal.”

Coach Baber added that the building block may very well have been when senior Corey Syon enrolled at St. Francis back as an eighth grader. “Corey had a great connection in AAU basketball to John Laboy, Christian Hodge, Trace Stone, Josh Obanor, and Nigel Walls. All of those guys enrolled at St. Francis one year after Corey as high school freshmen. Then, when O’Marion Harvey transferred in as a sophomore, it only added to a truly great group of young men.”

As it stands now, five of those seven seniors will also play collegiate basketball. “I’m just so proud of their development both on and off the court,” added Baber. “They are all really good students and leaders in our community. I believe that St. Francis Episcopal was a good fit for them, and they were a good fit for St. Francis.”

Editor’s note: Todd Freed is the host and executive producer of H-Town High School Sports, which airs Saturday at 10:30 p.m. on CW39 and Monday-Thursday on AT&T SportsNet SW. To submit high school sports news for possible inclusion in SportzBuzz, please email [email protected].