
Yates has destroyed the rims in HISD for years. Via Vype
Originally Appeared on Vype
With the boys' basketball postseason a few short weeks away, it got us thinking. Who is the top hoop troop over the past 20 years?
During that time, 14 teams have won state titles, but only two schools have more than one. You guessed it, Yates (4) and Willowridge (2).
But who was the best team? Did they even win a state title? See the Atascocita Eagles a few years back.
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The State Champs
Cypress Falls – 2015-16
This Cy-Fair ISD team made school history, winning their first-ever hoops title. Led by five starters who were juniors, the Eagles went 35-3 and beat San Antonio Wagner to win state.
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Yates – 2013-14
Fell to Dallas Madison but won state because Madison had an ineligible player.
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North Shore 2013-14
SMU's Jarrey Foster and UT's Kerwin Roach led this squad to a win over Converse Judson, finishing 35-3 on the season.
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Yates – 2012-13
Fell to Dallas Madison but won state because Madison had an ineligible player.
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Terry – 2012-13
One of the best dual-sport athletes in 20 years led Terry to state. Terry? Derrick Griffin was the Championship Game MVP as the Rangers shocked the world. Griffin would later play football and hoops at TSU.
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Travis – 2012-13
The Harrison twins (McDonalds' All-Americans) punched their ticket to state and won the title before heading off to Kentucky.
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Yates – 2009-10
Considered the No. 1 team in the country by several media outlets, this Lions' team could be the best in school history. Joseph Young, Snap Peters and Darius Gardner left a tremendous legacy at 3rd Ward High.
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Bush – 2009-10
Jordan Clark and Darius Richardson led Bush to their first state title. It would be coach Ronnie Courtney's third state title from two different teams.
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Yates – 2008-09
Same three (Young, Peters and Gardner) led the way for the Lions' first title of the 2000s.
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Kingwood -- 2004-05
Nic Wise, the son of legendary Yates coach Greg Wise, won state with buddy Michael Singletary. Wise would move onto Arizona in college.
The story continues here
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A new challenge awaits, and the Astros know what’s at stake
Jun 27, 2025, 2:05 pm
The Houston Astros didn’t just sweep the Philadelphia Phillies. They sent a message.
In three tightly contested games against one of the best teams in baseball, the Astros leaned on their elite pitching and timely offense to secure a statement sweep. Hunter Brown was electric in the finale, shutting down the Phillies’ lineup and showing the kind of dominance that’s become a defining feature of his game. Bryan Abreu slammed the door with four strikeouts to close out the win, and rookie Cam Smith delivered the deciding blow — an RBI single in the eighth to drive in Isaac Paredes, lifting the Astros to a 2-1 victory.
It wasn’t a series filled with offensive fireworks, but that’s exactly the point. Both teams sent out top-tier pitching throughout the series, and Houston was the team that kept finding a way. For much of the season, the Astros’ inconsistent offense might’ve been a concern in a series like this. But this time, it felt different. The bats showed up just enough, and the pitching did the rest.
Now, with Houston on pace for 96 wins at the halfway point, the question becomes: Is the league officially on notice?
Maybe. Maybe not. But one thing is certain, the Astros have the third-best record in baseball, they’re 17-7 in one-run games, and they’re playing with the kind of rhythm that’s defined their near-decade of dominance. Unlike last year’s uneven campaign, this version of the Astros looks like a team that’s rediscovered its edge. Whether or not they need to take care of business against the Cubs to validate it, their recent run leaves little doubt: when Houston is clicking, there are very few teams built to stop them.
Off the field, however, a bit of long-term uncertainty is starting to creep in. Reports surfaced this week that extension talks with shortstop Jeremy Peña have been put on hold as he recently signed with super-agent Scott Boras. The combination has led many to wonder if Peña might follow the same free-agent path as Alex Bregman, Carlos Correa, and others before him. Boras clients rarely settle early, and Peña, now one of the most valuable shortstops in the game, could command a price tag the Astros have historically avoided paying.
If Peña and even Hunter Brown are likely to get priced out of Houston, the front office may need to pivot. Isaac Paredes could be the most logical extension candidate on the roster. His approach — particularly his ability to pull the ball with authority — is tailor-made for Daikin Park and the Crawford Boxes. Last year, Paredes struggled to leave the yard at Wrigley Field, but in Houston, he’s thriving. Locking him in long term would give the Astros offensive stability and the kind of value they’ve typically targeted.
As for Cam Smith, the breakout rookie is far from free agency and will remain a cost-controlled piece for years. That’s exactly why his contributions now, like his clutch eighth-inning knock to beat Philadelphia, matter so much. He's one more reason why the Astros don’t just look good right now. They look dangerous.
And the rest of the league is starting to feel it.
There's so much more to get to! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday.
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