By Kevin Lonnquist
NTX Varsity Sports Columnist
All those hours shooting alone in a gym. All those hours driving to play in select and summer league in-state and out-of-state tournament games.
Starting the offseason in August and then carrying it all the way to the formal workouts in October begins the journey for the next four months.
However, it can all end in 32 minutes.
That’s the cruelty of postseason basketball. The only thing each playoff team in each division of Texas high school basketball is guaranteed is the right to wear the uniform one more time. After that, all bets are off.
We had an interesting 2025-26 boys basketball season for the NTX Varsity Sports coverage area. It comes down to the next three weeks before the state championships are played March 12-14 in San Antonio’s Alamodome.
Within all classifications, here’s a look at the seven area teams that made the postseason:
Class 5A: Aledo
Class 4A: Krum, Graham, Eagle Mountain, Glen Rose
Class 3A: Paradise
Class 2A: Mildred
What’s interesting to note is that four of them are district champions: Aledo, Krum, Paradise and Mildred. The one thing those programs have in common is that they all went undefeated in district play.
Now, the playoff field isn’t filled yet. Bridgeport is looking to join the 4A party and become the area’s eighth playoff team. The Bulls are thankful to have the chance.
Because Bridgeport defeated Decatur in the regular season finale and Eagle Mountain topped Lake Worth, it created a meeting for the final playoff spot in District 7-4A between the Bulls and the Bullfrogs. Bridgeport and Lake Worth split their two district meetings.
They will play at 6:30 p.m. Friday in Mineral Wells to determine who earns the playoff berth. For those who don’t know, it’s termed a playoff play-in game. If Bridgeport wins, it will be the program’s first playoff appearance since 2021.
There are other notable stories that caught our attention. These are probably your best bets to reach the Alamo City.
Ranked No. 7 in the 4A state poll, five-time state champion and 2024-25 state semifinalist Krum (28-5) won the District 7-4A championship going undefeated. This team got hot. Rarely was it challenged except for its two meetings with second-place and No. 8 Burkburnett. The Bobcats won those by two and six points respectively.
As proud as this tradition is, it’s been a minute since Krum last won a state championship. Try 1997-98 when it completed a three-peat. In fact, last year’s state semifinal appearance was its deepest run since 1997-98. This team has the makeup to try and end the 28-year hardware drought. Krum will play in Region II. It doesn’t know its division yet because of the Bridgeport-Lake Worth contest.
Paradise strolls into the 3A Division II playoffs ranked No. 2 in the state. The Panthers are 31-2. They’re trying to return to the state tournament for the second time in as many years. Last year was Paradise’s first-ever trip when it played in the title game. This program has won 61 games in this two-year run. It finished 30-6 in 2024-25.
What head coach Bo Rickner has done with this program has been extraordinary. Rickner has a great scorer in Cooper Jones and strong supporting cast highlighted by senior point guard – and noted electric guitar player – Cash Selby.
This roster also plays exceptional team defense. That’s what will allow the Panthers to go a long way.
Then there are a couple of notable stories. Let’s start with Aledo. The Bearcats (26-6) have two consecutive district titles after never winning one in program history. Unfortunately, this team draws No. 6 Birdville in the opening round of the 5A Division I Region I playoffs.
This is a game Bearcats head coach Drew Baker knows his team needs to be solid in all facets. Little to no sloppiness and efficient offensive play will be critical to Aledo pulling off this upset. If the Bearcats can, it could kickstart a playoff run. In its history, Aledo has won only two playoff games.
Then there’s Mildred. The District 18-2A champion Eagles also have won consecutive district championships. That hasn’t happened since Mildred won three straight titles when John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson were Presidents of the United States (1962-63, 1963-64 and 1964-65).
When the Eagles won their bi-district playoff game in 2025, it was their first playoff win in 11 years and only the third in this century. It tells you that when momentum is secured, a lot of good things can follow.
At any level of postseason basketball, guard play is going to be the differentiator. Smart decisions. Valuing the ball. Shrewd shot selection. All of those will lead to deep playoff runs.
If a team doesn’t have that, then the reality of the one-game season will appear. And sooner than some teams would like. That’s postseason basketball.