By Kevin Lonnquist
NTX Varsity Sports Columnist
We’re about seven weeks into the 2025-27 high school athletics season. Storylines are starting to develop. It’s probably a good time to review what’s trending.
District 3-6A title game?
When Arlington Martin (4-0, 1-0 3-6A) plays at Aledo (2-2, 1-0) at 7:00 p.m. on Friday (KTFW 92.1FM), this will serve as one of the early intriguing district matchups between powers.
Much like we saw last week in District 11-6A when North Crowley played at Duncanville, it carried serious district championship implications. Even though that was the district opener, it figured those two are going to be in the hunt for the district title.
Based on the way the 3-6A season has started, it appears the Bearcats and Warriors are playing for the district championship. Now, you may believe it’s unfair to the rest of the district with five games to play after Friday. There’s a title for these types of games, de facto.
However, these two appear to have surged to the front of the pack. Aledo will be favored. Martin won’t be spooked. It will be ready.
Both have played solid schedules to this point. Aledo’s opponents – North Crowley, Waco Midway, Euless Trinity and Granbury – have a combined record of 10-5. Martin’s opponents – Mansfield, Flower Mound Marcus, Crowley and Weatherford – are 8-7.
While a district championship would be at stake, determining Division I and Division II seeds won’t. Martin is certain to be Division I. Aledo is all but ticketed to go to Division II.
Of course, Aledo’s national district winning streak is still alive. After thumping Granbury last week, 69-0, it now stands at 136.
State basketball semifinals in Tarrant County
When the UIL decided to play only its state basketball and girls basketball title games in San Antonio a couple of years ago, it did not account for the state semifinals.
For the past two years, it turned into a scramble for coaches to agree to one location, day and time to play the games. Facility availability became an issue. Lack of a predetermined set up was not fair to the teams.
Left with egg on its collective face, the UIL announced Wednesday the semifinal games will be played at decided locations for all classifications. The boys and girls will use the same venues since the girls playoff schedule runs one week ahead of the boys.
Tarrant County became the beneficiary for Class 5A and 6A. The Region I and II 5A games will be played at the Thomas Coliseum in Haltom City. Meanwhile, Region I and II 6A is going to Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center in Fort Worth.
These locations have been around for decades, hosted their share of memorable contests and will have the seating capacity to hold large crowds.
It will be little tricky for teams to travel to Thomas Coliseum. It’s tucked in a corner in Haltom City. If you remember where old Birdville Stadium is, the Thomas Coliseum shares that parking lot.
Perhaps the West Texas teams will be miffed that their potential travel into the western side of DFW is not the easiest. Just keep in mind that there are more opportunities for lodging and restaurants. That makes a difference. It’s about giving the teams and fans the best experience.
About this 2026 volleyball season
The NTX Varsity Sports coverage area was spoiled by what took place in 2025. We witnessed four volleyball programs capture state championships.
They were Boyd in Class 3A Division II, Decatur in Class 4A Division I and Eagle Mountain in 4A Division II. Finally, All Saints won the TAPPS 5A Division II title. Decatur and All Saints won back-to-back championships.
The roster construction between those teams was such that each had the makings of winning a state title.
The current season has just begun the district season. It’s hard to know if either of the teams in this area will be able to claim the hardware again.
Boyd looks like it’s going through a rebuilding year. Eagle Mountain moved up to Class 5A. It’s having a strong season and ranked in the Top 5. Time will tell. To be sure, the road through the 5A Division II bracket will be different and much likely deeper than what it experienced in 2025.
Decatur took some lumps in the non-district season. But that’s OK because the non-district season doesn’t work against a team. It only toughens it. I think the Lady Eagles are the program that has the best chance to win it again. If so, it would be a third consecutive season.
Two other programs made deep playoff runs in 2025 but fell short. Springtown advanced to the 4A Division I state quarterfinals. Aledo played in the 5A Division I state semifinals.
Springtown probably would have a better shot to reach the state tournament. Its problem is that it likely would run into Decatur again in the same round.
As for Aledo, the Ladycats have had little difficulty in their move up to 6A. But the playoffs are dauting with the likes of state-ranked Allen, Trophy Club Byron Nelson, Hebron and Flower Mound in Region I.
All Saints’ playoff chances don’t look very good at this point. The Lady Saints are under .500 and had dropped their first three district matches. To be fair, that team lost a lot of impact players from that team.
More to come down the line.