Donny Ott and the Humble Summer Creek Bulldogs are playing this week at the UIL girls basketball state tournament in San Antonio at the Alamodome. But it wasn’t that long ago when Ott was coaching in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
During the 2015, 2016 and 2017 seasons – Ott was the head coach for the North Crowley Panthers.
In three seasons, Ott led the Panthers to 64 wins and increasing their win total ever year. Ott won 19 games in 2015, 21 in 2016 and then posted a 24-12 record in 2017. This included two playoff appearances. The 24 wins in 2017 were the program’s most in six years (32 in 2011).
While his time with North Crowley was short, Ott made an impact with the school as well as off it with the media, especially with me. His first year in 2014-15 was also my first year covering high school sports. Although I didn’t watch many games, when I did it was always a joy to meeting Donny and catching up.
Even years later when he took Cedar Park to state, Donny remembered me.
The 2016-17 season was Donny’s last in DFW – he would take the job at Cedar Park. With the Timberwolves, Donny really made his mark and left a legacy among Texas state history. He took the team to back-to-back state tournaments and came away with back-to-back state titles.
During 2021 – CP beat Frisco Liberty in the 5A final and finished 28-1.
The next year – the Wolves beat Frisco Memorial in double OT and capped off an undefeated 37-0 season.
Ott would leave Cedar Park in May of 2023 and soon landed the job at Summer Creek. The Bulldogs have quickly become a state contender during the past five seasons. They have just three appearances at the tournament, but all have come since 2019. But the team is looking for its first title. If anyone can bring them their first championship – its Donny.
I mean, he did bring home CP’s first title back in 2021.
Summer Creek will play a Class 6A state semifinal game against Duncanville at 7 pm Friday. A win will push the Bulldogs into the 6A final, scheduled for 830 pm Saturday (the other two teams are SA Brennan and SGP). They are 35-3 this season and have won 18 straight games. SC has playoff wins over Sam Rayburn, Dawson, Shadow Creek, Seven Lakes and Hightower.
