BY BRIAN GOSSET
X – @Gosset41
X – @gmsportsmedia1
LEWISVILLE – For the past decade, the Birdville boys basketball team has been among the best in Tarrant County and the state – but always seemed to come up short of the ultimate goal.
Building off the best start in program history – the Hawks began the year winning 25 of the first 26 games – the team continued their success on Tuesday night in the Class 5A Division 1 semifinals against Frisco Heritage.
Behind a quick start in the first quarter and 12 total 3-pointers, Birdville took down the 7th ranked Coyotes 77-71 at Lewisville HS.
The Hawks (35-3), who finished the regular season #25 in the TABC Class 5A rankings, is headed to the Alamodome in San Antonio for the 5A D1 title game against Beaumont West Brook 1 pm Saturday.
It was Birdville’s first appearance in the semifinals.
The championship berth is also a first for Birdville ISD. Haltom made the state tournament in 1950 and 1964, but lost in the semis both times.
Heritage ends 32-5 and its first state appearance.
Birdville got up as many as 14 following a 3-pointer from senior Trent Bowers with six minutes left in the fourth quarter, but then Heritage nearly completed a huge comeback.
Junior Cameron Lomax hit a short jumper to make it 67-57, but Avery Webb hit a big three and it was 70-59. Roman Bradley’s layup pulled the Coyotes within seven at the 2-minute mark. Heritage continued to apply the pressure with the full court press and forced multiple turnovers.
The Coyotes got within four with 1:24 on the clock on another bucket by Lomax. Another turnover turned into a long two by Garrett Shelton and it was 73-71. But Birdville made two free throws and got a layup from senior Tasshir Pina Warren to pull away for its biggest win in program history.
Webb scored a team-high 21 points with four 3-pointers. Bowers added 17 points followed by Sawyer Dotson (14), Warren (12) and DJ Driver (10). Lomax poured in game-high 27 points while Bryson Howard and Shelton chipped in 20 and 10, respectively.
Howard is a 2026 and the son of former Dallas Mavericks forward Josh Howard, who was drafted by the Mavs with the 29th overall pick in 2003. The older Howard played in Dallas for seven seasons – helping the team to the 2006 NBA Finals.
Birdville seemed to hit everything in the first quarter – getting out to a 10-3 lead on a jumper by Bowers. A three by Driver and Warren and the lead grew to 21-10. Lomax split the defense to the hole and the Hawks lead was 23-14 after the opening period.
Howard picked up a steal and hit a pull-up three to get it to 30-20 with 5:30 left in the second quarter. The Hawks led 42-35 at the intermission.
Birdville continued to lead by 11 and was up 62-51 after three.
