basketball

Courtesy Photo/Kerens Secondary
Congratulations to the Kerens Bobcats boys' basketball team, which won a UIL Bi-District championship Feb. 24 by beating Marlin, 54-44, at Navarro College in Corsicana. Next up, Kerens faces rival Cayuga in the Area round Friday, Feb. 27 in Cross Roads. And after beating Athens and seizing a spot in the UIL playoffs, the Mabank Panthers boys' hoops team fought hard but fell 58-50 in their first-round Bi-District playoff game Feb. 24 versus Longview Pine Tree at the University of Texas at Tyler.

Monitor Photo/Blaine Clamon
The seniors of Mabank’s 2025-26 varsity basketball team gather to celebrate Luke Carter’s (center) 2,000 career point milestone before their home district game versus Athens Feb. 13, including Angel Guerrero, Joseph Magana, Luke Carter, Peyton Welk, Angel Guerrero, Jayden Colin, Luke Carter, Jayden Colin, Peyton Welk and Carter Sims.

Courtesy Photo/Mabank High School
The 2026 Bi-District champion Mabank Lady Panthers pose with their University Interscholastic League trophy after a Feb. 16, 57-51 win over Kilgore in Frankston. The Lady Panthers next play Texarkana Pleasant Grove in the Area round of the playoffs Feb. 19 at Como-Pickton High School. Also, the Lady Tigers of Malakoff won their Bi-District championship Feb. 16 by beating Sabine High School at Tyler Junior College 45-35 to move on to Area and face Liberty-Eylau at Spring Hill High School in Longview Feb. 17.

Monitor Photo/Blaine Clamon
Mabank's Luke Carter (No. 3 in white) guards Kemp's Zaki Brown (No. 3 in orange) during the District game between Kemp and Mabank Feb. 10.
 

Monitor Photo/Blaine Clamon
Panther Carter Sims (No. 4) attempts a free throw at the District game held between Kemp and Mabank Feb. 10. 

Monitor Photo/Blaine Clamon
Panther Jayden Colin (No. 2) dribbles in Mabank’s home District game versus Van Feb. 3.

Monitor Photo/Blaine Clamon
Mabank's Luke Carter (No. 3) shoots a basket against Van's Tiler Williams (No. 15) in Mabank’s home District game against Van Feb. 3. 

Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Luke Carter of the Panthers puts his head down for an inside dribble drive against the Brownsboro Bears Jan. 23 in Mabank.

Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Mabank’s Cullen McFaul muscles his way inside for a layup against Brownsboro during his team’s 58-45 win in District 15-4A.

Monitor Photo/Blaine Clamon
Kemp's Zaki Brown (No. 3 in white) guards Mabank's Luke Carter (No. 3 in green) during the District game between Kemp and Mabank Jan.16. 

Monitor Photo/Blaine Clamon
Yellowjacket Ettore Schiapparoli (No. 23) dribbles the ball during the District game match between Kemp and Mabank Jan. 16. 

Monitor Photo/Blaine Clamon
Mabank senior Luke Carter splits Lindale defenders while driving to the basket in his team’s Jan. 13 game.

Monitor Photo/Blaine Clamon
Mabank’s Angel Guerrero shoots a basket off the glass during the Panthers’ home District game against Lindale.

Monitor Photo/Blaine Clamon
Kemp Yellowjacket Kaysen Stevenson (No. 0) passes the ball while being defended by Cristo Rey Dallas’ Jakob Castellon (No. 2) in Kemp’s home game versus Cristo Rey Dallas Nov. 14. 

Monitor File Photo/Russell Slaton
Kerens’ Muziq Gunnell (left, shown Jan. 31 versus Hubbard, honored by District 18-2A Co-Coach of the Year Gerald Hurd for scoring 1500-plus career points) is 18-2A’s Most Valuable Player.