The Varsity Boys Basketball team defeated the Fort Bend Marshall Buffalos with a score of 74-66 in the State Championship Game, solidifying their position as the number one basketball program for 5A.

“I was bursting with pride after the final buzzers sounded,” Head Coach Duane Gregory said. “Proud of all the players and coaches for being able to bring a state championship to this program.”

The team was down by 10 points with a score of 37-27, at halftime.

“We weren’t sticking to our normal game plan,” senior William Owens. “We let Fort Bend Marshall control the pace and take us out of our style of play.”

In the Regional Championship Game, the team defeated the number one ranked program in the state after falling behind by five points at halftime.

“I felt like the hard fought game the week before against Waxahachie gave us the level of experience needed to win state,” junior Isaac Likekele said. “We have been down before in big games but once we play we step up and succeed.”

During the third quarter, the team had a 19-2 run that gave them the lead entering the fourth quarter.

“In the locker room, during halftime, we made the proper adjustments,” Gregory said. “In the second half, we tried to emphasize the little things we slipped up on in the first. That strategy works for us to get the lead and dominate for the rest of the game.”

All-State Honors and the State Tournament’s Most Valuable Player went to junior Chris Mullins.

“The team believed and trusted in me all year,” he said. “They knew that I had the talent to help win games so they gave me many opportunities to make plays. Because of that, I accomplished a lot this season.”

Senior William Owens has been a part of the varsity team for three years.

“Winning a state championship as a senior is incredible,” Owens said. “Four years of working out with one dream in mind of becoming a state champion, and we finally accomplished it. It’s one of the greatest feelings I’ve ever felt in life.”

Gregory was named High School Coach of the Year by Dallas Morning News.

“Being awarded (Dallas Morning News) Coach of the Year shows how strong of a program we are,” he said. “Every coach, player, manager and parent played a vital role in the team’s success this past season.”

Principal Derrell Douglas said he feels like the school has a strong student body.

“I’m super excited that the boys are state champs,” he said. “It’s great for the school to get some recognition on the state level. Timberview has a lot of talented young people walking the halls and opportunity to show them off is good.”

Only five schools have won back-to-back state championships in 5A boys basketball history.

“I’m just going to go ahead and say it ‘Repeat,’” Assistant Head Coach Matthew Workman said. “We are losing two key pieces in Tim Johnson and Will(iam) but the returning guys feel confident in themselves and so do I. If we stay dedicated to the grind, I’m sure we’ll be crowned champs again next year.”