The 2024-25 school year in the Lubbock area was one for the books. From state championships to big-time recruits, the South Plains was home to plenty of action.
As the calendar flips to July and attention starts to turn toward upcoming fall sports, here’s a look back at the top storylines from a historic 10 months.
No. 1 recruit Aaliyah Chavez makes college decision after state title with Monterey girls basketball
Aaliyah Chavez got a storybook ending to her high school career.
Chavez led the Monterey girls basketball team to its first state title in 44 years with a 64-35 drubbing of Liberty Hill in the Class 5A Division II championship March 1. She was named the game’s MVP with 19 points (8 of 26 shooting), seven rebounds, six assists, two steals and a block.
The spotlight didn’t stray after that, either. Chavez had women’s basketball fans’ full attention for the next three weeks leading up to her commitment ceremony March 25 on ESPN.
The No. 1-rated recruit in the class of 2025 decided on Oklahoma as her college destination, declining offers that included hometown Texas Tech and Texas. Chavez, who earned national player of the year awards from Gatorade and Naismith, will join a Sooners squad coming off a run to the Sweet 16.
Sundown softball surprises with state championship
Of the area’s state champions last year, Sundown softball was most unlikely.
The Roughettes won their district, but a treacherous path laid ahead. Recent state champion Stamford awaited in the third round, and reigning 2A champ Shiner was the title-game foe. Sundown hadn’t reached the state semifinals before.
The history didn’t matter after all. The Roughettes overcame a two-run deficit over the last three innings in the 2A D-II championship to down Shiner 9-3.
Fifth-year coach Meagan Gonzales said the team “grew a ton” during the postseason — when some opponents wondered “What’s a Sundown?”
The Roughettes (35-6) have seven starters from the championship slated to return for a repeat bid.
Playoff runs highlight 2024 football season
Three teams from the South Plains reached regional finals in 11-man football last fall. That included a massive turnaround for Post.
The Antelopes won four games combined the past two seasons and matched that output by Week 4. Behind the punishing running of A-J small-school player of the year Ian Vergara, Post finished 13-1 after a loss to 2A D-I state finalist Stamford. The highlight was an upset of previously unbeaten Sunray in the regional semifinals.
Ropes produced its longest 11-man run by a long shot. The Eagles won their first playoff game since 1964 and proceeded to reach the regional final. Ropes (12-2) posted five shutouts on the season, including a stretch of three in a row.
Shallowater is no stranger to the fourth round, and the Mustangs did it again last year. Shallowater faced three opponents from 4-3A D-I in the playoffs, ending 11-3 after a loss to Paradise. That snapped the Mustangs’ nine-game winning streak.
Jayton boys collect state championships during dominant year
No school was more successful in 2024-25 than Jayton. Much of that came on the backs of the same boys.
The Jaybirds kicked off the memorable year with a 54-8 rout of Oakwood in the 1A D-II football state championship. Jayton (15-0) won all but one game via the 45-point mercy rule — Klondike went the distance before falling 90-48 in the state semifinals.
Sean Stanaland was named championship offensive MVP and Colt Gentry earned defensive MVP. Those two also started on the basketball team that began its season two days after state football.
Gentry was the title-game MVP in Jayton’s 70-36 blowout of Bryson in the 1A D-II championship. The Jaybirds led 35-3 at halftime.
Bode Ham, Griff Reel and Ayden Salazar — all contributors on the football team — rounded out the starting five for Jayton’s 28-2 campaign. The losses were to 4A teams, including state semifinalist Estacado.
The Jaybirds put a bow on the year with a runner-up finish at the state track meet. Stanaland led the way with a gold in the 800 meters, while the Jayton boys nabbed silver in the 800- and 1,600 relays and bronze in the 400 relay. Reel earned silver in the 400.
Lubbock athletes headed to SEC, Big 12, ACC
Chavez wasn’t the only athlete from Lubbock to ink with a Power 4 program. The local 2025 class produced several players who are headed around the country across multiple sports.
Hometown receivers Michael Dever (Lubbock-Cooper) and Leyton Stone (Frenship) signed with Texas Tech football, which also brought in Holden Phillips with a late move in December. Lubbock-Cooper specialist Cub Patton signed with Kansas State football.
Lubbock-Cooper’s Bailey Cate joined Texas A&M soccer, and classmate Brentley Preston signed with SMU track and field.
Frenship’s Patton Pinkins inked with Ole Miss basketball, where he’ll play under his dad, assistant coach Al Pinkins.
Several others are also headed to D-I programs. That includes Lubbock-Cooper’s Jackson Austin (ACU football), Lubbock-Cooper’s Kyler Beights (Southern Illinois swimming), Coronado’s Allen Gant (UTEP football), Frenship’s Bryce Garza (UNT football), Coronado’s Zanashia Harris (UIW track and field), Frenship’s Zeta McDannels (UTEP soccer), Frenship’s Bella Medrano (ACU soccer), Frenship’s Grayson Page (SFA football), Lubbock-Cooper’s Jake Qualia (UTSA baseball) and Frenship’s Hadlee Welch (ACU volleyball).
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: 2024-25 year in review: Top 5 high school sports moments for Lubbock area
Reporting by Stephen Garcia, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal / Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
