Jayton goes back-to-back, dominates Texas UIL 1A Division II boys state championship; live updates, recap

Colt Gentry named finals MVP as Jaybirds claim back-to-back 1A state championships

Jayton accepts their championship trophy after the Class 1A Division II state championship boys basketball game on Saturday, March 6, 2025, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. Jayton defeated Bryson 70-36. / Angela Piazza/USA Today Network via Caller-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Last season's Class 1A finals MVP, Colt Gentry, and the Jayton Jaybirds return on Thursday to the scene of their 2023-2024 1A state championship.

The top-ranked team in the state in 1A at the end of the regular season by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches (TABC), Jayton (27-2) goes for the repeat against unranked Bryson (29-4) at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 6 at The Alamodome in San Antonio.

Returning alongside Gentry (6-foot-2 junior guard) are starters Sean Stanaland (6-1 junior combo guard) and Ayden Salazar (5-11 senior guard).

In their first trip to the state finals the Cowboys have their hands full trying to solve the Jayton's defense, which is one of the best in the state. They've allowed only 828 points all season. In the 28 games they've played this season, the Jaybirds are allowing only 29.57 points per game.

Bryson has a host of offensive weapons who can carry the team on any given night. Senior guards Evan Ford (5-11) and Jameson Pierce (5-10), junior guard Caleb Allen (6-0), senior center Maurice Reiter (6-7), senior guard Gavin Sadler (5-11) and senior forward Jacob Hearne (5-11) can shoot it from all over the floor and juniors Ben Bennett (6-foot center) and Wiett Newton (5-10 guard) also help pave the way on defense.

The Cowboys outscored Kennard 14-9 in the fourth quarter to win their state semifinal, 59-55. Jayton, winners of 18 straight, handled Texline 56-43 in the semifinals.

Jayton has scored 1,677 points this season and surrendered 828. Bryson has scored 1,927 and surrendered 1,313.

Follow along below and check back often as we will post live updates from the game as they happen. You can also watch the game on NFHS Network.

1A Division II bracket

1A Division II

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Jayton vs. Bryson: Texas UIL boys 1A Division II state championship; live scoring, recap

We're about to get started in the 1A Division II state championship. Here are the starters:

Bryson: Jameson Pierce, Caleb Allen, Gavin Sadler, Evan Ford, Maurice Reiter

Jayton: Bode Ham, Ayden Salazar, Sean Stanaland, Colt Gentry, Griff Reel

FIRST QUARTER

Jayton's Sean Stanaland blocks a basket attempt by Bryson's Caleb Allen during the Class 1A Division II state championship boys basketball game on Saturday, March 6, 2025, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. / Angela Piazza/USA Today Network via Caller-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

We’re nearly two minutes in and we’ve seen only three shots taken so far before Gentry hits a jumper with 6:07 remaining in the first and Jayton take a 2-0 lead.

Gentry hits another jumper, and Jayton extends it to 4-0 before Reiter hits a pair of free throws to make it 4-2.

Gentry sinks two free throws and has all six of Jayton's points so far.

Stanaland is putting on a defensive showcase in the first quarter. He already has three steals for Jayton, and Bryson now has seven turnovers.

Jayton's Sean Stanaland receives a pass during the Class 1A Division II state championship boys basketball game on Saturday, March 6, 2025, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. / Angela Piazza/USA Today Network via Caller-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Gentry does it again. He's fouled on a basket and hits the bonus shot to complete a three-piont play. It's 9-2 and he has all nine of the Jaybirds' points.

Guess who? Gentry cleans up a missed jumper and Bryson calls timeout with 2:26. Jayton, er, Colt Gentry, leads Bryson 11-2.

Salazar scores to break Gentry's streak, but keeps Jayton's going off the timeout. It's 13-2.

Reel gets on the board for Jayton and the Jaybirds extend their run to 11-0.

Gentry scores on another three-point play. He has 14 points in the first quarter.

Ham banks in a 3-pointer at the buzzer and Jayton leads Bryson 21-2 at the end of the period.

SECOND QUARTER

DUNK! Gentry scores again out of the quarter break when he brought the crowd to its feet with a big dunk. He has 16 already. He's 6 of 7 from the field and has made all four of his shots from the free throw line.

Jayton's Colt Gentry dunks during the Class 1A Division II state championship boys basketball game on Saturday, March 6, 2025, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. / Angela Piazza/USA Today Network via Caller-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Jayton's defense has been so, so good today. Bryson is 0-for-11 from the field and has committed 14 turnovers.

Gentry scores again to give him 18, Ham splashes a 3-pointer and follows with another basket right after that to make it 30-2 with 5 minutes left in the first half.

Jayton fans cheer during the Class 1A Division II state championship boys basketball game on Saturday, March 6, 2025, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. Jayton defeated Bryson 70-36. / Angela Piazza/USA Today Network via Caller-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Bryson is 0-for-17 from the field with just under 3 minutes left in the first half.

Bryson breaks a 35-2 run with a free throw by Reiter with nine seconds left in the half and Jayton takes a 35-3 lead into halftime.

Halftime: Jayton 35, Bryson 3

Halftime notes: Colt Gentry leads Jayton with 18 points on 7 of 9 shooting, five rebounds and three steals. ... The Jaybirds defense didn't allow a basket the entire first half, as Bryson went 0-for-20 from the field with 18 turnovers. ... Bode Ham has eight points and three steals for Jayton, while Sean Stanaland has four steals. ... Maurice Reiter leads Bryson with three points.

THIRD QUARTER

Bryson is finally off the schneid, as Pierce hits a 3-pointer early in the first minute of the third period, but it's 40-6 with 7 minutes left in the third after Stanaland is fouled on a 3-pointer and completes a four-point play for the Jaybirds.

Gentry sinks two of three free throws to give him 22 points and Bryson calls timeout with 6:12 left in the third. It's 44-6, Jayton.

Bryson's Caleb Allen dribbles past Jayton's Ayden Salazar during the Class 1A Division II state championship boys basketball game on Saturday, March 6, 2025, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. / Angela Piazza/USA Today Network via Caller-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Ben Bennett scores Bryson's second basket with 6 minutes left in the third quarter. Bryson is now 2 for 24 from the field.

Bennett hits two free throws and Caleb Allen sinks a 3-pointer and Bryson trims into the deficit a bit, but Jayton's Lorenzo Robles Vargas answers with his second trey of the quarter and it's 50-13.

Bryson closes the third quarter on a 7-0 run in the final 39 seconds - Caleb Allen scored on a buzzer-beater to end the period - but it's 56-20, Jayton.

End 3: Jayton 56, Bryson 20

FOURTH QUARTER

Vargas scores on a layup and Jayton has erased the 7-0 run. It's 63-20 with 6:23 left in the game.

Bryson has found some life in the second half, but Jayton subs its starters out with just under 5 minutes to go, but Ethan Pendergast comes off the bench and drains a 3-pointer for the Jaybirds with 3:36 to go to make it 70-28.

Final: Jayton 70, Bryson 36

Colt Gentry was named 1A Division II finals MVP after pouring in a game-high 24 points and eight rebounds as Lipan claimed its second straight 1A championship. Jayton didn't allow a field goal in the first half, as Bryson opened the game 0-for-20 from the field and 2-for-24.

Jayton's Griff Reel shoots a layup during the Class 1A Division II state championship boys basketball game on Saturday, March 6, 2025, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. / Angela Piazza/USA Today Network via Caller-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Jayton's defense was relentless, holding the Cowboys to 12 of 51 from the field and 4 of 26 from 3-point range while forcing 25 turnovers.

Jayton accepts their championship trophy after the Class 1A Division II state championship boys basketball game on Saturday, March 6, 2025, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. Jayton defeated Bryson 70-36. / Angela Piazza/USA Today Network via Caller-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Vargas and Ham each had 12 points for the Jaybirds. Reiter led Bryson with eight points, while Sadler and Allen had seven apiece.