Orangefield's state team run changes basketball program

Coach Bryan Whitmire says the future is bright for the Bobcats despite state championship loss

Mar. 16, 2026 at 3:09pm

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Orangefield's boys basketball team made its first-ever state championship appearance this season, falling 70-59 to Dallas Madison in the Class 3A-I title game. Though they came up short, head coach Bryan Whitmire said the historic season has changed the program for years to come, with the Bobcats setting records for total wins and playoff wins along the way. Whitmire praised his players' hard work and determination, saying "the future is bright, and it's because of how hard these players worked to get here."

Why it matters

Orangefield's deep playoff run and first-ever state championship appearance marks a significant milestone for the basketball program, which had never advanced this far before. The Bobcats' success this season has generated excitement and optimism around the team's future, with coach Whitmire believing the experience gained will pay dividends moving forward.

The details

Orangefield won 35 games en route to the state title game, including playoff victories over Diboll, Hitchcock, Mexia, Fairfield and London. However, the Bobcats struggled against Dallas Madison's full-court press, committing 17 turnovers in the first half that led to easy baskets for the Trojans. Madison went on a 16-0 run to take a 32-19 halftime lead, though Orangefield did make a late push to cut the deficit to 9 points before ultimately falling 70-59.

  • Orangefield lost in the first round of the 2025 state playoffs.
  • Immediately after that 2025 loss, the Bobcats decided things would be different moving forward.
  • This season, Orangefield went undefeated in District 22-3A to win the league championship.
  • The Bobcats then won playoff games over Diboll, Hitchcock, Mexia, Fairfield and London to reach the state championship game.
  • The state title game was played on Friday, March 13, 2026 at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

The players

Bryan Whitmire

The head coach of the Orangefield Bobcats basketball team, who led the program to its first-ever state championship appearance.

Jaden Scales

A senior guard for the Orangefield Bobcats who shared an emotional embrace with coach Whitmire after the state championship game.

Carson Willis

A senior forward for the Orangefield Bobcats who scored a team-high 21 points in the state title game against Dallas Madison.

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What they’re saying

“These guys have had great careers. They basically own the record book at Orangefield. The future is bright, and it's because of how hard these players worked to get here.”

— Bryan Whitmire, Head Coach, Orangefield Bobcats (Beaumont Enterprise)

“That loss really hit us hard and made us look in the mirror at what we were doing as a team. It really set things up for this season.”

— Jaden Scales, Senior Guard, Orangefield Bobcats (Beaumont Enterprise)

“We were just one run away from getting right back in he game.”

— Carson Willis, Senior Forward, Orangefield Bobcats (Beaumont Enterprise)

What’s next

With state championship experience now under their belts, the Orangefield Bobcats are poised for continued success in the coming seasons as they look to build on this historic campaign.

The takeaway

Orangefield's deep playoff run and first-ever state title game appearance have energized the community and set the stage for the Bobcats to become a perennial powerhouse in Texas high school basketball. The team's resilience and determination in the face of adversity this season bodes well for their future.