Barbers Hill Girls Basketball Advances to State Semifinals

Eagles defeat Iowa Colony 62-52 in regional final, seek first state title since 1997

Feb. 28, 2026 at 5:22am

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The Barbers Hill girls basketball team defeated Iowa Colony 62-52 in the Class 5A Division II Region III final, advancing to the UIL state semifinals for the second consecutive season. Led by junior guard Brooklynn Roberson's game-high 20 points, Barbers Hill overcame a slow start to pull away in the second half and secure the victory. The Eagles, who are seeking their first state championship since 1997, will face Cedar Park in the state semifinals with a trip to the title game in San Antonio on the line.

Why it matters

Barbers Hill's return to the state semifinals continues the program's rich championship tradition, having won state titles in 1982, 1983, and 1997. The team is driven to finish the job this year after falling short in the state semifinals last season, providing added motivation as they chase greatness and look to cement their legacy.

The details

Barbers Hill led by just two points at halftime, 28-26, before pulling away in the third quarter to build a double-digit lead. The Eagles' stifling defense and balanced scoring attack proved too much for the upstart Iowa Colony squad, which was making its deepest playoff run in just its fourth varsity season. Barbers Hill coach Brian Harris, who has over 700 career victories, believes his team's strong leadership and team-first mentality have been key factors in their success this season.

  • Barbers Hill defeated Iowa Colony 62-52 in the UIL Girls Regional Finals on Friday, February 27, 2026.
  • Barbers Hill will face Cedar Park in the UIL Girls State Semifinals early next week.

The players

Brooklynn Roberson

A junior guard and team captain for Barbers Hill, Roberson led the way with a game-high 20 points in the regional final victory.

Brian Harris

The head coach of the Barbers Hill girls basketball team, Harris has over 700 career victories and is guiding the Eagles in their quest for their first state title since 1997.

MacKenzie Thornhill

A senior captain for Barbers Hill, Thornhill has helped set the tone for the team's strong leadership and team-first mentality throughout the season.

Chandi Jones-Donley

The head coach of the Iowa Colony girls basketball team, which made history this season by advancing to the regional final in just its fourth varsity campaign.

Zoie Golding

A player for the Iowa Colony girls basketball team, which fell to Barbers Hill 62-52 in the regional final.

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What they’re saying

“I'm very honored because I put in so much work, and I feel like it's finally just paying off. We all kind of look to each other to continue to push through hard moments, even when things aren't going our way, and we figure out a way to come together and get the win. I'm so proud of us.”

— Brooklynn Roberson, Junior Guard, Barbers Hill (Houston Chronicle)

“I think they were pretty hungry. I think last year, we had a bad taste in our mouth. That's no disrespect to the teams that were there (at state), but we just felt like there was a period in that third quarter of the state semifinal last year where we kind of struggled, didn't play our best, and so that kind of hurt us. That was our battle cry all year. We're trying to chase greatness and finish unfinished business.”

— Brian Harris, Head Coach, Barbers Hill (Houston Chronicle)

What’s next

Barbers Hill will face Cedar Park in the UIL Girls State Semifinals early next week, with a trip to the championship game in San Antonio on the line.

The takeaway

Barbers Hill's return to the state semifinals showcases the program's rich championship tradition and the team's unwavering determination to capture their first state title since 1997. Led by their experienced roster and strong leadership, the Eagles are poised to make a deep run and finish the job they fell short of last season.