Wagner girls rout Southwest to advance to third round of playoffs

Nia McBride, Leah Mitchell and Kyzarriah Fox led the way as the Thunderbirds dominated in the second round of the high school girls basketball playoffs.

Feb. 21, 2026 at 4:39am

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The Wagner Thunderbirds defeated the Southwest High School Dragons 91-27 in the second round of the Class 5A Division I girls basketball playoffs. Wagner's defense stifled Southwest, and the Thunderbirds' balanced scoring attack was led by Nia McBride, Leah Mitchell, and Kyzarriah Fox. Wagner jumped out to a 26-4 lead in the first quarter and never looked back, taking a 51-11 advantage into halftime. The Thunderbirds continued to pour it on in the second half, outscoring Southwest 72-15 over the final three quarters.

Why it matters

Wagner, the District 26-5A champions, kept their perfect 34-0 season intact and advanced to the regional semifinals, where they will face Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial. The lopsided victory highlighted Wagner's dominant defense and balanced scoring attack, which have been the keys to their undefeated season. For Southwest, the playoff experience was valuable, even in a blowout loss, as the Dragons look to build on this season and continue improving under coach Vanessa Villarreal.

The details

Wagner started the game on a 12-0 run, with junior Nia McBride scoring 11 of her 17 points in the opening quarter to stake the Thunderbirds to a 26-4 lead. Wagner's pressure defense stymied Southwest, as the Dragons were unable to get open looks or find lanes to the basket. By halftime, every Wagner player had scored, with junior Kyzarriah Fox adding 9 of her 13 points in the second quarter. The Thunderbirds continued their onslaught in the second half, leading 72-15 after three quarters.

  • Wagner jumped out to a 26-4 lead in the first quarter.
  • Wagner took a 51-11 advantage into halftime.
  • Wagner led 72-15 after the third quarter.

The players

Nia McBride

A junior guard for the Wagner Thunderbirds who scored 17 points in the game, including 11 in the first quarter to help the Thunderbirds build an early lead.

Leah Mitchell

A senior guard for the Wagner Thunderbirds who scored 18 points in the game, contributing to the Thunderbirds' balanced scoring attack.

Kyzarriah Fox

A junior forward for the Wagner Thunderbirds who scored 13 points, including 9 in the second quarter to help the Thunderbirds pull away.

Annissa Jackson

The head coach of the Wagner Thunderbirds, who praised her team's defensive effort and balanced scoring in the victory.

Vanessa Villarreal

The head coach of the Southwest High School Dragons, who acknowledged her team was overwhelmed by Wagner's talent and pressure defense, but was proud of the growth her team showed this season.

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What they’re saying

“We have a very well-balanced scoring team. It's like any given night, somebody can score 20 or 25, but it's well-balanced.”

— Annissa Jackson, Head Coach, Wagner Thunderbirds (expressnews.com)

“I think for the first time [being in the playoffs], for a lot of them, this experience has definitely opened their eyes up. I think they see it now. They see what the next level is, what it's going to take to compete at this level.”

— Vanessa Villarreal, Head Coach, Southwest High School Dragons (expressnews.com)

What’s next

The Wagner Thunderbirds will face Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial in the regional semifinals next week.

The takeaway

Wagner's dominant performance highlighted the team's stifling defense, balanced scoring attack, and continued pursuit of an undefeated season. For Southwest, the playoff experience provided valuable lessons on what it takes to compete at the highest level, setting the stage for future growth and success under coach Villarreal.