CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Aransas Pass boys basketball is very familiar with the State Tournament. Head Coach Glen Hayes has made it to his seventh UIL State Semifinal with the Panthers, but it's their first in 10 years.
"I told the team if you want me to be easy on you we can be mediocre or I can be hard on you every day and try to make you better. You just got to be coachable and know where I'm coming from," said Hayes. "They know I love them. When you love the kids you can be stern with them and they still will perform for you. These guys are really tough, mentally tough."
This program has never played in the Championship, but lately they've found their momentum, winning 13 of their last 14 games. Aransas Pass likes to go on runs and get to the basket, a skill set that's built on chemistry.
"I've been with this group of guys for six years since them two years in middle school and it means a lot," said Aransas Pass junior Frankie Santiago. "They're all my best friends, and for us to finally be up here was our goal ever since we were in seventh grade. We were like hey, we're going to work hard."
3A No. 21 Aransas Pass (22-17) will battle No. 5 Westwood Palestine (28-2) in the UIL 3A-DII State Semifinal on Tuesday at 8 p.m. at the Leonard E. Merrell Center in Katy.
Coastal Bend State Tournament History
Aransas Pass: 2026, 2016 (State Semifinal), 2014 (State Semifinal), 2007 (State Semifinal), 2005 (State Semifinal), 2003 (State Semifinal), 2002 (State Semifinal), 1943, 1942
London: 2026
Veterans Memorial: 2025 (State Semifinal), 2017 (State Semifinal)
Miller: 2012 (State Runner-Up)
West Oso: 2011 (State Champion), 2004 (State Semifinal), 2001 (State Runner-Up), 2000 (State Semifinal), 1999 (State Semifinal), 1988 (State Runner-Up), 1986 (State Semifinal), 1978 (State Semifinal), 1977 (State Semifinal), 1976 (State Semifinal)
Ray: 2003 (State Runner-Up)
Port Aransas: 2003 (State Semifinal)
Sinton: 1997 (State Semifinal), 1996 (State Champion), 1994 (State Semifinal), 1951(State Semifinal), 1948
King: 1985 (State Semifinal)
Ingleside: 1985 (State Semifinal), 1960 (State Semifinal), 1945 (State Semifinal), 1944, 1943, 1942 (State Semifinal)
Flour Bluff: 1984 (State Runner-Up), 1983 (State Semifinal)
Refugio: 1974 (State Semifinal), 1948
Carroll: 1973 (State Semifinal)
Mathis: 1973 (State Semifinal)
Rockport-Fulton: 1973 (State Semifinal), 1966 (State Semifinal)
Taft: 1970 (State Runner-Up), 1936, 1935
Woodsboro: 1966 (State Semifinal), 1965 (State Runner-Up), 1963 (State Runner-Up), 1962 (State Runner-Up), 1952, 1951, 1949, 1946
Kingsville King: 1965
San Diego: 1964 (State Semifinal)
Corpus Christi Solomon Coles: 1961 (State Runner-Up), 1950 (State Champion), 1947 (State Semifinal), 1946 (State Semifinal), 1943 (State Semifinal), 1941
Skidmore-Tynan: 1959
Agua Dulce: (1958)
Three Rivers: 1957 (State Semifinal)
Freer: 1955 (State Semifinal)
Bishop: 1950
Beeville Jones: 1947
Robstown: 1943
Kingsville Academy: 1939, 1938
