STATE! TATUM HEADED TO STATE! | Carr’s battle-tested Eagles do it again, blow out Iowa Park to earn trip to The Alamodome Friday vs. Columbus

Once again, coach Brett Carr’s Tatum High School Eagles left no doubt.

As in, no doubt who was actually the better team.

And this time, it was Iowa Park that got bitten.

Tatum, winners of five consecutive playoff games this postseason, will be state champions if the Eagles can make it six. Tatum routed Iowa Park, 77-38, on Tuesday night in the state semifinals of the University Interscholastic League’s Class 3A, Division I boys basketball playoffs at Mansfield Lake Ridge High School.

The Eagles will play in their fifth state title game since 2003, and first since 2021, on Friday, a 1 p.m. start at the Alamodome in San Antonio. The opponent: Columbus, whose Cardinals have only apparently played 19 games all year, but they’re in the state championship game. Columbus beat Onalaska, 84-62, Tuesday night in Houston at Delmar Field House.

Tatum (31-2), who really has handled each of its five playoff opponents so far, was up by eight points, 21-13, at the end of the first period on Tuesday night in Mansfield, then added 16 more points to take a 14-point lead into the halftime break. Tatum’s closest playoff margin was a 69-53 win over Liberty-Eylau, and even that one didn’t feel that close.

JaCorie Bradley, who had 33 points in the victory over L-E, had 17 points against Iowa Park Tuesday night. Jordan Chambers, who had led the Eagles in their win over Jefferson on Friday in Tyler, was right behind with 16.

Luke Sigler also had 16 for the Eagles. Cayden Tatum and Cooper Whiteus each had 10. Nalayus Boyd scored four, and Brandon Howard and Nick D’Souza each had two.

The Alamodome is the place to be late this week, as the UIL crowns boys basketball state champions in all classifications – and this year, two divisions in each class.

The fun begins Thursday, with the 1A and 2A games. The 1A-Division 2 game will tip off at 11 a.m. and have Jayton (27-2) taking on Bryson (29-4). The 1A-D1 game follows, and pits Turkey Valley (34-3) against Perrin-Whitt (3-5).

Class 2A-D2’s state title game is Thursday at 5 p.m., and it’s Martin’s Mill of East Texas (35-1) against Lipan (34-4). And then 2A-D1’s state championship is on the line at 7 p.m., the last game of the day, as Waco Meyer (36-3) meets Hearne (29-5).

Participants for the rest of the championship games in 3A-D2 and the 4A, 5A and 6A games are yet to be decided, but we do know that the 3A and 4A games are on Friday. The 3A-D2 title game is at 11 a.m., and right after that, slated for a 1 p.m. start, will be Tatum vs. Columbus.

The 4A-D2 game is at 5 p.m. Friday, and the 4A-D1 game is Friday night at 7, the last game of the day.

Classes 5A and 6A, those four games, will be Saturday, also beginning at 11 a.m.

For all you need to know on the UIL Boys State Basketball Championships, here’s a link: Boys Basketball State Tournament — University Interscholastic League (UIL). Oh, and obviously, ETBlitz.com will have Tatum covered, and you can read us, as well. We’ll have a Tatum-Columbus preview up by Thursday afternoon.

Tatum basketball on Facebook is Tatum Eagles Hoops.

Tickets for the state championships at The Alamodome are sold by “sessions,” and single session tickets are two games, meaning if Tatum fans show up for Friday’s game, their “session” will be the two 3A title games: the first one at 11 a.m., and then Tatum-Columbus. The stadium will be cleared after each session.

Also, all tickets are digital and available through iPhones and the like. And they make a note that the championship games are ticket-only admission – no passes. Anyone age 3 and up needs a ticket.

Here is a link for purchasing tickets: Buy UIL Boys State Basketball Tickets | 2025 Event Dates & Schedule | Ticketmaster.com.

By the way, so you’re not caught off-guard on arrival, The Alamodome has parking fees, $15 per car, $30 per bus.

The stadium also has a clear-bag policy, and, of note: concessions are cashless.

The NFHS Network (NFHSNetwork.com / Tatum High School – Tatum, TX) is the broadcast vehicle chosen by the UIL to stream these games live online. There is a subscription cost ($12.99 monthly) that can be canceled at any time, although the first month fee is due upon sign-up.