BALLINGER, TX — The Coleman girls and boys basketball teams went into Ballinger on Tuesday and came away with a pair of wins by a combined nine points.
Here’s a recap from each game and what it means for all of the teams’ playoff seeding:
GIRLS
In a fitting end to what was an absolute battle throughout District 8-2A, the Coleman girls held off Ballinger 36-33 in the final seconds to secure the runner-up spot in the district.
The Bluekatts led by nine points with about four minutes to play, but Ballinger stormed back to give itself a late chance.
After Ashtyn Wilson had a steal and layup with 10 seconds remaining to pull Ballinger within 35-33, Coleman’s Karley Hale hit one of two free throws with 3.6 seconds left.
Ballinger’s Ysee Le Borgne grabbed the rebound after the second free-throw attempt missed, but her full-court heave fell short to end the game.
Coleman head coach Taylor Neal said she was proud her team found a way to earn a tough road win.
If the Bluekatts had lost, it would have forced a three-way tie for second place in district.
“They responded the way we typically do, which is a little bit of panic and a whole lot of try,” Neal said. “This team, we’ve had our ups and downs all season. We’ve played really close games. But when it comes down to it, when they want something bad enough, they find a way to get it.”
Coleman ended the regular season with a 12-14 overall record and a 9-3 mark in district.
The Bluekatts will be the district’s No. 2 seed in the 2A Division II playoffs behind district champion Roscoe.
Coleman will play No. 21-ranked Christoval to open the playoffs early next week.
Ballinger fell to 24-6 overall and 7-5 in district to finish in fourth place. The Lady Cats will be the No. 2 seed in the 2A Division I playoffs, earning them a first-round matchup with Ozona.
Ozona’s head coach is Jerry McSherry, who used to coach at Ballinger when Neal was his assistant. It made Tuesday a homecoming of sorts for Neal, whose teaching and coaching career began in Ballinger.
Coleman girls head coach Taylor Neal talks to her team during a timeout in Ballinger on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026.
“It was a little bit bittersweet,” Neal said of Tuesday’s win. “Ashtyn Wilson is one of the first kids I ever taught in sixth-grade math. It was my very first year teaching, and I think I learned as much from her as she maybe did from me in the classroom. Getting to watch her play over the last four years, I’ve been happy to be in the same district so that I could see her success, because I know she’s worked hard for it.
"Coming back and playing on Senior Night, it was going to be tough win or lose. I’m very excited for her and what she’s been able to accomplish. This place will always be a second home to me, so it was great to see everybody.”
Wilson had 19 points for Ballinger and scored her 1,000th career point in the game. She also had six rebounds, four steals and a block.
Ballinger's Ashtyn Wilson is guarded by Coleman's Savannah Hurtado on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026.
Le Borgne added 11 points and stuffed the stat sheet once again with 12 rebounds, five steals, five blocks and three assists.
Coleman was led by Hale, who had 21 points and 11 rebounds.
Ballinger beat Coleman 43-32 in their first meeting last month, but the Bluekatts were able to change the outcome in the rematch.
“I think we held our composure a little bit better,” Neal said. “Basketball being a game of runs and being a game of possessions, we didn’t let their good runs and their good possessions slow us down. We didn’t ever let them take it away, and I think that was the difference.
“And that just goes to show the growth of this team. It’s phenomenal watching them play together and thinking about where we started to where we finished district.”
Coleman 36, Ballinger 33
Coleman 7 11 9 9 — 36
Ballinger 5 12 6 10 — 33
COLEMAN — Savannah Hurtado 2, Karley Hale 21, Lexi Foster 3, Elina Flores 3, Jaylie Steffey 2, Brynley Rae 4, Addi Dawson 1.
BALLINGER — Ashtyn Wilson 19, Ysee Le Borgne 11, Makayla Galindo 2, Braylin Quiroga 1.
Coleman's Lexi Foster is guarded by Ballinger's Ashtyn Wilson on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026.
BOYS
Similar to the girls game, the Coleman boys were in control before a late comeback by Ballinger made things interesting late.
The Bluecats saw a 14-point lead heading into the fourth quarter dwindle down to only four points with about 2:30 remaining before hanging on for a 57-51 win.
It was a considerable improvement for Ballinger after losing 74-50 when they met in Coleman last month, but the Bluecats were ultimately able to hang on and move into a tie with Bangs for second place in District 8-2A with two games left in the regular season.
Ballinger is likely locked into the fourth and final playoff spot with only one game left for the Bearcats. Ballinger had a chance to finish in a tie for second place if it could have won out.
Coleman improved to 17-13 overall and 7-3 in district, while Ballinger dropped to 17-13, 6-5.
“I told (my team) at the beginning of the game that they’re going to make some runs on us playing here,” Coleman head coach Hayden Hoerdemann said. “We came out and withstood their run, and I was really proud of our effort defensively. We made some adjustments throughout the game, and they handled it really well. I was really proud of our boys.”
Coleman's Jayden Smith is defended by Ballinger's Coleman King on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026.
Ballinger led 17-11 after the first quarter, but the Bearcats couldn’t maintain their level of play, and Coleman rallied to take a 29-27 lead into halftime.
The game turned in the fourth quarter as the Bluecats outscored Ballinger 18-6 in the decisive frame to take a 47-33 advantage.
Coleman was led by Hunter Edington, who had 18 points, 18 rebounds and two blocks.
“He’s been a beast on the boards all season long, offensively and defensively, and we need him to do that for us. He’s our guy in the middle,” Hoerdemann said.
Jett Black added 14 points and six rebounds, while Bronson Brooks had 13 points.
Ballinger’s Hunter Kresta also had a strong game with 16 points, 17 rebounds, three blocks and a steal.
Coleman's Hunter Edington is guarded by Ballinger's Hunter Kresta on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026.
Marcus Cook had 13 points and three steals, and Caiden Villarreal made an impact with six points, seven rebounds, four steals and two blocks.
Whatever happens down the stretch, Bangs will be the district’s No. 1 seed in the 2A Division I playoffs, while Ballinger will be the No. 2 seed.
District champion Roscoe, which is ranked No. 18 in the state, will be the top seed in the 2A Division II bracket. Coleman will be the No. 2 seed.
Among the four playoffs teams from each district, the schools with the top two enrollments go to Division I, while the smaller two schools go Division II.
Coleman 57, Ballinger 51
Coleman 11 18 18 10 — 57
Ballinger 17 10 6 18 — 51
COLEMAN — Jett Black 14, Bronson Brooks 13, Hunter Edington 18, Paul Salas 4, Haeden Sikes 8.
BALLINGER — Caiden Villarreal 6, Marcus Cook 13, Coleman King 6, Dylan Page 8, Daiven Quiroga 2, Hunter Kresta 16.
Coleman's Brayden Torres looks for an opening against Ballinger's defense on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026.
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