These Lubbock-area venues will host UIL state semifinals in basketball

Lubbock-area high school basketball fans can look forward to witnessing marquee playoff games in their own backyard this season, as the UIL has determined specific venues for this year's state semifinals. This marks the first time since the split-division postseason began in 2024 that semifinal sites have been pre-assigned. In previous years, semifinalists had to find a neutral location for their games, and prior to that, the semifinals and championships were held the same week at the same venue.

The Frenship Tiger Pit will be the site for both divisions of the Class 1A semifinals between Regions I and II, as well as for the same divisions of Class 2A girls basketball. Frenship ISD athletic director Bryan Gerlich stated that the UIL selected Frenship due to its central location between the regions. He mentioned that the Tiger Pit's capacity is around 1,000, noting that the venue often fills up quickly for Class A schools, making it an exciting and enjoyable location for these high-stakes games.