Report: Top Texas high school basketball program forfeiting playoff game due to ineligible player

One of the top high school basketball teams in the state of Texas — and the country at-large — is bowing out of the state playoffs due to a forfeit, according to DCTF’s Matt Stepp.

On Tuesday afternoon, Stepp broke the news that Mansfield Lake Ridge, the No. 4 team in the latest Texas Composite High School Basketball Rankings, is forfeiting its regional semifinal game against Flower Mound Marcus due to the use of an ineligible player in a previous round.

The forfeit will knock the Eagles, who came into the game with a record of 34-2, out of the state playoffs after dominant wins over Bell and Eastlake in the first two rounds. They were considered one of the favorites to win the state’s Class 6A D1 title.

According to Stepp’s reporting, the ineligible player participated in Lake Ridge’s area round playoff game, a 71-35 blowout win over Eastlake.

BREAKING sources confirm Mansfield Lake Ridge is forfeiting tonight's regional semifinal vs Flower Mound Marcus for using an ineligible player in the area playoffs

Flower Mound Marcus will advance to the regional finals #txhshoops @IshmaelRJohnson

— Matt Stepp (@Matt_Stepp817) February 25, 2025

Marcus, which defeated defending state champions Plano East in the bi-district round, will now move onto the regional finals and be one of only 8 teams left with a chance to take home the state title.

This story will be updated with more information.