The Brownwood Lions will open a new chapter Saturday when they visit Millsap at 10 a.m. for the first game of the 2026-27 season. The matchup will mark the varsity coaching debut of Graylon Brown, a Class of 2011 Brownwood graduate and former Lions basketball standout.
Brownwood enters the season trying to return to the playoffs for the first time since the 2022-23 season. The Lions finished 12-18 overall and 2-8 in district play last year, but first-team all-district selection Cannon Calvert, 15, is among several returning players expected to help lead the team.
A Brownwood alum returns to lead the Lions
Brown is beginning his first varsity season as a head coach while also working as receivers coach for the Brownwood football team. The football team is scheduled to face Lago Vista at 7:30 p.m. Friday while pursuing its fifth consecutive bi-district championship.
Balancing football and basketball has meant football meetings and film work, basketball practices in the morning, and additional basketball responsibilities during the week. Brown described the arrangement as difficult but worthwhile.
“It’s exciting getting the opportunity to be a head coach and especially back in Brownwood being an alum,” Brown said. “It’s good to pour into these kids the things I know as well as the Brownwood tradition. We’re trying to bring back some Brownwood life in basketball as well.”
Brownwood’s coach said the support of the football staff and basketball assistants has made the dual role possible.
“It’s fun and challenging,” Brown said of his double duty. “Taking on the role of subvarsity and varsity football with meetings and film, it’s a grind but it’s also good, it keeps me busy, keeps me refreshed in a sense.”
Defense and pace are priorities
Brown said the Lions will emphasize stopping transition, playing physically, rebounding and creating pressure through switching and defensive disruption. Offensively, he wants the team to play at a fast pace and operate as a transition team.
“Defensively we’re going to try and stop transition and the physicality has to be there,” Brown said. “We want to be a transition team and play fast.”
Communication will be one of the team’s primary areas for improvement. Brown said players must better understand their defensive positions, when to switch and how to execute traps. He also wants the Lions to improve their shot selection, ball movement and recognition of which teammates should receive the ball.
Brownwood has experience to build on. Brown said several players have already appeared in important varsity games, giving the team a foundation of basketball knowledge while younger players continue developing.
Returning players and schedule
Players to watch include Cannon Calvert, Elias Perez, Santiago Alvizo, Jordan Gilbert, Bennett Windham, Carter Massey, Juston Burt and Judah Hamilton. Brown identified Calvert, Gilbert, Alvizo and Perez as key returning seniors. Massey and Burt are juniors, while Hamilton is a sophomore.
The Lions’ early schedule includes games at Kerrville Tivy on Nov. 17, against Lampasas on Nov. 21, Comanche on Nov. 23, Abilene High on Nov. 24 and Jim Ned on Dec. 1. Brownwood will also compete in tournaments at Little River Academy, McGregor and the TexasBank Holiday Classic.
District play begins Jan. 12 at Brock. The district schedule also includes Graham, Mineral Wells, Glen Rose and Stephenville, with home and away games listed for each opponent.
Brown said the district is competitive but open after several teams graduated seniors. His goal is for the Lions to improve throughout the season, particularly on defense, and make a push for a playoff berth.
Brownwood’s complete varsity schedule begins with Saturday’s 10 a.m. game at Millsap and concludes with a Feb. 12 home game against Stephenville at 7:15 p.m.