The Art of the Game: Beaumont Celebrates a Masterpiece Season

In a moment where art met athletics, Beaumont painted a celebration worthy of champions Sunday, as a special recognition ceremony during the Beaumont Mural Festival honored two history-making high school basketball teams.

Held March 23 at Riverfront Park, the tribute spotlighted the Beaumont United High School and West Brook High School boys varsity basketball teams, both of which finished as first runners-up in their respective UIL Class 5A state championships — Division II for Beaumont United and Division I for West Brook. The achievement marked the first time two Beaumont schools reached the state finals in the same season.

The recognition took place amid the Beaumont Mural Festival, an annual celebration of creativity, culture and community where artists from across the region transform city walls into vibrant works of art. With murals coming to life in real time, music in the air and families filling the park, the well-attended event provided a fitting backdrop for honoring the athletes on a picture-perfect afternoon.

“This is unprecedented for any city, especially our size, to have two 5A schools both in the state championship,” Mayor Roy West said. “Y’all are champions. All I hear across the community is that y’all are champions with character, too.”

West presented both teams with a key to the city and a proclamation, drawing applause from the crowd.

Superintendent Dr. Shannon Allen said the celebration was intentionally added to the festival lineup to ensure the teams received recognition worthy of their historic achievement, noting that Beaumont City Councilman A.J. Turner was instrumental in helping bring the recognition to life as part of the event.

“We are here to celebrate you all and the phenomenal job that you did making history,” Allen said. “The fact that we’ve had two teams in our community go all the way to the end — it doesn’t matter that we came in second place. You did your very best and we are so proud of you.”

Artist Henry “Art” Smith, addressing the teams, reflected on the pride the accomplishment brought beyond Southeast Texas.

“When I’m in L.A., I’m usually going through Facebook and seeing a lot of negative things about my city,” Smith said. “But what you guys did — for the first time in history — it made me so proud to brag about in Los Angeles, California.”

Jefferson County Sheriff Zena Stephens emphasized the broader impact of the teams’ success.

“Everybody’s talking about crime,” Stephens said. “What I know is we’ve got good kids. I’m here to talk about the greatness.”

The celebration also featured appearances from Beaumont ISD alumnus (Ozen High School) and NBA champion Kendrick Perkins, now an ESPN analyst, and Houston rapper Lil’ Keke, adding star power to the community event.

Perkins credited the teams’ success to discipline and teamwork instilled by their coaches.

“It’s a reason that we had two teams representing Beaumont, Texas, in the state championship,” Perkins said. “Because it’s not an individual sport. It’s a team sport.”

He encouraged players, especially graduating seniors, to carry that mindset forward.

“It don’t stop — it’s just starting,” Perkins said. “Every room that you walk into, make sure you own that room … but always let them know you’re from Beaumont and you stand on it.”

Beaumont United head coach David Green Jr. used the moment to call for continued unity across the community.

“Remember this day — y’all came together on one accord,” Green said. “No negativity. No division. That’s what these kids need.”

Green also pushed back on the notion that finishing second diminished the accomplishment.

“If you gave your best, your best was good enough,” he said. “They are winners.”

West Brook head coach Michael Thomas described the season as emotional, particularly for his senior players, and expressed gratitude for the turnout.

“I just want to thank God for this opportunity because I see a lot of great young people out here and sometimes they don’t get the recognition they deserve,” Thomas said.

As murals continued to take shape in the background and the crowd celebrated both art and achievement, the ceremony underscored a shared sense of pride across Beaumont.

“What a great day for Beaumont,” West said. “We have our challenges, but we have our victories — and today is one of them.”