ROY HESS | Staff Writer
The idea of matching strong boys basketball teams from upstate against Rio Grande Valley squads in a tournament before the Christmas holidays is nothing new.
It wasn’t that many years ago a tournament with that format was played at the South Padre Island Convention Centre and organized by Barron “Coach Bear” Honea. The tournament ended its run in the Valley after Honea moved from SPI to Corpus Christi.
An eight-team tournament with the same format begins at 5:30 p.m. today on the campus of Los Fresnos United, which has two gyms.
Participating teams are host Los Fresnos, McAllen Rowe, Edinburg Vela, Harlingen High, Euless Trinity, San Antonio Reagan, Uvalde and Fort Worth Poly.
“Yes, this is the first year (for the tournament), but it was held back in the day, actually (on SPI),” Los Fresnos coach Marco Hinojosa said. “Euless Trinity and San Antonio Reagan look to be the (tournament) favorites.”
The tournament tips off at 5:30 p.m. today at Los Fresnos United with Los Fresnos playing Rowe and Vela taking on Harlingen High at 7 p.m.
At 3 p.m. Friday, the Los Fresnos-Rowe winner plays Uvalde and the Los Fresnos-Rowe loser plays Euless Trinity at 4:30 p.m. Also Friday, the Vela-Harlingen High loser takes on Reagan at 3 p.m., and the Harlingen High-Vela winner goes against Poly at 4:30 p.m.
The semifinals and consolation bracket games are scheduled for Saturday morning with the third-place contest set for 4:30 p.m. and the championship to follow at 6 p.m.
With a 5-1 record, Los Fresnos is off to another solid start to its season. The Falcons have won or shared a district title four straight seasons.
Los Fresnos is coming off Tuesday’s 67-52 non-district win against Edinburg North.
“With a solid crop of seniors graduating last year, we are starting all over again,” Hinojosa said. “We are getting better as every game goes by.
“In this tournament, we are looking to continue putting the pieces together to the puzzle,” he added. “There are lots of solid teams (out there). Come district, our goals won’t change. They never have and never will. Anyone that tells you they are not competing for a district title would be lying to you.
“Our goal this year will be to try and claim a fifth district title (in District 32-6A). It won’t be easy with a lot of solid teams in our district, including a stacked returning ballclub in Harlingen High, but our guys are upbeat and ready for the challenge.”