By STEFAN MODRICH | Staff Writer
For more than a quarter century, the Los Fresnos Tournament of Champions has been a signature event on the Rio Grande Valley basketball calendar.
This year’s edition of the tournament does not appear to be an exception, as teams from the Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio metro areas will be represented against some of the Valley’s best. On Friday, the 3-point shooting contest and dunk contest will be the first action of the day, starting at 1:10 p.m.
“There’s no easy way out,” Los Fresnos coach Marco Hinojosa said. “We do have a tough schedule, but it’s like that for a reason. I think we have a team to compete, not saying we can win every basketball game, but we do have team to compete.”
Hinojosa, who noted his team has a pair of road games at San Antonio Cole and Antonian Prep praised the strength of schedule and the quality of the teams visiting from up north.
“Those teams come in here with a lot of hype, a lot of athleticism, and experience,” Hinojosa said. “It’s going to be a fun tournament.”
The tournament begins today with 1:30 p.m. tipoff between a pair of Class 6A schools in Harlingen High and McAllen Rowe.
The winner between the Cardinals and Warriors will take on defending champion Euless Trinity, led by senior point guard Kam Dancy.
The host Falcons will play Edinburg Vela at 3 p.m., and the loser of that game will advance to play San Antonio Reagan at 3 p.m. Friday.
Reagan will bring with them a formidable and experienced lineup, featuring 6-foot-8 senior point guard Will Carsten, who is averaging 18.8 points per game and 11.7 rebounds per game.
Junior Keith Davis is scoring at a clip of 12.5 points per game, while leading the Rattlers with 3.3 assists per contest.
Reagan defeated Strake Jesuit, another participant in the Tournament of Champions, 71-45 in a tournament in San Antonio on Nov. 23. Players to watch from the Fighting Crusaders are junior shooting guard Edgar Romero, senior point guard Luke Thorburn, and senior shooting guard Blaine Holbrook.
The winner of the Los Fresnos-Edinburg Vela matchup will play Round Rock High at 3 p.m. Friday.
Round Rock features shooting guard Jae’lyn Brooks, point guard Braden Lee, and small forward Larson Featherstone. The Dragons will take on another Valley opponent when they face Hidalgo in the Hays Rebel Classic on Dec. 26 in Buda.
The semifinal games are scheduled for 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Saturday, and the final is slated for a 5 p.m. tipoff.