La Joya ISD’s third annual South Texas Shootout boys basketball tournament concluded with a highlight-reel day across the city Saturday.
The Platinum Bracket championship game featured a battle between Katy Seven Lakes and Houston Clear Lake with the tournament title on the line. Katy Seven Lakes ran past Houston Clear Lake 79-57 to win the Platinum Bracket championship.
Weslaco High took home third-place in the Platinum Bracket by taking down McAllen High 65-52 in a matchup of two of the Rio Grande Valley’s top teams.
Both the Panthers and Bulldogs went undefeated during the first two days of the tournament. Weslaco High picked up dominant wins over Rio Grande City (69-43), Laredo LBJ (68-55) and Corpus Christi King (58-47). Meanwhile, McHi breezed through pool play with victories against Edcouch-Elsa (79-61), Corpus Christi Moody (80-73) and San Antonio Texas Military Institute Episcopal (64-56), coached by former San Antonio Spurs forward Bruce Bowen.
Brownsville Pace and La Joya High also joined the Panthers and Bulldogs in the Platinum Bracket.
Pace’s first two days included wins against Edinburg North (68-54), Buda Hays (70-44) and McAllen Memorial (72-52) before a Platinum Bracket loss against Houston Clear Lake.
La Joya High opened the tourney 3-0 by defeating Donna North (72-48), Eagle Pass Winn (56-53) and Laredo Cigarroa (85-46).
Edinburg Vela won the Silver Bracket championship by narrowly beating Weslaco East 48-43.
In the Bronze Bracket, Edcouch-Elsa pulled off a pair of victories and finished with a 50-43 win over La Joya Palmview to claim the bronze championship.