While some will be munching on Thanksgiving leftovers during the weekend, basketball will continue to take place as the Fantasy of Lights will be taking place in Wichita Falls for the only tournament in the state on Friday and Saturday.
Of the 28 team field in the 39th edition of the tournament, two defending state champions in Martin’s Mill, who won the 2A crown, and Chapel Hill, the 3A state winners, will be taking part in the small school bracket.
Martin’s Mill has not lost a game since Nov. 11, 2017, where they lost a 60-56 overtime decision to Brock, in which they have defeated this year, 59-32, and currently riding a 71-game winning streak.
Chapel Hill is also riding a winning run as they hold a six-game winning streak. The Lady Devils saw their first loss since their regional semifinal loss to Pottsboro back in 2018, where they lost to TAPPS side Argyle Liberty Christian, 58-36, in a tournament game.
Both teams are looking to be on a collision course to meet in the championship game on Saturday but other teams will have a say in the 16 team division.
Big School
Fans unfamiliar to Grapevine’s Dasha MacMillan, who has signed with Air Force to play college basketball, will get an introduction as Grapevine takes part in the tournament, where they are in a pool with Wichita Falls and Palo Duro, who had their district opener on Tuesday.
Fredericksburg (6-3) and 6-1 forward Audrey Spurgin will be taking charge in the interior when she steps on the court during the weekend and will be a key piece for the Lady Billies success as the guard play will be key heading into their opening game on Friday morning.
Timpson, technically, bring in a new coach, but is a familiar face to Lady Bear fans as Bryan Braddock is pulling double-duty as both boys and girls basketball coach with the 22-2A side being in the big school bracket as they are grouped with Wichita Falls Hirschi and Saginaw, who hold one of the more underrated scoring talents in the Metroplex in Molly Kaiser. The explosive scoring duo of Brylee Behrens and Laiton Braddock will be key for the Lady Bears for their success. Hirschi caught 6-4A by surprise with all eyes being on Michinsi Montoya, the reigning offensive most valuable player in the district.
Rider is playing a key sleeper role in the region and in district 4-5A with promising underclassmen coming in the program and making immediate impacts. If the Lady Raiders can put together a nice tournament run, their sleeper status will be upgraded to a key threat in the district.
Small School
Aforementioned the two defending state champions in the bracket, Taylor, and Slaton will be an entertaining matchup in the opening round of the tournament, as Sul Ross State commit Ashlyn Collier of the Lady Ducks, has averaged 9.9 points per game in the opening 10 games of the season for a team that is flying under the radar in Region IV-4A. Slaton, year in and out, is a wildcard in a tough 2-3A district with the athletes that take the court and somehow, gives the Lady Tigers a fighting chance. Kamryn Gibbs is returning from an injury that saw her season end last year. If depth can be strung together in a tournament that can be tough for any team with the timing of the holiday, Slaton will have a punchers chance to lock in a playoff spot.
Valley View followed behind Collinsville in 12-2A last year and with the return of the Studamire sisters, the team has high hopes for a district title after Collinsville recorded a 1-3 tournament campaign in Bowie earlier this week.
Haskell returns to the tournament after making an appearance in the championship game last year as the Maidens will look to bounce back from a tight 46-42 loss to Blackwell on Tuesday. The offensive end has been key in their two wins respectively but Haskell will look to improve their defense during their campaign.
Tucker Donohoe’s first year was a solid one but there was no playoff appearance for the Lady Trojans. This year has buzz around the program with Alexis Tippett returning along with sophomore Gracee Mosley and senior Savannah Sebek, who can give key contributions on the scoresheet, that can see Troy sneak into the playoffs as Troy will be an under-the-radar team in the tournament field.
Van Alstyne is poised to start up a consistent run of form after falling to Sunnyvale. The Lady Panthers hold three seniors on the roster as the team is primarily junior-laden. If any team has a shot to make a key statement in Region II-3A, it is Van Alstyne.
Day 1 schedule
Large School Division
Fredericksburg vs. OKC Storm – 8:30 a.m., Wichita Falls HS
Timpson vs. Wichita Falls Hirschi – 8:30 a.m., Midwestern State University
Wichita Falls Rider vs. C.E. King – 11:30 a.m., Midwestern State University
Grapevine vs. Wichita Falls – 11:30 a.m., City View HS
White Settlement Brewer vs. Fredericksburg – 1 p.m., Hirschi HS
Saginaw vs. Timpson – 2:30 p.m., Wichita Falls HS
Palo Duro vs. Grapevine – 4 p.m., Rider HS
C.E. King vs. Dalhart – 4 p.m., Midwestern State University
OKC Storm vs. White Settlement Brewer – 7 p.m, Rider HS
Hirschi vs. Saginaw – 7 p.m., City View HS
Wichita Falls vs. Palo Duro – 8:30 p.m, Hirschi HS
Dalhart vs. Wichita Falls Rider – 8:30 p.m., Wichita Falls HS
Small School Division
Haskell at City View – 8:30 a.m.
Archer City vs. Van Alstyne – 10 a.m., Rider 2
Rider JV vs. Graford – 10 a.m., Rider HS
Henrietta vs. Valley View – 11:30 a.m., Hirschi HS
Quanah vs. Chapel Hill – 1 p.m., City View HS
Taylor vs. Slaton – 1 p.m., Rider HS
Troy vs. Jacksboro – 1 p.m., Rider 2
Martin’s Mill vs. Vernon – 1 p.m., Wichita Falls HS
Loser of Quanah/Chapel Hill vs. Loser of Henrietta/Valley View – 4 p.m, Rider 2
Winner of Quanah/Chapel Hill vs. Winner of Henrietta/Valley View – 4 p.m., City View HS
Loser of Haskell/City View vs. Loser of Taylor/Slaton – 5:30 p.m., Rider 2
Loser of Archer City/Van Alstyne vs. Loser of Troy/Jacksboro – 5:30 p.m., City View HS
Winner of Haskell/City View vs. Winner of Taylor/Slaton – 5:30 p.m.
Winner of Archer City/Van Alstyne vs. Winner of Troy/Jacksboro – 1 p.m
Winner of Rider JV/Graford vs. Winner of Martin’s Mill/Vernon – 5:30 p.m., Midwestern State University
Loser of Rider JV/Graford vs. Martin’s Mill/Vernon – 7 p.m, Rider 2
