Thanksgiving is here and there is indeed much to be thankful for. For the Texas high school basketball aficionado, thanks must also be given. Let us count the ways.
National recognition. The Houston Yates boys served notice last year after winning a Class 4A state championship that they would not be a one-and-done team. And why should they have been since everyone was returning to this year’s roster from a team that lost only one game. 
Deion Houston, Duncanville
Photo by Jim Redman
Well, two games out of the chute for the 2009-10 season and the Lions have roared as only a king of the jungle can by punishing Dickinson, 142-80, and Houston Sam Houston, 163-71. These are not typos and we repeat, 142-80, and 163-71 for games that last 32 minutes. Yates scored 55 points in the third quarter of the Sam Houston game and placed eight players in double figures, led by Joseph Young’s 35 and Clyde Santee’s 25. Keep your eye on Greg Wise’s team as they have a legitimate opportunity to set a scoring record this year.
When powers collide. Last weekend’s action included the powerful McDonald’s Invitational in Pasadena, where in the Gold Division Houston Bellaire went to 6-0 by edging Austin Westlake (5-1), 50-47. This tournament was a must-see for hoops fans with several teams in the state’s top 25 battling it out, including in addition to the above Humble Kingwood Park, San Antonio Madison, DeSoto, Duncanville, Dickinson, La Porte, North Crowley, The Woodlands College Park, McAllen and Richardson Pearce.
While these teams knocked each other around and some powerful squads have now been pinned with losses, the early tournament experience is good as teams get their legs under them. Of course, December looms as another month where every weekend will feature tournaments and a slew of marquee matchups.
Cheers for the little guy. Santa Rosa became the darling team last year when the Class 2A school from the Valley advanced to Austin and the state tournament. Coach Johnny Cipriano’s outfit started off this year proving that it is really more than a little guy when the Warriors edged Class 5A Edinburg 90-88 in a triple-overtime affair.
Stepping up in class. Class 2A state champion Ponder stepped up to the plate to open the season against traditional power Class 3A Burkburnett, and when it was over, the Bulldogs had taken the measure of Ponder, 71-66. Look for Ponder to again be there at the end of the year under new coach Jude Stanley.
Tournaments in general. It doesn’t matter if they are held in a bustling metropolis or in a dank, dingy small town of less than 1,000, basketball tournaments at the holiday season have a special uniqueness. You have all the yellow buses parked outside the gym with writing to identify their school district. You have the excitement of seeing the brackets in the program to begin play. You have those fun 8:30 a.m. starts. You have the smell of the concession stand often just around the corner from the stands.
You have the sound of the buzzers, the squeak of the shoes, the rallying cry in the huddle before teams break to return to the court. You have the one-day or tournament pass that is the best bargain in town. Oh, and you have the tournaments with the often amusing names sponsored by the local chicken restaurant in town or some other entity who shows their pride and support for the local team and the tournament by having their name attached.
Records of 0-0. For a few brief weeks at the beginning of the season you will notice a number of teams who sport a 0-0 record. Those schools will inevitably be small schools, and for the most part those schools will maintain their record until they start playing games. The reason for 0-0, of course, is due to the fact that many small schools have athletes who play in practically every sport. For those schools who march on in the football playoffs, that means that basketball season will have to wait.
Part of the beauty in small school athletics is watching the show of support from one sport to another. While every basketball team would like to start its season on time, it is not unusual to see those affiliated with the basketball team supporting their football brothers in the quest for a state championship. So we salute all the teams that for a few more days will still sit at 0-0, because your day is coming to hit the hardwood and then it will be the football players’ turn to support their basketball brothers … assuming, of course, they are not one and the same!
R.V. Baugus is the publisher of Tex Preps Basketball magazine. Read all his work at www.texprepsbasketball.com.
