A look at the teams who will be playing this weekend in the Brownfield Hoopin’ Cub Classic Basketball Tournament.
Twenty-six teams from twenty-two schools will be converging on Brownfield starting tomorrow, Thursday, December 12th, for the 2nd Annual Brownfield Cubs Hoopin’ Classic. This year’s tournament is larger than before, featuring 16 boys’ teams and 10 girls’ teams, representing classifications from 4A to 1A, along with a few private schools. Let’s take a look at each team coming to the event. (Brackets are below)
Let’s begin with the girls’ squads. The girls’ bracket features pool play, followed by matchups with the #1 teams from pools A, B, and C. The same format applies for the #2 and #3 teams in each pool.
NOTE: Stats and scores are from MaxPreps; some games have not been reported.
Girls Bracket Pool A
The Brownfield Lady Cubs enter the tournament with a record of 2-10. However, don’t let that record mislead you; the Lady Cubs have faced some tough-ranked opponents. Brownfield begins their tournament run against Hale Center on Thursday morning at 10:15 AM, followed by a match against the top-ranked team in 3A, Canadian, at 4:30 PM. Their performance will determine who they face on Friday afternoon.
The Canadian Lady Cats come to town with a perfect 16-0 record and the #1 team in class 3A. Obviously, they are looking to win this all. Canadian is averaging around 52 points a game and allowing around 28.
The Hale Center Lady Owls have a solid record of 6-3 and have shown strong competitiveness this season. They had notable victories against Klondike, Sundown, and New Deal, and suffered a narrow loss to Littlefield. Currently, the team is averaging approximately 52 points per game while allowing about 46 points.
The other team in Pool A is Poetry Community Christian (PCC). This small private school is located east of the DFW Metroplex and just north of Terrell, TX. Not much is known about this team, but they currently have a record of 0-6. They are averaging approximately 23 points per game while allowing 46 points per game.
Girls Bracket Pool B
The Coahoma Lady Bulldogs are on a strong run this season, currently boasting a record of 9-1. They lead their district, which includes Brownfield, with a top standing of 2-0. If the Lady Bulldogs perform well in their upcoming tournament, don’t be surprised if they break into the top 25 rankings next week. They are averaging 50 points per game while allowing approximately 33 points.
The Monahans Lady Lobos is the second largest of the girls’ teams competing and competes in 4A. Their current record stands at 6-8 for the season, but it is important to note that one of those wins comes from a forfeit. Additionally, the Lady Lobos have suffered a loss to the Lady Cubs this season, scoring 55-43. There’s always the chance they could meet again this weekend. On average, the Lady Lobos score around 38 points per game while allowing approximately 45 points.
The Tulia Lady Hornets are currently on a two-game losing streak and have a record of 1-7 for the season. They participated in an earlier tournament hosted by Quanah, but some of those game results were not reported. Given that they are likely competing in one of the toughest 3A districts in the state, the Lady Hornets will need to make the most of the remaining games. Currently, they are averaging around 28 points per game while allowing 42 points.
Girls Bracket Pool C
The Dalhart Golden Wolves find themselves with a 9-2 record and are currently ranked #24 in Class 3A. They share their district with #1 Canadian, similar to Tulia. If both Canadian and Dalhart win their respective pools, they will face off on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. However, it remains to be seen if this is a matchup they would prefer. The Golden Wolves are averaging 51 points per game while allowing 25 points.
The Ft. Stockton Prowlers enter this tournament as the largest girls’ school competing and they are in 4A. They have a record of 7 wins and 5 losses, with two of those losses coming from state-ranked teams. Ft. Stockton and Monahans are in the same district, and they may face each other after pool play concludes. The Prowlers are averaging 46 points per game while allowing 37 points.
The Sudan Hornettes are one of the most renowned girls’ basketball programs in Texas. They currently have a record of 5 wins and 5 losses this season. Like several other teams, the Hornettes may have a chance to face district rival Hale Center. We’ll have to wait and see. Sudan averages 64 points per game while allowing 61 points.
Boys Bracket
The boys’ tournament follows an elimination-style bracket, which is different from the format used for the girls’ tournament. However, each team is guaranteed a specific number of games. This year’s boys’ tournament features 16 teams, including five that are ranked in the top 25 of their respective classes. With several highly competitive teams participating, this tournament promises to be exciting. Let’s take a closer look at the matchups in the first round.
Brownfield Runnin’ Cubs vs Midland Christian Mustangs
We begin with the hometown team, the Brownfield Runnin’ Cubs. They currently hold a record of 6-6 for the season and are ranked #11 in Class 3A. Unfortunately, the Runnin’ Cubs are on a three-game losing streak. Their next game is scheduled for Thursday afternoon at 3:15 PM, where they will face the Midland Christian Mustangs, who have a record of 5-5 this season. The Mustangs were recently ranked in the top 10 of TAPPS 5A but have since fallen out of the rankings. The Runnin’ Cubs are averaging about 61 points per game while allowing 62 points per game. The Mustangs average 48 points per game and allow 50 points per game. Hopefully, Brownfield will turn things around.
Slaton Tigers vs Estacado Matadors
The Slaton Tigers have a solid 7-2 record, with their two losses coming from Brownfield (53-47) and Seminole (72-56). They also achieved a strong victory against #6 New Home, winning 59-42. The Estacado Matadors enter the tournament with a 6-4 record and are ranked #7 in Class 4A. Their notable wins include victories over Brownfield, Monterey, and Irving MacArthur. However, the Matadors are currently on a two-game losing streak. Slaton averages 60 points per game while allowing 44, whereas Estacado scores an average of 69 points and allows 63. If the Matadors allow Slaton to score 60 points, the Tigers could pull off an upset..
Floydada Whirlwinds vs Lamesa Golden Tornados
It looks like this could turn into a very windy game when the Floydada Whirlwinds face off against the Lamesa Golden Tors. Floydada has a record of 6-6, with several close losses to strong teams. Historically, the Whirlwinds have been a competitive program, and this matchup may showcase their ability to compete at a high level. On the other hand, Lamesa, which is also in the same district as Brownfield, has struggled this season and is currently 0-7. With many spectators expected this weekend, they may rise to the occasion and aim for their first win. Floydada averages about 63 points per game while allowing 59. In contrast, Lamesa scores around 44 points per game and allows 62.
Lorenzo Hornets vs Frenship JV Tigers
Discussing a classic David and Goliath scenario, we see a significant size difference in the teams. Although Frenship is fielding their junior varsity squad, that doesn’t mean they lack skill. Frenship High School is almost 50 times larger than Lorenzo High School. The Lorenzo Hornets currently have a 5-3 record and are typically regarded as a regional favorite. While we don’t have much information on Frenship’s junior varsity team, we know that they have the advantage of selecting from a large pool of students. Lorenzo averages 59 points per game while allowing 53.
Trinity Christian Lions vs Hale Center Owls
The Trinity Christian Lions are looking to make a statement in the first round of the tourney. They have a season record of 7-5, including losses to ranked opponents, but they have also achieved victories over ranked teams like Brownfield. Currently, Trinity is ranked #8 in TAPPS 5A and they excel at shooting. On the other hand, the Hale Center Owls have an impressive record of 6-1, with only one loss this season. Hale Center made it two rounds deep in the football playoffs, which delayed the start of their basketball season. Trinity is averaging 77 points per game while allowing 63 points, whereas the Owls are averaging about 67 points per game and allowing only 47 points.
Coahoma Bulldogs vs Abernathy Antelopes
The Coahoma Bulldogs have had a limited number of games this season, currently holding a record of 2-3. Similarly, the Abernathy Antelopes have a record of 2-2. Both teams made it to the second round of the football playoffs before transitioning to basketball season. There’s not a great deal of information available about these two squads, so we’ll have to wait and see how they fare against each other. The Bulldogs are averaging 62 points per game while allowing 50 points. In contrast, Abernathy is scoring 43 points per game and allowing 53 points.
Idalou Wildcats vs Nazareth Swifts
Although the Idalou Wildcats have a record of 4-6 for the season, it’s important to note that they didn’t have a full roster during their first five losses. The Wildcats advanced three rounds into the playoffs and were just one touchdown away from reaching the state quarterfinals. After being eliminated from the playoffs, they began to win more games.
On the other hand, the Nazareth Swifts have a record of 3-3 (some scores have not been reported) and are ranked #9 in Class 1A. The town of Nazareth has always felt distinct, not just because they are the Swifts (a nod to Taylor Swift fans) but also due to their strong basketball legacy. The Swifts have made 19 appearances at the state tournament and have won five state titles. This season, Idalou has been averaging 47 points per game while allowing 51, whereas Nazareth is averaging about 44 points per game and allowing 50.
Tulia Hornets vs Big Spring Steers
The Tulia Hornets are currently performing well with an impressive 8-3 record. They are looking to make a significant impact this season, and depending on their performance in the upcoming tournament, they may move closer to breaking into the top 25. On the other hand, the Big Spring Steers have a record of 4-5 this season and still have some areas to improve. Big Spring is the second-largest school participating in the tournament and competes in 4A. Tulia averages 68 points per game while allowing 42 points, whereas Big Spring averages 45 points and also allows 42 points.
