McDonalds Texas Invitational
Mark you calendars for one of the biggest basketball tournaments that you will see in Houston and that’s the McDonalds Texas Invitational. It starts Thursday and runs through Saturday. Some of the top teams from the Houston area, such as North Shore, Bellaire, Klein Collins, Cy Falls, College Park, Clear Creek, Cy Fair and the Woodlands will be on hand, along with some of the top teams from the state, including Duncanville, San Antonio Jay, North Crowley and Irving Macarthur.
I-Mac features Alexis Jones, Girlz Prep Reports #1 player for the Class of 2012 and folks, she is one of the best players I have ever seen, a very gifted and unselfish player who is worth at least 20 points to her team without scoring a point.
The Woodlands are riding high after winning the Conroe Tournament and it should be interesting to see how they do against some of the other top teams. Their win against College Park was hugeand in doing so, they want Atascocita to know they will not concede just yet. Paige Bradley was the Tournament MVP while Anna Strickland made the All Tournament team.
Right now, North Shore is the second best team in the city behind Hightower, and is led by the cities top player, Courtney Williams. Williams and her “Shore” teammates appear to be clicking on all cylinders after pulling off two impressive victories against two of the top squads in the area. First they beat Dekaney, by double digits on the road and then they knock off Region 3 runner up Bellaire at home. The win at Dekaney was impressive because one of my “Rising Stars”, Monique Bedford, dropped 27 points and as I’ve said before ” In order for North Shore to get out of here, they need offense from someone other than Williams”. The win against Bellaire was equally impressive because five North Shore players scored in double figures.
Bellaire is led by the top 2013 player in the city, AJ Alix and after coming off back to back Region 3 second place finishes, they opened up the season losing big to Elsik and then again on North Shores home court. What does that mean? Absolutely nothing because as I’ve said before, seven out of last seasons Elite 8 finishers in Region 3 will be contenders.
Another team on the rise is Cy Falls, a squad that features “The Bomb Squad”, my nickname for a team loaded with three point shooters. Leading the way is Kit Metoyer, Hoopgurlz.com gave her some well deserved props, but the Guru told you about her first. Will this be the year Falls knocks of Cy Fair? If beating Klein Collins on the road, while also taking care of Katy Taylor, both by double digit margins, this year is as good as any because both KC and KT will probably finish either first or second in their districts.
FLASH!
Cy Falls beats Klein Collins in Texas Invitational Gold Championship, while Katy Taylor defeats Hightower and Elsik to win the Fort Bend Tournament.