The Sandies, despite losing three players to Division I universities, won the Canes Key City Classic in Abilene on Saturday.
Amarillo High (14-1) scored an incredibly eye-opening victory in the title game over North Crowley, the No. 3 team in Class 6A. The Sandies won 58-49 as Zach Brown had 24 points and Braden Hausen added 15. They reached the final by beating The Colony 51-35 in the semifinal, as Hausen, the tournament MVP, had 14 points.
Hausen, Brown and Cooper Pillion were named to the all-tournament team.
The Lady Sandies won the Northeast Independent School District Tournament in San Antonio going a perfect 4-0. AHS opened the tournament with a win over San Antonio Lee 88-27, then pummeled San Marcos 71-42. In the semifinals, the Lady Sandies dismantled Johnson 71-42, and capped off the weekend holding off San Antonio Judson 52-49 on Saturday afternoon. McKenzie Smith played outstanding for AHS averaging 19.5 points during the tournament with her highest point total of 23 points coming against San Antonio Johnson. The No. 2-ranked Lady Sandies are off to a 14-1 start to the year.
Canyon Eagles take Gene Messer Shootout championship
Canyon, who reached the region final last season, ended up beating a local former district rival to claim the title in the prestigious Gene Messer Shootout at Wolfforth.
Canyon (6-1) reached the championship at Messer and faced 5A Palo Duro, a former district rival and current district mate of Amarillo High. The Eagles soared to the title with a 54-43 victory, as Chris Bryant had 16 points, Kelson Jones had 13 and Kemper Jones scored 11.
In the semifinal, Canyon beat tournament host Frenship 67-64, as Kemper Jones, who was the tournament MVP, hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer. Jones had 33 points in that game.
Bryant and Gage Lunsford were also named to the all-tournament team for the Eagles, who also beat Lubbock Monterey 56-37 and El Paso El Dorado 54-22.
