Even if the host team didn’t come out the winner, nobody present Saturday afternoon could complain about the entertainment value.
Canyon and Brownfield, ranked No. 14 in the state in Class 3A, gave the fans their money’s worth and then some. An extra period was needed to decide the game, and that was when Brownfield shifted into overdrive, dominating the extra period to pull out a 62-56 victory.
It marked the first time the host school suffered a loss in the tournament, and it took more than a full game to finally hang a tournament loss on the Eagles (9-9).
Not only that, but since Canyon and Brownfield (14-7) were the only unbeaten teams on the boys side heading into Saturday, a tight game seemed inevitable.
“The last two days we were able to knock off some rust and get back in shape,” Canyon coach Travis Schulte said. “We faced a high quality basketball team in Brownfield who we feel would be able to make the playoffs in this District (4-4A) if they were in here with us. We made too many mistakes late to win the game but overall I’m super proud of our kids. We’re young, we need games like that and hopefully we’ll learn from them.”
Canyon got off to a solid start against the Cubs and led by as many as 11 points in the first half. However, Brownfield closed the first half with an 8-0 run to cut it to 23-20 at halftime.
Canyon went up 50-48 in the final minute after Clayton Wilcox, who led the Eagles with 21 points, hit a basket and later a free throw. With six seconds left, Brownfield’s Jaren Lawrence, who scored 231 of his 28 points after halftime, was fouled while attempting a 3-pointer, and he made two free throws for a split-appropriate 50-50 score which sent it to an extra period.
To open the overtime, Brownfield scored eight straight points, as Trae Timmins and Joseph Bayless both hit 3-pointers for a 58-50 lead. The Cubs led by as many as 10 points, which was too big of a hole for Canyon to overcome.
“(The Eagles) are a well-coached team and they do things right and they knocked down every shot we left them open in the first half,” Brownfield coach Zayne McPherson said. “You play a bigger school and you’re a little more used to a rougher game. It’s a good tournament as far as competition goes. It’s good for our kids to play in it.”
Brox Hacker came off the bench to score 13 points for Canyon. Timmins had 12 for Brownwood.
The tournament is named for Schulte’s daughter Tatum, who died in 2017 at the age of nine after a lengthy battle with cancer. Recognizing her in the tournament is enough to make a success for Schulte.
“Just the fact that it’s called the Tatum Tough Tournament and it’s played in her memory is big,” Schulte said. “We have some really good coaches here and some really good teams. They’re classy high-quality programs and it makes for a fun three days.”
State champion coach Boston Hudson brings Lamesa to Tatum Tough Tournament
There was a familiar face on the sidelines, but with different company this year.
Boston Hudson led Lamesa into the tournament Friday after having previously been to Canyon with Clarendon, who he led to UIL Class 2A state championships in 2021 and 2022.
A graduate of Canadian, Hudson met up with his alma mater to open the tournament Friday but lost 61-33 before falling to host Canyon 68-37 later that evening.
“It’s just a special tournament and we’re glad to be a small part of it,” said Hudson, who won 94 games in Clarendon in four seasons. “It’s just great basketball with great coaches. (Coaching against Canadian) is always tough but we were looking forward to the challenge. They have really good size but we’re just trying to get better.”
Completing the circle, Lamesa closed the tournament by losing 51-34 to Bushland on Saturday. Bushland is coached by Connor Copley a very good friend of Hudson and his family.
