Coming off a quick Christmas break, basketball teams were back in action across the Texas Panhandle, some of those stepping out of district for one final non-district tune up before the New Year grind of league play in 2026.
Gruver played host to its annual Holiday Classic presented by NextEra Energy on Monday and Tuesday. The Greyhounds and Lady Hounds both had very strong showings, defending home court over the two days.
The Lady Hounds (14-5) went a perfect 4-0 during the two-day tournament. Gruver opened Monday with two dominating victories by pummeling Pampa 72-26, followed by a beating of Borger 79-37. On Tuesday, the Lady Hounds kept that momentum rolling with a 60-34 thumping of West Plains and closed the tournament out by handling Perryton 68-25.
The rest of this story is only for subscribers.
Over the four games, the backcourt of Kortlyn Born and Payton Merkel carried Gruver with outstanding performances. Merkel averaged 22.7 per game while Born added 17.2 points in the victories. Merkel scored 17 against Pampa, then went for 26 against Borger and 29 to help beat West Plains. She closed the tournament with 18 against Perryton.
Born started things off dropping in 21 against Pampa, then had 15 and 14 in wins over Borger and West Plains before posting 19 against Perryton.
Gruver wasn’t the only girls basketball team seeing success at the Holiday Classic. Bushland and Canadian were also unbeaten over the two days. The Lady Falcons (16-7) went 4-0 getting wins against Borger 63-28, West Plains 61-37, Pampa 59-21, and then Perryton 63-53. Bushland’s Berklee Billington came off the volleyball floor and has transitioned nicely to basketball. The sophomore had a huge tournament by averaging 22 points a game which included two 25-point performances against Perryton and West Plains.
Canadian also had a strong showing going 4-0 with victories over West Plains 62-38, Perryton 44-41, Pampa 44-40 and then a 68-44 win against Borger. The Lady Cats (15-6) saw Kylie Cavalier lead the way. The senior and Cameron University signee averaged 16 points a game, scoring 19 points in wins against West Plains and Borger.
In boys’ action, the Gruver Greyhounds have made a smooth transition off the gridiron onto the hardwood. Playing in three games during the Holiday Classic, the Greyhounds went 3-0 to improve to 5-0 on the season. Gruver knocked off Pampa 64-36 and Wheeler 65-28 on Monday. On Tuesday, the Greyhounds closed out the tourney with a 54-32 drubbing of Perryton.
Against Pampa, Mason Lankford and Brock Butler combined for 34 points. Lankford poured in 18 and Butler added 16. In the win over Wheeler, Lankford again led the team with 14, followed by Jett Pittman’s 10. In Tuesday’s Perryton victory, Lankford shined once more with 17. Lankford ended the three games averaging 16.3 points a game.
Gruver Holiday Classic presented by NextEra Energy
At Gruver High School
Monday’s games
Boys scores
Gruver 64, Pampa 36
Perryton 67, Stratford 58
Spearman 76, Lockney 31
Stratford 72, Amarillo Collegiate 35
Gruver 65, Wheeler 28
Lockney 58, Wheeler 39
Girls scores
Perryton 48, Stratford 42
Gruver 72, Pampa 26
Bushland 63, Borger 28
Canadian 62, West Plains 38
Stratford 54, Pampa 50
Gruver 79, Borger 37
Canadian 44, Perryton 41
Bushland 61, West Plains 37
Tuesday’s games
Boys scores
Lockney 65, Amarillo Collegiate 42
Pampa 68, Stratford 52
Spearman 72, Amarillo Collegiate 35
Perryton 64, Lockney 35
Pampa 61, Spearman 50
Wheeler 67, Amarillo Collegiate 41
Gruver 54, Perryton 32
Girls scores
Canadian 55, Pampa 40
Bushland 63, Perryton 53
Stratford 59, Borger 49
Gruver 60, West Plains 34
Bushland 59, Pampa 21
West Plains 46, Stratford 35
Canadian 68, Borger 44
Gruver 68, Perryton 25