Holiday hoops: Plano ISD, Lewisville ISD stay busy during break

PLANO, TX – In high school basketball, the final week of the year has traditionally been one of the most important of the season.

It’s a time for ironing out any last kinks before embarking on the grind of district play, and that usually includes competing in some of the state’s most storied tournaments — hallmark events like the Sandra Meadows Classic and the Dallas ISD Holiday Invitational, or up-and-coming showcases like the Allen In-N-Out Burger Holiday Invitational.

Although that element of the season won’t take place this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, local teams will be busy during their holiday breaks — lining up non-district games to keep their players active before the results take on extra meaning in a couple weeks.

That includes basketball programs in Plano ISD and Lewisville ISD, and here’s a look at what they have lined up for their week of holiday hoops.

Flower Mound

Although Flower Mound’s boys team won’t return to action until district play resumes on Jan. 5, the Lady Jaguars have back-to-back ballgames on the docket for the week.

Flower Mound gets rolling at 3:15 p.m. Monday with a road game at Bridgeport and is back on its home court the following afternoon for another 3:15 p.m. tipoff against Lufkin.

Bridgeport is coming off its deepest playoff run in program history, advancing to the regional finals in 2020. The Sissies have played almost exclusively against Class 5A and 6A opponents so far, picking up wins over teams like Marcus and Southlake Carroll.

Lufkin brings a three-game winning streak into its meeting with the Lady Jaguars, who are looking to get on track after a 1-3 start to district play.

Hebron

The Hawks have made a habit of alternating wins and losses the past few weeks and search for a bit more consistency heading into the meat of their district schedule when they visit Carroll at 1 p.m. Wednesday. Hebron is 1-1 in district play and closes out its preseason against an improved Dragons squad. Carroll entered the week at 8-4 overall after winning just 10 games during its 2019-20 campaign.

The Lady Hawks, meanwhile, have been one of the more impressive stories early into their district schedule. Hebron recently upset a Plano team that advanced to the regional finals last season, and at noon Tuesday, the Lady Hawks will tussle with the other half of last year’s Region II-6A final when they welcome McKinney.

The Lionettes are led by one of the area’s top players in Butler commit Trinity White but have had a tough time replicating the magic from last year’s state semifinal run — sporting just a 2-8 record entering the week.

Lewisville

The Farmers entered the week at 10-3 overall and ranked No. 18 in 6A by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches. Looking to build off a 2-0 start to its district schedule, Lewisville will test its mettle against one of the area’s perennial powers when it travels to play North Crowley at 1 p.m. Tuesday.

The No. 12-ranked Panthers are undefeated at 12-0, the largest win total of any team in the TABC’s 6A top 25, and are averaging 69 points per game. Only one of their 12 wins has been decided by single digits.