Leon Cooper, Sunrise Christian
Photo by Keith Owens
Leon Cooper’s 28 points led all scorers in the Boys Division I championship game as Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.) held on for a 48-41 win over Mansfield Timberview to wrap up the 29th annual Fantasy of Lights Basketball Tournament in Wichita Falls.
Timberview knocked off defending champion L.D. Bell earlier in the day but had no answer for Cooper, who put on a show for the crowd at Midwestern State University’s D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
Cooper earned Most Valuable Player honors while two of his teammates — Raphael Akpejiori, a 6-9 signee with the University of Miami (Fla.), and Janis Matulis — were both named to the all-tournament team.
Sunrise Christian improved to 4-0, while Timberview, ranked No. 10 in Class 4A and a state tournament team a year ago, dropped to 5-1. Sophomore Brandon Pye, an all-tournament selection, scored 14 points to lead Timberview.
Most Valuable Player: Leon Cooper, Sunrise, Kansas
All-Tourney Selections: Brandon Pye, Mansfield Timberview; Raphael Akpejiori, Sunrise, Kansas; Jalen Jones, Mansfield Timberview; Janis Matulis, Sunrise, Kansas
Girls Division I
No. 3 Canyon defeated out-manned Wichita Falls High School (7-2), 63-33, to collect its second straight title in even more dominant fashion than last year.
“We are honored to be in the tournament and honored to win it,” Canyon coach Joe Lombard said. “For me personally, getting to come back to Midwestern is a true joy. We have so many friends down and longtime memories of our kids playing ball here.
“The D.L. Ligon Coliseum is one of my five all-time favorite courts to play on, so we always enjoy playing there.”
And with good reason.
Canyon is now 7-0 all-time in Fantasy of Lights play with an average margin of victory of a whopping 40.4 points per game over a two-year span.
Jordan Vessels and Nicole Hampton each earned their second straight all-tournament selections while Casey Land, daughter of former Byers High School standout Angela Seay Land, earned Most Valuable Player honors with a game-high 15 points.
The Coyotes, who also lost to Canyon in last year’s Division I title game (55-48), have advanced to the championship game three years in a row.
Most Valuable Player: Casey Land, Canyon
All-Tourney Selections: Carolyn Taylor, Wichita Falls; Nicole Hampton, Canyon; Danielle Rudolph, Wichita Falls; Jordan Vessels, Canyon
Boys Division II
Arlington Heights made Wichita Falls High School 0-2 Saturday night as the 7-0 Yellowjackets rolled past the Coyotes, 65-46, to win its first ever Fantasy of Lights title in Boys Division II action.
Larry Clark, who was named MVP, led Arlington Heights with 14 points while Colby Cox (10 points) and Willie Byrd were all-tournament selections for the Yellowjackets. Tyrone Davis led the Coyotes with a game-high 19 points and 14 rebounds to earn an all-tournament selection along with teammate Landon Spray.
Most Valuable Player: Larry Clark, Arlington Heights
All-Tourney Selections: Landon Spray, Wichita Falls; Colby Cox, Arlington Heights; Tyrone Davis, Wichita Falls; Willie Byrd, Arlington Heights
Girls Division II (3A)
Already known for her mid-range jumper and post-up game, Iowa Park’s Presley Gann decided to add the 3-pointer to her repertoire and staged its coming out party for the Girls Division II (3A) championship game.
And she drew rave reviews.
Gann connected five times from beyond the arc in the Hawks’ 52-41 victory over Paris during which she led all scorers with 32 points and took home Most Valuable Player honors.
The game marked Iowa Park’s first appearance in a Fantasy of Lights title game in 12 years. Now 2-1 all-time in title game appearances, the Hawks’ won their first Fantasy of Lights title in 1995 when they topped Bowie, 72-64.
“I’d been working on that all summer,” Gann said after the game. “But this was a tough game for us and we played well as a team. And because of that, I think we have a chance to go far this season.”
Early indications are that Gann is on target once again as Iowa Park improves to 7-0 with the win over the Wildcats – the Hawks’ best start since coach Jacinda Langen took over the team.
Iowa Park’s Megan Walls and Shelbye Boren were both all-tournament team selections along with Paris’ Ariole Jenkins and Tiara Hall.
Most Valuable Player: Presley Gann, Iowa Park
All-Tourney Selections: Ariole Jenkins, Paris; Megan Walls, Iowa Park; Tiara Hall, Paris; Shelby Boren, Iowa Park.
Girls Division II (2A)
Aubrey won its second consecutive and third overall girls title (2001, 2008, 2009) after a 42-34 win against Slaton in Girls Division II (2A) play.
The Tigerettes’ Jac Bullock walked away with Most Valuable Player honors for the Chapparals while Slaton’s Uniqua Wilson, an all-tournament selection, scored a game-high 15 points in the loss.
Presley Stastny led Aubrey with 14 points.
Most Valuable Player: Jac Bullock, Aubrey
All-Tourney Selections: Taylor Polk, Slaton; Presley Stasny, Aubrey; Uniqua Wilson, Slaton; Sidney Karr, Aubrey
Boys Division III
Tournament MVP Sage Black scored 27 points as Nazareth fought back from for a 45-43 victory over Calvary Christian in the Boys Division III championship game.
Calvary Christian, gunning for a fourth straight Fantasy title, seemed to be in control, leading by 14 points (36-22) after three quarters. But the Swifts showed why they are the No. 4 team in Class A Division II and a state finalist last year.
Nazareth (4-1) also got 13 points from all-tournament selection Sid Sheffy. Calvary (4-1) was led by Guy Walker with 15 points on five 3-pointers and all-tournament pick Andrew Seely with 10 points.
Most Valuable Player: Sage Black, Nazareth
All-Tourney Selections: Andrew Seeley, Calvary Christian; Brennan Cluck, Nazareth; Madison Ross, Calvary Christian; Sid Sheffy, Nazareth
Girls Division III
Texoma Christian derailed Wellington’s bid for a record-tying fourth girls title with a 50-49 victory in the girls Division III championship game.
The Rockets needed a 3-pointer to tie in the final seconds, but had to settle for a two when Skyler Warrick’s attempt fell short and Texoma Christian held on for the victory.
Senior Ashley Miller led the Eagles with 17 points and picked Most Valuable Player honors while all-tournament selection Warrick had a game-high 23 for Wellington. The Rockets are now 17-3 in Fantasy of Lights play since 2005.
Most Valuable Player: Ashley Miller, Texoma Christian
All-Tourney Selections: Skyler Warrick, Wellington; Mesha Ellison, Texoma Christian; LaChrista Nash, Wellington; Lauren Kirby, Texoma Christian
Stephen C. Smith Sr. can be reached at stephencsmith1@yahoo.com or facebook.com/Stephen C. Smith
