santa hat with basketballs

With Santa resting after making his rounds, there will be quite a bit of roundball this long weekend between Christmas and the beginning of 2025.

There will holiday hoops in the area.

Tyler ISD Whataburger Holiday Hoops

Tyler Legacy and Tyler High will host the first Tyler ISD Whataburger Holiday Hoops Classic Dec. 27-28.

Games will be at Tyler Legacy on Dec. 27 — Main Gym: Tyler vs. Fort Worth Southwest, 10 a.m.; Killeen vs. Tyler Legacy, 11:30 a.m.; Alief Hastings vs. Tyler, 2 p.m.; Tyler Legacy vs. Rowlett, 3:30 p.m.; Auxiliary Gym: Mesquite vs. Alief Hastings, 10 a.m.; Rowlett vs. Dallas Molina, 11:30 a.m.; Fort Worth Southwest vs. Mesquite, 2 p.m.; Dallas Molina vs. Killeen, 3:30 p.m.

Games will be at Tyler High on Dec. 28 — Main Gym: Tyler vs. Mesquite, 10 a.m.; Dallas Molina vs. Tyler Legacy, 11:30 a.m.; Pool B No. 2 vs. Pool A No. 2, 2 p.m.; Pool B No. 1 vs. Pool A No. 1, 3:30 p.m.; Auxiliary Gym: Rowlett vs. Killeen, 10 a.m.; Alief Hastings vs. Fort Worth Southwest, 11:30 a.m.; Pool B No. 4 vs. Pool A No. 4; Pool B No. 3 vs. Pool A No. 3, 3:30 p.m. … Pool A: Tyler Legacy, Dallas Molina, Rowlett, Killeen; Pool B: Tyler High, Alief Hastings, Mesquite, Fort Worth Southwest.

On Dec. 31, the Lady Raiders will visit the Lady Lions for a 4:30 p.m. contest.

Wagstaff Holiday Classic

The 70th Annual Wagstaff Holiday Classic, a high school boys basketball tournament named for legendary coach Floyd Wagstaff, is scheduled once again for after Christmas.

The Classic is slated for Dec. 27 and 28 at Wagstaff Gymnasium.

The scheduled includes:

Dec. 27 — All Saints vs. Henderson, 1 p.m.; Cumberland vs. Whitehouse, 2:15 p.m.; Grace Community vs. Bishop Gorman, 5 p.m.; Tyler vs. Brownsboro, 6:15 p.m.; and Brook Hill vs. Tyler HEAT, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 28 — Cumberland vs. Bishop Gorman, 1 p.m.; Henderson vs. Grace Community, 2:30 p.m.; All Saints vs. Tyler HEAT, 5 p.m.; Brownsboro vs. Whitehouse, 6:15 p.m.; and Brook Hill vs. Tyler, 7:30 p.m.

Coach Wagstaff brought a legacy to Tyler Junior College as big as Texas itself. Under his leadership, the Apaches basketball team achieved incredible success, winning 743 games and advancing to the national championship tournament 11 times. His teams captured two national titles and finished as runners-up twice. Recognized for his contributions to athletics, Coach Wagstaff was inducted into five athletic halls of fame, inspiring countless coaches and former students nationwide.

This remarkable legacy continues through the Wagstaff Holiday Classic, a tradition Coach Wagstaff started in 1953. The event was created to provide high school teams in East Texas with an opportunity to compete at Tyler Junior College during the holiday break, preparing them for district play.

Tickets are available for $10 for adults and $5 for students. There will be two sessions each day. The gym will be cleared between sessions.

Glen Evans Classic

Troup is hosting the Glen Evans Classic on Dec. 27-28.

Teams participating along with host Troup include: Alto, Apple Springs, Cayuga and Harleton.

The boys schedule on Dec. 27 includes: Apple Springs vs. Harleton, 9:30 a.m.; Cayuga vs. Troup, noon; Alto vs. Apple Springs, 2:30 p.m.; Harleton vs. Cayuga, 5 p.m.; and Troup vs. Alto, 7:30 p.m.

The girls schedule on Dec. 27 includes: Apple Springs vs. Harleton, 8:15 a.m.; Cayuga vs. Troup, 10:45 a.m.; Alto vs. Apple Springs, 1:15 p.m.; Harleton vs. Cayuga, 3:45 p.m.; and Troup vs. Alto, 6:15 p.m.

The boys schedule on Dec. 28 includes: Cayuga vs. Alto, 9:30 a.m.; Harleton vs. Troup, noon; Cayuga vs. Apple Springs, 2:30 p.m.; Harleton vs. Alto, 5 p.m.; and Troup vs. Apple Springs, 7:30 p.m.

The girls schedule on Dec. 28 includes: Cayuga vs. Alto, 8:15 a.m.; Harleton vs. Troup, 10:45 a.m.; Cayuga vs. Apple Springs, 1:15 p.m.; Harleton vs. Alto, 3:45 p.m.; and Troup vs. Apple Springs, 7:30 p.m.

Van Holiday Classic

Van will host the Farmers Insurance Van Holiday Classic Friday and Saturday

The tournament will feature 15 boys teams — Van, Waskom, Gladewater, Forney JV, Bullard, Ennis, Gilmer, Chapel Hill, Nacogdoches, Athens, Central Heights, Greenville, Spring Hill, Big Sandy and Van Alstyne.

Friday’s first-round schedule is Waskom vs. Gladewater vs. Waskom, 9:30 a.m.; Forney JV vs. Bullard, 11 a.m.; Ennis vs. Gilmer, 11 a.m.; Chapel Hill vs. Nacogdoches, 12:30 p.m.; Athens vs. Central Heights, 12:30 p.m.; Greenville vs. Spring Hill, 2 p.m.; and Big Sandy vs. Van Alstyne, 2 p.m.. Van will face the Waskom-Gladewater winner at 3:30 p.m. Friday. There will also be winner’s bracket games at 5, 6:30 and 8 p.m. Friday.

The championship is scheduled for 8 p.m. Saturday.

Rex Ray Classic

Pine Tree will host the Rex Ray Classic in Longview, with all games played at the Pirate Center — five on Friday and four on Saturday.

Friday’s schedule has Kilgore vs. Kemp at 9:30 a.m., Marshall vs. Pine Tree at 11 a.m., Longview vs. Kilgore at 12:30 p.m., Kemp vs. Marshall at 2 p.m. and Pine Tree vs. Longview at 3:30 p.m.

Saturday’s schedule has Kemp vs. Longview at 9:30 a.m., Marshall vs. Kilgore at 11 a.m., Pine Tree vs. Kemp at 12:30 p.m. and Longview vs. Marshall at 2 p.m.

Hawkins Holiday Hoops

Hawkins is hosting the Hawkins Holiday Hoops Tournament through Saturday.

Boys teams in the event are Hawkins, West Rusk, Carthage, Hughes Springs, Harmony, ETHS, Tyler Legacy JV and Lindale.

Girls teams in the event are Hawkins, Queen City, Grace Community, Cumberland Academy, Harmony, Spring Hill and Tyler HEAT.

The tourney began on Thursday.

Houston County Tournament

Crockett and Grapeland are hosting the Houston County Tournament Friday and Saturday.

The boys teams in the tournament are Grapeland, Buffalo, Coldspring-Oakhurst, Madisonville, Palestine, Livingston, Fairfield, Beckville, Lovelady, New Waverly, Diboll, El Paso Da Vinci, Elkhart, Huntsville JV, Crockett and Rusk.

Friday’s first-round schedule is Grapeland vs. Buffalo, 9 a.m.; Coldspring-Oakhurst vs. Madisonville, 9 a.m.; Crockett vs. Rusk, 9 a.m.; and Elkhart vs. Huntsville JV, 9 a.m. Palestine vs. Livingston, 10:20 a.m.; Fairfield vs. Beckville, 10:20 a.m.; Lovelady vs. New Waverly, 10:20 a.m.; Diboll vs. El Paso Da Vinci, 10:20 a.m. There will be second-round games Friday afternoon. The championship is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday at Crockett.

Kaufman Holiday Tournament

Lindale’s girls are in the Kaufman Holiday Tournament. The Lady Eagles will face Corsicana at 10:20 a.m. Friday. Other teams in the tournament are Millsap, Kaufman, Wills Point, Garland, Gainesville and Temple. The championship is scheduled for 3:40 p.m. Saturday.

Whataburger Invitational

LaPoynor and Palestine Westwood will be in the 67th Whataburger Invitational Championship tournament in the Fort Worth area. Both teams are in the Navy Boys Division with Canyon Randall, Fort Worth Eastern Hills, Eagle Mountain, Mexia, Hitchcock, Brock, Peaster, Seminole, Waco La Vega, Krum, Hamshire-Fannett, Panhandler, Decatur and Palmer. LaPoynor will face Hitchcock at noon Friday, and Westwood will face Panhandle at noon Friday. Both games are at Eagle Mountain High School. The championship is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday.