HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL: Highlighting the top performances from Friday's action

The TRN Top 10 is subjective and represents a team’s relevance in its district and regional playoffs. However, unlike the football version, head-to-head matchups may be weighted more since it’s not uncommon for teams in lower classifications to beat those in higher. But if a team in a higher classification doesn’t project as well in its district or region, then an opponent it may have a win against could be ranked higher. Record and preseason ranking are in parenthesis.

GIRLS TRN TOP 10

1. Nocona (20-2, 1) – Nocona had eight 3-pointers scored by players not named Megyn Meekins or Skyler Smith in a 77-10 victory against Petrolia on Friday. Meekins and Smith combined for 46 points but getting that kind of production from the rest of the team is what makes the Lady Indians a state title contender.

2. Holliday (12-6, 2) – Holliday coach Derek Winn confessed he’s sometimes timid about letting Kenna Wood guard the opposition’s best player, since she’s been the Lady Eagles’ top scorer this season. But Wood is also the team’s top defender, and it showed with the way she defended Jacksboro’s Hayden Walker on Friday. And Wood had a game-high 19 points to boot.

More: TRN SPORTS SCOREBOARD: Wichita Falls area high school basketball, soccer results (Jan. 2-7)

3. Windthorst (11-4, 3) – No offense to anyone else in District 9-2A, but we’re already counting down the days to Jan. 16 when Windthorst hosts Nocona for the first of two district matchups this season.

4. Newcastle (19-1, 4) – Mattie Dollar scored a modest 23 points against Garner. But all of those points came in the first half with her coach, and dad, Ryan, calling off the dogs early.

5. Harrold (14-2, 5) – Harrold got a night off before returning to dominating District 16-A. It’s going to be difficult to unseat anyone from the top five spots in these rankings.

6. Throckmorton (19-2, 5) – Throck rebounded from Tuesday’s loss to Newcastle and beat a state-ranked Graford squad, 47-39. Did we say the top five spots? The top six are pretty entrenched here.

7. Jacksboro (12-11, 7) – That was not what we expected from Jacksboro against Holliday. But it’s hard to move the Tigerettes down in these rankings. They own victories against Burkburnett and City View this season.

8. Burkburnett (13-7, 8) – The Lady Bulldogs opened District 7-4A action Saturday with a dominant win against Hirschi. Was it be the start of a district title run?

9. City View (10-11, 9) – Nothing is coming easy for the Lady Mustangs, evidenced by a 60-56 victory against Vernon on Friday. They led by 14 early in the game but couldn’t put the feisty Lady Lions away until late.

10. Electra (15-8, 10) – It wasn’t the prettiest result, but Electra’s 35-25 victory against Northside keeps the Lady Tigers in a solid spot in District 16-A.

BOYS TRN TOP 10

1. Benjamin (8-0, 1) – Grayson Rigdon is the headliner, but just as he was on the football field, freshman Keegan Hayes has been an impressive complement to the state’s best Class A athlete. Hayes scored 31 points in Friday’s win against Munday, and he’s recorded a triple-double this season.

2. Holliday (18-2, 2) – Someone remarked that Friday’s performance against Jacksboro was the worst they’ve seen from senior Keitenn Bristow since he joined the Eagles. And at times, it did look like he was having an off night. And he still had 25 points and 10 rebounds. Most players dream about having one of Bristow’s “off nights.”

3. Burkburnett (15-6, 3) – Ayden White and Robert Ingram proved themselves as freshmen and are now leading the Bulldogs as sophomores. But the emergence of junior Ozavian Buford gives Burk a third player capable of dropping 20 points on a given night.

4. Knox City (17-2, 4) – The Greyhounds faced their first challenge of the District 15-A schedule with Roby pushing them until the fourth quarter.

5. Hirschi (7-10, 6) – The Huskies' final "warmup" before starting District 7-4A action is against Class 5A No. 7 Amarillo High, a perennial regional power. It's safe to say the Huskies should be plenty warm for district.

6. WFHS (19-7, 7) – The Coyotes also finished their non-district slate Saturday, besting Graham, 58-48.

7. Vernon (15-5, 8) – The Lions caused the first seismic shift in the TRN Top 10, beating City View, 49-43, Friday. The battles between Vernon, City View and Holliday in this district are a must-see.

8. City View (10-8, 5) – The Mustangs blinked first in the area’s most competitive district race, but they can fight their way back into the conversation next week when they visit Holliday.

9. Nocona (13-11, 9) – The Indians capped their non-district against a unique opponent, hosting an Australian travel team, Bendigo, from Melbourne on Saturday. They lost 52-47 in the latest of several tough non-district matchups for the Indians.

10. Electra (18-3, 10) – Electra usually relies on a big scoring night from Jeremiah Murphy. That’s why Friday’s 54-21 victory against Northside was impressive. Murphy only scored 10 points, well below his 19 per game average. And the Tigers still won with ease thanks to a balanced scoring attack.

On the rise – Bowie.

TUESDAY’S GAMES TO WATCH

GIRLS

Iowa Park at Jacksboro – The Tigerettes are looking to rebound after a disappointing performance against Holliday. Iowa Park is coming off an open date and profiles as one of the district’s four playoff teams.

Saint Jo at Forestburg – Both teams are currently undefeated in District 22-A action.

BOYS

Rider at Northwest – A win for the Raiders would give them an early edge for a playoff spot.

Bowie at City View – There’s no time to mourn a loss in District 7-3A. City View has to bounce back immediately. This is also Bowie’s biggest test of the district season to date.

Benjamin at Electra – Dealing with Benjamin is a tall order, but if anyone is going to challenge the Mustangs in District 16-A, it’s Electra.

FRIDAY’S GIRLS RESULTS

DISTRICT 7-4A

Sanger 59, WFHS 12

Standouts: Kenya Brown 8 points.

DISTRICT 7-3A

Holliday 50, Jacksboro 26

Standouts: (J) Kylie Tullous 9 points; (H) Kenna Wood 19 points; Bailee Bowers 14 points; Braylie Womack 12 points.

City View 60, Vernon 56

Standouts: (CV) Emarei Brandon 18 points; Kyra Taylor 15 points; (V) Key’Maria McBride 20 points; Mija Johnson 14 points.

DISTRICT 2-2A

Quanah 57, Memphis 29

Standouts: (Q) Mari Meza 15 points; Autumn Woods 13 points; Maylei Marsh 10 points; (M) Chloie O’Neal 13 points.

DISTRICT 7-2A

Windthorst 71, Archer City 33

Standouts: (AC) Adelyn Harvey 9 points; (W) Cameron Belcher 23 points; Rylee Wolf 21 points.

Nocona 77, Petrolia 10

Standouts: (N) Megyn Meekins 19 points; Skyler Smith 24 points; (P) Holland Horton 7 points.

Seymour 38, Olney 16

Standouts: (O) Camryn Castro 7 points; (S) Allie McGuire 17 points, 5 rebounds.

DISTRICT 21-A

Newcastle 57, Garner 16

Standouts: (N) Mattie Dollar 23 points; Camren Mallory 11 points; (G) Selena Creids 8 points.

FRIDAY'S BOYS RESULTS

DISTRICT 7-3A

Holliday 57, Jacksboro 33

Standouts: (J) Cannon Valenzuela 10 points; (H) Keitenn Bristow 25 points, 10 rebounds; Ashtyn Berry 11 points; Grant Cox 15 rebounds.

Vernon 49, City View 43

Standouts: (V) Adarius Williams 16 points; Kell Castleberry 13 points; Julius Dawkins 10 points; (CV) William Jordan II 14 points; Desmond Whiteside 10 points; Jaydyn Holt 10 points.

DISTRICT 15-A

Knox City 50, Roby 39

Standouts: (KC) Bryson Callaway 17 points; Tristin Baxter 12 points; Devin Guillory 11 points.

DISTRICT 16-A

Electra 54, Northside 21

Standouts: (E) Jeremiah Murphy 10 points; Carter Russell 9 points.

Benjamin 98, Munday 54

Standouts: (M) Talan Collins 19 points; Connor Willison 15 points; Mance Phillips 10 points; (B) Grayson Rigdon 39 points; Keegan Hayes 31 points; Jules Pugi 12 points.

NON-DISTRICT

Quanah 54, Harrold 40

Standouts: (H) David Albineda 28 points; (Q) De’Rahn McDow 11 points; Kaden Dixon 12 points; Carter Christanelli 11 points.

Petrolia 52, Saint Jo 44

Standouts: (P) Ramsey Hensley 31 points, 17 rebounds.

SATURDAY’S GIRLS RESULTS

DISTRICT 7-4A

Burkburnett 76, Hirschi 10

Standouts: (B) Lauren Larkins 18 points; Tay Fields 13 points; Lambrey Vincent 10 points.

SATURDAY'S BOYS RESULTS

NON-DISTRICT

Bendigo (Aus.) 52, Nocona 47

Standouts: (N) Brady McCasland 12 points; Javier Gaytan 15 points.

GIRLS STANDINGS

BOYS STANDINGS

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Wichita Falls area high school basketball scores (Jan. 5-6)