HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL: TRN Top 10, Tuesday's top performers & Friday's games to watch

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 (21-2, 1) – How is it that Skyler Smith somehow seems underrated? Maybe it’s due to playing next to her outstanding cousin, Megyn Meekins, every night. Meekins is the reigning Red River 22 MVP, but her biggest threat to retaining that award is Smith.

More: TRN SPORTS SCOREBOARD: Wichita Falls area high school basketball, soccer scores (Jan 9-13)

2. Holliday (13-6, 2) – Of course, Kenna Wood has made her own case for MVP. No one had bigger shoes to fill, and she’s stepped up as the Lady Eagles’ leader on both ends of the floor.

3. Windthorst (12-4, 3) – Rylee Wolf was the Red River Diamond Dozen volleyball MVP, and she’s in the midst of her best season on the basketball court.

4. Newcastle (20-1, 4) – We mentioned Mattie Dollar was a transfer from perennial state power Martins Mill but didn’t go into detail about her personal achievements while at Martins Mill. She was a Class 2A all-state performer, who led Martins Mill with 11 points in a 32-31 loss to Lipan in the state semifinals.

5. Harrold (15-2, 5) – There hasn’t been a bigger impact freshman in the area than Harrold’s Kiylan Marks, whose twin brother, Keylan, is making his own “mark” on the boys team. Of course those familiar with the last name shouldn’t be surprised. Older brothers Jayln and Isaiah were stud athletes for City View.

6. Throckmorton (19-2, 6) – Throckmorton is coming off an open date and gets a softer portion of its schedule after dealing with Newcastle and Graford in consecutive games.

7. Burkburnett (13-7, 8) – The Lady Dogs had a successful start to their District 7-4A campaign, routing Gainesville, 74-40. It’s the matchup with Sanger a week from Friday that we’ve got circled on the calendar.

8. City View (11-11, 8) – The Lady Mustangs have quietly moved into second place in District 7-3A with a chance to vault to the top of the standings Friday when they visit Holliday.

9. Electra (16-8, 9) – Thelma McGee is a local player deserving more attention for her skill set. The senior averages 11.3 points per game, not counting an 18-point performance against Benjamin on Tuesday. She’s a key reason the Lady Tigers are experiencing their most success in years.

10. Iowa Park (13-11, NR) – The Lady Hawks debut in the TRN Top 10 after beating Jacksboro, 55-52, Tuesday. The win put Iowa Park in the thick of the postseason conversation and came on the heels of a competitive performance against Holliday.

Dropped out – Jacksboro (7).

On the rise – Seymour.

BOYS TRN TOP 10

1. Benjamin (9-0, 1) – The most notable thing about watching Grayson Rigdon play is how quietly he scores 40 points per game. He doesn’t force the issue nor does he dominate the ball. His points come off turnovers and within the flow of the game. He makes his teammates better.

2. Holliday (20-2, 2) – Holliday starts a massive stretch of its schedule Friday, hosting City View. Then Vernon comes to town on Tuesday. Beating their top challengers for the district is vital for their district title hopes.

3. Burkburnett (16-7, 3) – This Burk team can run and gun with the best, but for the second year in a row, it’s notable that the Bulldogs haven’t had the tall, long post player swatting shots at the back end of their trademark full-court press.

4. Knox City (18-2, 4) – Next legit challenge for the Greyhounds? A visit to Aspermont on Tuesday. At least Knox City gets an open date in preparation.

5. Hirschi (7-10, 5) – Hirschi is going to enter District 7-4A play well rested after having Tuesday’s matchup with Amarillo High canceled due to the snow that blanketed the Panhandle Monday night.

6. WFHS (18-7, 6) – And the same will be said for the well-rested Coyotes, who start their bid to end a decade-long playoff drought. But it won’t be easy. We know how good Hirschi and Burkburnett are annually, but Gainesville (25-2) and Sanger (19-5) also boast impressive records. There’s going to be a good team left out of the playoffs in District 7-4A.

7. Vernon (15-5, 7) – We hear the cries for more respect from the Vernon faithful. Beat Holliday next week, and we have no choice to jump the Lions a few spots up this list.

8. City View (11-8, 8) – The Mustangs didn’t have a letdown against a tough Bowie team, rebounding from last week’s loss to Vernon. The Mustangs have their own opportunity to move back up the rankings Friday at Holliday.

9. Nocona (13-11, 9) – District 9-2A finally starts for the boys on Friday, and it won’t take long to figure out if we’ve correctly pegged the Indians as the favorites to repeat as district champions.

10. Electra (18-3, 10) – Electra keeps its spot in the TRN Top 10 despite the convincing loss to Benjamin. The Tigers remain a talented team. Benjamin may be the best team in Class A.

FRIDAY’S GAMES TO WATCH

GIRLS

City View at Holliday – It’s a battle for first place. Holliday currently has the top spot all alone, but City View can pull even and get the first piece of the tiebreaker.

BOYS

Saginaw at Rider – The Raiders got a big win against Northwest, but no team in District 5-5A seems untouchable. Saginaw leads the district with a 4-0 record. It would be a big statement by Rider.

WFHS at Gainesville – Every district game seems like one to watch for Old High. Gainesville can light up a scoreboard. Can the Coyotes counter?

City View at Holliday – It’s the area’s biggest matchup Friday. It’s important for City View to not take a second district loss so early. But defending home court is vital in 7-3A.

Vernon at Bowie – The Lions can’t be looking ahead to Holliday on Tuesday. Andrew Sandhoff and Bowie can beat anyone in the district on a given night.

Seymour at Nocona – Neither has the most impressive non-district record, but we had these two tabbed as the top contenders in District 9-2A before the season started.

TUESDAY'S GIRLS RESULTS

DISTRICT 5-5A

Northwest 43, Rider 32

Leading scorers: (Ri) Addi Williams 9; (N) Camp 12, McClung 12, Fernandez 10.

DISTRICT 7-4A

WFHS 36, Hirschi 29

Leading scorers: (W) Kenya Brown 20; (H) Desiree Colbert 12.

DISTRICT 7-3A

Holliday 61, Henrietta 45

Leading scorers: (He) Kirstyn Barnard 14; (Ho) Braylie Womack 18, Kenna Wood 15, Bailee Bowers 13.

City View 47, Bowie 28

Leading scorers: (B) Hanna Bell 5, Melanie Canin 5; (CV) Emarei Brandon 14, Kyra Taylor 11.

DISTRICT 2-2A

Clarendon 44, Quanah 27

Leading scorers: (Q) Emily Meza 7, Mari Meza 7.

DISTRICT 9-2A

Nocona 85, Archer City 26

Leading scorers: (N) Megyn Meekins 31, Skyler Smith 27, Aubree Kleinhans 10; (AC) Adelyn Harvey 10.

Windthorst 58, Olney 8

Leading scorers: (W) Rylee Wolf 19; (O) Camryn Castro 6.

DISTRICT 16-A

Harrold 64, Crowell 47 

Leading scorers: (H) Kiylan Marks 25 (10 rebounds), Flo-Raya Richardson 13 (16 rebounds), Iyonna Willie 10 (14 rebounds).

Electra 50, Benjamin 30 

Leading scorers: (E) Thelma McGee 18; (B) Valeria Estrada 10.

DISTRICT 21-A

Newcastle 61, Woodson 21

Leading scorers: (N) Mattie Dollar 28, Mya Cabrera 12, Lilly Parsons 10; (W) Clark 12.

TUESDAY'S BOYS RESULTS

DISTRICT 5-5A

Rider 51, Northwest 42

Leading scorers: (N) Brown 13; (Ri) Gavin Aday 16, Caiden Reed 15.

DISTRICT 7-3A

Holliday 75, Henrietta 29

Leading scorers: (Ho) Keitenn Bristow 18 (11 rebounds), Grant Cox 16, Jaedin Kim 10.

City View 85, Bowie 57 

Leading scorers: (CV) Desmond Whiteside 26, William Jordan II 20, Brian Williams 13; (B) Andrew Sandhoff 21, Tucker Jones 12, Bostin Farris 10.

Iowa Park 71, Jacksboro 56

Leading scorers: (J) Jonas 15, Cannon Valenzuela 13, Luke Sams 16; (IP) Austin Stokes 18, Parker Allen 15.

DISTRICT 15-A

Knox City 74, Rule 31

Leading scorers: (KC) Bryson Callaway 30, Devin Guillory 13.

DISTRICT 16-A

Benjamin 78, Electra 45

Leading scorers: (B) Grayson Rigdon 42, Keegan Hayes 15, Weston Weatherford 12; (E) Jeremiah Murphy 14, Kavion Hall 14.

DISTRICT 22-A

Gold-Burg 66, Prairie Valley 52

Leading scorers: (PV) Tyson Easterling 28; (GB) Grace 21, Foster 21, Renteria 10.

Midway at Bellevue, 7:30 p.m.

NON-DISTRICT

Burkburnett 65, Springtown 58

Leading scorers: (B) Ayden White 15, Kendall Terrell 12, Robert Ingram 12, Ozavian Buford 11, George Moseley 10; (S) Thompson 24, Easter 16, Crutchfield 10.

Petrolia 47, Wichita Christian 32

Leading scorers: (P) Ramsey Hensley 28 (18 rebounds).

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Wichita Falls area high school basketball rankings, top performers