For the first time since 2002, a team other than Coronado enters the Caprock Holiday Classic as the defending champion in the large school classification.

But Monterey (8-8) is a different team than the one that stopped Coronado’s tournament title streak at eight in the 2011 tournament. Nonetheless, Lady Plainsmen coach Jill Schneider is looking forward to seeing what her team can do when the 2012 tournament tips off today.

“It always seems to be a turning point for our team,” Schneider said of the tournament. “We started out playing very well this season early and then we’ve struggled the last three or four games. I’m interested to see how we rebound back and how up to play. This tournament generally primes us for district play.”

The Lady Plainsmen have a much different look than in the years past. With the graduation of the last playing Schneider, Monterey has become more of an up-tempo team that likes to push the ball, and does its best scoring in transition.

Monterey, and the rest of the 86-team field should have a pretty good look at differing styles throughout the three-day event, which culminates in championship night on Saturday at the Rip Griffin Center on the Lubbock Christian University Campus.

Tournament director Josh Dill said the tournament remains the largest in the state, but that the wintry weather that moved through the South Plains Christmas morning is causing some teams to have travel difficulties.

Dill said Wichita Falls ISD has informed the Caprock Ambucs organization, which puts on the tournament, that girls teams from Rider and Hirschi will be unable to travel to Lubbock for the tournament until this morning. Rider was scheduled for a 10:30 a.m. game against Frenship and Hirschi was to face the Lubbock Titans at noon.

The delay forced the brackets to be reworked late Wednesday. Other changes included Meadow and Borger switching first-round opponents in the small-school boys bracket.

“We’re still trying to figure out how to adjust the tournament,” Dill said Wednesday morning. “They still want to play but they want to make sure their student-athletes get here safely, and we’re trying to accommodate that. We want to have it squared a way by seven or eight (Wednesday) night, but tournaments are a constantly changing thing and it may be 6 a.m. We may have more updates, you never know.”

Both Wichita Falls teams are in pool play in the large-school bracket with both Monterey and Coronado. Schneider said this year’s tournament has a different feel for her not only because her team is different but because she can usually count on meeting a future district foe somewhere in the three-day tournament.

Monterey still has a chance to meet Coronado in the semifinals if both teams win their pools, but other than that, Schneider still wants to use the tournament to get ready for District 4-4A play on Jan. 4.

“We have Coppell and Shallowater in our pool and we just have to go out and do the best job we can in our pool and see where that puts us,” Schneider said. “This is our last attempt to prepare for district play in a district we know we can do well in if we play well.”

Coronado, meanwhile, is looking to put its name back on the tournament title trophy after being upset by the Lady Plainsmen last year, and head coach Kriss Ethridge has the team to do it.

The Lady Mustangs (18-1) are ranked No. 7 in the state and have won 18 straight since a season-opening loss at Canyon. Coronado has won its last six games by an average margin of more than 46 points per game, and have allowed more than 21 points in five district games just once.

Maybe more importantly, the Lady Mustangs have already captured two tournament titles this year, one in Frisco and the other in Georgetown.

“I think that after the first two tournament wins they want to make a clean sweep of it,” Coronado coach Kriss Ethridge said. “That’s the only conversation I’ve heard is that the want to finish off what they’ve started so far this year.

“We were playing so well before the break that it’s scary letting them go. But we also needed that. We needed a break and hopefully they did some running over the holidays and come back ready to go.”

Coronado, however, won’t be the only ranked team on the girls side. While the Lady Mustangs and Lubbock Titans home school highlight Pool B, third-ranked Cooper (16-1) leads Pool A, while No. 7 Shallowater (16-0) is in Pool D with Monterey, and 10th-ranked Rider is in Pool C with Frenship.

The large-school boys bracket is just as packed with top teams, including three ranked private school teams in defending champion Trinity Christian (No. 24), 10th-ranked Houston Westbury and top-ranked El Paso Faith Christian.

One of the teams looking to break through and playing well going into the tournament is Frenship (13-4), which lost to Trinity in the title game last year. The Tigers have a much different look, having lost their top two scorers from a year ago. But all that’s done is open things up for other players to shine.

“I don’t know if we’re playing better. I think we’re playing different,” Tigers head coach Jason Dear said. “When one kid isn’t scoring we have other guys who are scoring. One of the things that helps us is our defense. When we start to play well it’s because of our defense and not because of our offense. Last year it was different because we had two guys getting all the points.”

Proceeds raised by the tournament go to provide special-needs children with AmTrykes, therapeutic tricycles that help those with disabilities with coordination and muscle strength. Ambucs expects to give away 16 AmTrykes during the tournament.

Tickets and tournament passes will be available at the door at each of the gyms where games are played throughout the three-day tournament.

To comment on this story:

terry.greenberg@lubbockonline.com
• 766-8700

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• 766-2166

2012 FIBERMAX CAPROCK CLASSIC

CHICK-FIL-A GIRLS BRACKET

Pool Play

Pool A: Cooper, Lubbock High, Tascosa

Pool B: Lubbock Titans, Wichita Falls Hirschi, Coronado

Pool C: Frenship, Wichita Falls Rider, Midland Greenwood

Pool D: Shallowater, Coppell, Monterey

Today’s Games

at Coronado HS

Game 1: Frenship vs. Midland Greenwood, 10:30 a.m.

Game 5: Wichita Falls Rider vs. Frenship, 6 p.m.

Game 8: Coppell vs. Monterey, 7:30 p.m.

at Trinity Christian

Game 2: Lubbock Titans vs. Coronado, Noon

at Monterey HS

Game 3: Cooper vs. Lubbock High, 9 a.m.

Game 6: Lubbock High vs. Tascosa, 6 p.m.

at Lubbock High

Game 4: Shallowater vs. Coppell, Noon

at Monterey Box

Game 7: Wichita Falls Hirschi vs. Coronado, 7:30 p.m.

Friday’s Games

at Cooper HS

Game 9: Midland Greenwood vs. Wichita Falls Rider, Noon

at Lubbock High

Game 10: Tascosa vs. Cooper, Noon

Game 11: Wichita Falls Hirschi vs. Lubbock Titans, 1:30 p.m.

at Estacado HS

Game 12: Monterey vs. Shallowater, 1:30 p.m.

Bracket Play

at Cooper HS

Game 13: Pool A third place vs. Pool C third place, 7:30 p.m.

Game 16: Pool B runner-up vs. Pool D runner-up, 9 p.m.

at Lubbock High

Game 14: Pool B third place vs. Pool D third place, 7:30 p.m.

Game 18: Pool B winner vs. Pool D winner, 9 p.m.

at Estacado HS

Game 15: Pool A runner-up vs. Pool C runner-up, 9 p.m.

at Trinity Christian

Game 17: Pool A winner vs. Pool C winner, 9 p.m.

Saturday’s Games

Consolation bracket

at Monterey Box

Game 20: Game 13 loser vs. Game 14 loser, 10:30 a.m.

at Estacado Old Gym

Game 22: Game 15 loser vs. Game 16 loser, Noon

at Estacado HS

Game 23: Game 17 loser vs. Game 18 loser, Noon

Championship bracket

Fifth place

at Monterey HS

Game 19: Game 13 winner vs. Game 14 winner, 10:30 a.m.

Third place

at Lubbock High

Game 21: Game 15 winner vs. Game 16 winner, 1:30 p.m.

Championship

at Rip Griffin Center, LCU

Game 24: Game 17 winner vs. Game 18 winner, 7:45 p.m.

–––––

WILD BURGER GIRLS BRACKET

Today’s Games

at Frenship HS

Game 13: Bovina vs. Water Valley, 9 a.m.

Game 6: Monahans vs. Plainview Christian, Noon

at Trinity Christian HS

Game 1: Sundown vs. Lamesa, 9 a.m.

at Estacado HS

Game 2: Lubbock Christian vs. Seagraves, 9 a.m.

Game 10: Panhandle vs. Brownfield, 3 p.m.

Game 11: Pampa vs. Morton, 4:30 p.m.

Game 15: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 7:30 p.m.

at Monterey Old Box

Game 4: Dimmitt vs. Spearman, 10:30 a.m.

at Frenship New Gym

Game 3: Idalou vs. Olton, 10:30 a.m.

at Lubbock High

Game 7: Irion County vs. Seminole, 1:30 p.m.

Game 14: Merkel vs. Game 13 winner, 4:30 p.m.

at Monterey HS

Game 8: Floydada vs. Trinity Christian, 1:30 p.m.

at Coronado HS

Game 9: Tulia vs. Big Spring, 1:30 p.m.

Game 12: Perryton vs. Wall, 3 p.m.

at Cooper HS

Game 5: Estacado vs. Midland Christian, Noon

Friday’s Games

Consolation bracket

at Lubbock High

Game 23: Game 13 loser vs. Game 1 loser, 9 a.m.

at Trinity Christian

Game 24: Game 2 loser vs. Game 4 loser, 10:30 a.m.

Game 28: Game 20 winner vs. Game 23 loser, 4:30 p.m.

at Monterey Old Box

Game 25: Game 3 loser vs. Game 7 loser, 10:30 a.m.

Game 32: Game 24 winner vs. Game 16 loser, 4:30 p.m.

Guarantee Game 1: Game 25 loser vs. Game 24 loser, 6 p.m.

at Monterey HS

Game 26: Game 8 loser vs. Game 9 loser, Noon

Game 36: Game 26 winner vs. Game 18 loser, 9 p.m.

at Estacado HS

Game 22: Game 10 loser vs. Game 5 loser, 10:30 a.m.

Game 34: Game 25 winner vs. Game 19 loser, 6 p.m.

Guarantee Game 3: Game 20 loser vs. Game 21 loser, 7:30 p.m.

at Frenship New Gym

Game 21: Game 6 loser vs. Game 11 loser, 9 a.m.

at Estacado Old Gym

Game 20: Game 2 loser vs. Game 14 loser, 9 a.m.

Game 36: Game 21 winner vs. Game 15 loser, 4:30 p.m.

Game 35: Game 22 winner vs. Game 17 loser, 9 p.m.

at Coronado HS

Guarantee Game 2: Game 22 loser vs. Game 26 loser, 7:30 p.m.

Championship bracket

at Monterey HS

Game 17: Game 4 winner vs. Game 3 winner, 9 a.m.

at Cooper HS

Game 19: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 10:30 a.m.

Game 16: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 7:30 p.m.

at Estacado HS

Game 18: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 9 a.m.

at Frenship HS

Game 29: Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner, 6 p.m.

Game 27: Game 14 winner vs. Game 15 winner, 3 p.m.

at Frenship New Gym

Game 30: Game 17 winner vs. Game 19 winner, 4:30 p.m.

at Lubbock High

Game 31: Game 18 winner vs. Game 16 winner, 6 p.m.

Saturday’s Games

Consolation bracket

at Estacado Old Gym

Game 39: Game 23 winner vs. Game 32 winner, 9 a.m.

Consolation I final

Game 44: Game 39 winner vs. Game 34 winner, 4 p.m.

at Frenship New Gym

Game 40: Game 36 winner vs. Game 35 winner, 9 a.m.

at Monterey Old Box

Game 41: Game 36 winner vs. Game 28 winner, 9 a.m.

at Lubbock High

Consolation II final

Game 45: Game 40 winner vs. Game 41 winner, 4 p.m.

Championship bracket

at Coronado HS

Game 37: Game 27 winner vs. Game 30 winner, 9 a.m.

at Trinity Christian HS

Game 38: Game 31 winner vs. Game 29 winner, 9 a.m.

at Lubbock High

Championship Consolation I

Game 42: Game 27 loser vs. Game 30 loser, 10:30 a.m.

at Estacado HS

Championship Consolation II

Game 43: Game 31 loser vs. Game 29 loser, 10:30 a.m.

Third place

Game 46: Game 37 loser vs. Game 38 loser, 4 p.m.

Championship

at Rip Griffin Center, LCU

Game 47: Game 37 winner vs. Game 38 winner, 4:30 p.m.

–––––

G. BOREN BOYS BRACKET

Today’s Games

at Trinity Christian HS

Game 2: Lubbock High vs. Monahans, 10:30 a.m.

at Monterey HS

Game 3: El Paso Franklin vs. Coronado, 10:30 a.m.

Game 7: Trinity Christian vs. Alvarado, 4:30 p.m.

at Cooper HS

Game 1: Grapevine vs. Monterey, 9 a.m.

at Lubbock High

Game 4: Estacado vs. Rockwall Heath, 10:30 a.m.

Game 8: Faith Christian vs. Game 2 winner, 7:30 p.m.

at Estacado

Game 5: El Paso El Dorado vs. Frenship, Noon

at Frenship New Gym

Game 6: El Paso Socorro vs. Houston Westbury, 7:30 p.m.

at Frenship HS

Game 9: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 6 p.m.

Friday’s Games

Consolation bracket

at Frenship HS

Game 12: Game 2 loser vs. Game 3 loser, 10:30 a.m.

Game 18: Game 14 winner vs. Game 9 loser, 7:30 p.m.

at Frenship New Gym

Game 13: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 10:30 a.m.

Guarantee Game 1: Game 12 loser vs. Game 13 loser, 9 p.m.

at Estacado HS

Game 14: Game 6 winner vs. Game 7 winner, Noon

Game 17: Game 13 winner vs. Game 11 loser, 4:30 p.m.

at Coronado HS

Game 15: Game 1 winner vs. Game 8 loser, 1:30 p.m.

Game 16: Game 12 winner vs. Game 10 loser, 4:30 p.m.

at Monterey Old Box

Guarantee Game 2: Game 14 loser vs. Game 15 loser, 9 p.m.

Championship bracket

at Coronado HS

Game 10: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 9 a.m.

at Lubbock High

Game 11: Game 7 winner vs. Game 1 winner, 10:30 a.m.

at Cooper HS

Game 19: Game 8 winner vs. Game 9 winner, 3 p.m.

at Monterey HS

Game 20: Game 10 winner vs. Game 11 winner, 6 p.m.

Saturday’s Games

Consolation bracket

Consolation Championship I

at Lubbock High

Game 21: Game 16 winner vs. Game 17 winner, 9 a.m.

Consolation Championship II

at Estacado HS

Game 22: Game 18 winner vs. Game 15 winner, 9 a.m.

Championship bracket

Third place

at Frenship HS

Game 23: Game 19 loser vs. Game 20 loser, 1:30 p.m.

Championship

at Rip Griffin Center, LCU

Game 24: Game 19 winner vs. Game 20 winner, 9:30 p.m.

–––––

BLUE SKY BOYS BRACKET

Today’s Games

at Frenship HS

Game 6: Wall vs. Diamond-Hill Jarvis, 10:30 a.m.

Game 9: Midland Christian vs. Water Valley, 1:30 p.m.

Game 14: Borger vs. Floydada, 4:30 p.m.

Game 17: Game 4 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 7:30 p.m.

at Cooper HS

Game 1: Brownfield vs. Snyder, 9 a.m.

Game 5: Panhandle vs. Sudan, 10:30 a.m.

Game 11: Pampa vs. Vega, 1:30 p.m.

Game 12: Lamesa vs. Bovina, 3 p.m.

Game 15: Meadow vs. Idalou, 6 p.m.

at Lubbock High

Game 3: Sands vs. Morton, 9 a.m.

Game 16: Cooper vs. Perryton, 6 p.m.

at Estacado HS

Game 4: Plainview Christian vs. Levelland, 10:30 a.m.

Game 10: Spearman vs. Midland Greenwood, 1:30 p.m.

Game 18: Game 1 winner vs. Game 3 winner, 6 p.m.

at Coronado HS

Game 2: Tahoka vs. Olton, 9 a.m.

Game 7: Seminole vs. Colorado, Noon

at Monterey HS

Game 8: Abernathy vs. Lubbock Christian, Noon

Game 20: Wall vs. Game 5 winner, 9 p.m.

Game 19: Game 8 winner vs. Game 7 winner, 7:30 p.m.

Friday’s Games

Consolation bracket

at Trinity Christian HS

Game 29: Game 6 loser vs. Game 5 loser, Noon

Guarantee Game 4

Game 32 loser vs. Game 31 loser, 7:30 p.m.

at Cooper HS

Game 32: Game 1 loser vs. Game 3 loser, 1:30 p.m.

Game 35: Game 24 winner vs. Game 21 loser, 4:30 p.m.

Game 38: Game 29 winner vs. Game 19 loser, 6 p.m.

at Coronado HS

Game 30: Game 9 loser vs. Game 10 loser, Noon

Game 40: Game 28 winner vs. Game 17 loser, 6 p.m.

Game 43: Game 31 winner vs. Game 22 loser, 9 p.m.

at Frenship HS

Game 28: Game 13 loser vs. Game 15 loser, Noon

Game 31: Game 4 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 1:30 p.m.

Game 44: Game 32 winner vs. Game 23 loser, 9 p.m.

at Monterey HS

Game 24: Game 16 loser vs. Game 14 loser, 10:30 a.m.

Game 27: Game 12 loser vs. Game 11 loser, 1:30 p.m.

Game 37: Game 26 winner vs. Game 20 loser, 4:30 p.m.

Game 42: Game 30 winner vs. Game 25 loser, 7:30 p.m.

at Monterey Old Box

Game 26: Game 8 loser vs. Game 7 loser, 9 a.m.

Guarantee Game 2

Game 29 loser vs. Game 30 loser, 7:30 p.m.

at Estacado Old Gym

Game 41: Game 27 winner vs. Game 18 loser, 7:30 p.m.

at Lubbock High

Guarantee Game 1

Game 24 loser vs. Game 26 loser, 4:30 p.m.

at Frenship New Gym

Guarantee Game 3

Game 28 loser vs. Game 27 loser, 7:30 p.m.

Championship bracket

at Trinity Christian HS

Game 22: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 9 a.m.

Game 39: Game 25 winner vs. Game 23 winner, 6 p.m.

at Cooper HS

Game 21: Game 13 winner vs. Game 15 winner, 9 a.m.

at Coronado HS

Game 25: Game 16 winner vs. Game 14 winner, 10:30 a.m.

Game 33: Game 20 winner vs. Game 18 winner, 6 p.m.

at Frenship HS

Game 23: Game 12 winner vs. Game 11 winner, 9 a.m.

Game 36: Game 22 winner vs. Game 21 winner, 4:30 p.m.

at Estacado HS

Game 34: Game 17 winner vs. Game 19 winner, 3 p.m.

Saturday’s Games

Consolation bracket

at Coronado HS

Game 50: Game 38 winner vs. Game 44 winner, 10:30 a.m.

at Trinity Christian HS

Game 49: Game 42 winner vs. Game 40 winner, 10:30 a.m.

at Frenship HS

Game 47: Game 35 winner vs. Game 41 winner, 9 a.m.

Game 48: Game 43 winner vs. Game 37 winner, 10:30 a.m.

at Monterey HS

Consolation Championship I

Game 55: Game 50 winner vs. Game 49 winner, 4 p.m.

at Monterey Old Box

Consolation Championship II

Game 54: Game 47 winner vs. Game 48 winner, 4 p.m.

Championship bracket

at Cooper HS

Game 46: Game 33 winner vs. Game 36 winner, 9 a.m.

at Monterey HS

Game 45: Game 39 winner vs. Game 34 winner, 9 a.m.

Championship Consolation I

Game 51: Game 33 loser vs. Game 36 loser, 1:30 p.m.

at Estacado HS

Championship Consolation II

Game 52: Game 39 loser vs. Game 34 loser, 1:30 p.m.

at Frenship HS

Third place

Game 53: Game 46 loser vs. Game 45 loser, 4 p.m.

Championship

at Rip Griffin Center, LCU

Game 56: Game 46 winner vs. Game 45 winner, 6 p.m.