Keillor Classic tips offs today

HARLINGEN — There’s one thing for sure about this year’s Dr. Keillor Classic basketball tournament — the girls’ bracket will have a new champion.

Defending champion Floresville isn’t returning to the event this season.

However, don’t be surprised if Harlingen South, which won the tournament in 2005 and finished second in 2006 reaches the finals for a third straight season.

The Lady Hawks’ 2005 championship might have been one of the most entertaining in the tournament’s history. South rallied from a big deficit to overturn a powerful Edin-burg squad with a last-second basket.

The Lady Hawks come into the tournament, which will be played at Harlingen High starting today, at 4-0.

For Lady Hawks coach Dawn Engleman the tournament is a chance to improve on a few things.

“The Dr. Keillor Classic gives us a chance to work on our timing,” she said.

South will open the tournament against Donna at 8:30 a.m. at the Harlingen main gym.

It’s a pretty salty field for the 16-team tournament, there are 10 playoff teams from last season in Harlingen, South, Alice, San Benito, Brownsville St. Joseph, Brownsville Rivera, Laredo Johnson, Raymondville and Mission Veterans.

“It’s still a pretty strong field,” Engleman said. “You don’t know what to expect in a tournament.”

The girls final is set for 6 p.m. on Saturday at Harlingen High with the boys’ final to follow at 8 p.m.

For fans of guard play, the tournament will feature three of the best guards in the area.

Basketball fans will need no introduction to Harlingen South’s Bianca Torre, who has been a mainstay of the local hoops scene since she was a freshman. She’s a two-time All-Valley selection and the reigning All-Valley MVP. She plays with total fearlessness.

Vero Hinojosa averaged 16.3 points a game last season as Rivera returned to the playoffs.

For San Benito, Blanche Treviño might just personify the Lady Greyhounds with her scrappy, non-stop aggressive style.

For teams in District 32-5A and District 31-5A, the tournament is among the last chances to tune up for league play, which starts on Dec. 4 for those two loops.

Also in the tournament are La Joya, Valley View, Brownsville Porter, Brownsville Pace, Donna and Los Fresnos.

Next weekend will be the McAllen Border Bash.

Keillor Classic bracket

Friday’s Games

At Harlingen High

GIRLS

Game 1. Harlingen South vs. Donna, 8:30 a.m., main gym.

Game 2. San Benito vs. Valley View, 8:30 a.m. practice gym.

Game 3. Brownsville Rivera vs. St. Joseph, 10 a.m., practice

Game 4: Harlingen vs. La Joya, 10 a.m., main

Game 5: Mission Veterans vs. Los Fresnos, 11:30 a.m., main.

Game 6: McAllen Memorial vs. Raymondville, 11:30 a.m., practice.

Game 7: Alice vs. Brownsville Porter, 1 p.m., practice.

Game 8: Laredo LBJ vs. Brownsville Pace, 1 p.m., main.

Game 9: Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 6, 2:30 p.m., main.

Game 10: Loser Game 2 vs. Loser Game 6, 2:30 p.m., practice

Game 11: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 3, 4 p.m., main.

Game 12: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 3, 4 p.m., practice

Game 13: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 8, 5:30 p.m.

Game 14: Loser Game 4 vs. Loser Game 8, 5:30 p.m., practice

Game 15: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 7, 7 p.m., main.

Game 16: Loser Game 5 vs. Loser Game 7, 7 p.m., practice.

Saturday’s Games

Game 17: Game 12 vs. Winner Game 16, 9 a.m., main

Game 18: Winner Game 14 vs. Winner Game 10, 9 a.m., practice

Game 19: Loser Game 11 vs. Loser Game 15, 10:30 a.m., practice

Game 20: Loser Game 13 vs. Loser Game 9, 10:30 a.m. main

Game 21: Winner Game 11 vs. Winner Game 15, noon, practice.

Game 22: Winner Game 13 vs. Winner Game 9, noon, main

Consolation final: Winner Game 17 vs. Winner Game 18, 1:30 p.m., main.

5th place: Winner Game 19 vs. Winner Game 20, 3 p.m., main.

3rd place: Loser Game 21 vs. Loser Game 22, 4:30 p.m. main

Chamnpionship: Winner Game 21 vs. Winner Game 22, 6 p.m., main.

NOTE: The Keillor boys bracket was unavailable for publication.