Tramon Mark wins 2020 Guy V. Lewis Award

By Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (April 6, 2020) Dickinson High School senior Tramon Mark was recently honored by the Greater Houston Basketball Committee as the winner of the 2020 Guy V. Lewis Award as the top basketball player in the greater Houston area.

The senior point guard was selected from a group of ten finalists in the ninth year of the award. Mark scored a school record 1,055 points during his senior season with a season-high 57 points in addition to two consecutive 40-point efforts in the regional tournament. He led the Dickinson Gators to the UIL (Texas) 6A state tournament; their first appearance in 65 years.

The other nine finalists, in alphabetical order were LJ Cryer (Morton Ranch HS), Ja’Vier Francis (Westbury Christian), Bryce Griggs (Hightower), PJ Haggerty (Crosby), Justin Hill (Fort Bend Travis), Jordan Ivy-Curry (LaMarque) Rubin Jones (Yates), Jahari Long (Episcopal), and Ramon Walker (Shadow Creek).

On November 19, 2019, Mark signed a letter of intent to attend the University of Houston.

West Hardin Oilers oust Sabine from UIL Basketball Playoff

Story and photos by Aaron Justin
Special for TexSport Publications
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

SARATOGA, TEXAS (February 26, 2020) The West Hardin Oilers came into the 2020 Boys UIL Basketball playoffs with a lot to prove. All season long the Oilers piled up the wins. Coming into the playoffs, the Oilers were undefeated class 24-2A champions. This was a huge accomplishment for the Oilers as it was their first time to ever accomplish this great feat. 

All season long the Oilers continued to prove that they were forces on the court but like the late Rodney Dangerfield would always say “I get no respect!” The Oilers seemed to never get a glance as being one of the top programs in the area but that did not bother them. Kenny Hoffpauir doesn’t usually put much stock in rankings, but West Hardin’s head boys basketball coach did mention that it would be nice to see his boys talked about like others in the area. 

Coming into this match-up with the Tigers of West Sabine, the Oilers took Hull-Daisetta to overtime and won. The Oilers finished out as the number one seed while West Sabine had to battle Zavalla for the number four seed. This match-up proved to be to much for the Tigers of West Sabine. 

From the opening tipoff, the Oilers proved to be the more dominate team. Led by a entire senior starting five the Oilers opened up the scoring early. Russell Payne found the bucket numerous times during the first quarter. Lance Mosley and Keaton Castilaw dished the ball to Payne as he dominated the boards. Justin Cook and Jake Strahan also added on with scores of their own. Cook is a three point sniper and gets his points from behind the line. The only time the Tigers threatened the Oilers was in the second quarter. Going into halftime the Oilers lead was five, 27 to 22. 

During his halftime speech Coach Hoffpauir stressed the importance of sticking to their schedule and executing their game plan. The halftime message was heard clear as the Oilers went on to blast the Tigers off the court. As the final buzzer rang the scoreboard showed 61-40 in favor of the Oilers. The Oilers were now Bi-District Champions and focused on the next round, Regionals. 

The Oilers will battle the Wolves of San Augustine High School on Friday, February 28, 2020. The time will be announced at a later date. The game will be played at Woodville High School.

Fonde Recreation Center plays host to Hall of Fame Games

By Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2014 TexSport Publications

HOUSTON, TEXAS (January 5, 2014) Those fans in attendance at Fonde Recreation Center on Saturday, January 4, 2014 in Houston were witness to some of the best high school basketball action in the nation in the Fonde Hall of Fame Games.

Day two of the Fonde Hall of Fame Games saw eight teams battling it out on the hardwood inside the Fonde Recreation Center with each of the games named after a basketball legend that was in attendance to present awards to those players and teams in their signature named game.

The first matchup, the Dave Lattin Game, featured Trent International (4-5) from Sugar Land, Texas facing Bellaire High School (10-4) from Houston.

Lattin, who was Houston's first high school basketball All-American when he played at Worthing High School, was the starting center for the Texas Western Miners when they won the 1966 NCAA basketball championship. 

He later played professionally for the San Francisco Warriors and the Phoenix Suns.

In a match that had Bellaire leading 28-22 at the half, those in attendance saw Trent rally back, scoring 33 points in the second half, to win the game 55-53.

Simonas Januskis scored16 points for Trent, followed by DaRon Curry with 14 and Lbrahim Dumbia with 10.

For Bellaire, Christian James connected for 22 points, while Jarren Greenwood added 11.

In the 3:30 p.m. game Tulsa SOYLA faced Episcopal (Houston) High School in the Elvin Hayes game.

Hayes played his college ball for the Houston Cougars and currently is a radio analyst for the Cougars.

He is a member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and was the NBA’s 50^th Anniversary All-Time Team.

In the Elvin Hayes game, Episcopal downed SOYLA, 59-42.

Jamel Williams was the high scorer for Episcopal with 17 points, with Qyemah Gipson leading SOYLA with 12 points.

The 6:30 p.m. match, the Calvin Murphy Game, saw Euless Trinity facing off against St. John’s School from Houston.

Murphy played his entire professional career for the Houston Rockets, from 1970 to 1983

Prior to 1992, the Houston Rockets were known as the San Diego Rockets.

Tied at 45-all in regulation, St John’s edged out Trinity 51-49 with Justine Winslow scoring 34 points for St. John’s.

The 6-6, 205 pound guard has signed with Duke and is ranked 14^th nationally also had 16 rebounds.

He was quoted after the game:

"You hear the hype around the city about the game, but coach keeps us grounded. We approached it like a regular game. We just wanted to win. If I would have had two points and we won, I would be happy. I just want to put my team in the best position to win."

For Trinity, Myles Turner has 16 points and seven rebounds.

He is ranked number two in the current ESPN rankings.

The final game of the evening, the Moses Malone Game had Milwaukee’s Rufus King High School playing Yates High School from Houston. 

Moses Malone played for nine different professional teams, including the Houston Rockets from 1976-1982.

Yates, who came into the game sporting a 7-4 record, fell to Rufus King (8-1) by the score of 80-59.

J.C. Washington scored 21 points for Yates while Chris Howell tallied 22 for Rufus King.