Sandra Meadows tourney helps Trinity girls basketball build experience

The Trinity girls basketball team opened district play with a 48-46 win back on Dec. 15 and doesn’t play another district game until Saturday, Jan. 2, leaving little possibility for momentum – at least not against district opponents.

But the Lady Trojans (14-1) ramp up for the return to 7-6A competition in the 65th Annual Sandra Meadows Classic in Duncanville. One of the most esteemed girls tournaments in the Southwest, almost three dozen teams from around the area and around the country will fill the gyms at Duncanville High School Dec. 28-30.

Trinity won’t be eased into the tournament, as the Lady Trojans play defending champion Conway High School from Arkansas in the opening round. But that kind of high-level competition is why coach Sue Cannon keeps her teams coming back to the Sandra Meadows Classic. In fact, Trinity has taken part in the event in all but one of Cannon’s 30 seasons here.

“I think it’s great because it keeps the kids playing, and there are so many teams that you have to lose about three times before you’re out,” Cannon said. “That’s good for us. It’s good to be on the court and working on stuff.”

And getting additional floor time prior to district play will be important for the youth on this year’s squad, which includes four freshmen and a sophomore.

“They’re coming along but it’s a work in progress,” Cannon said. “It’s actually taking a bit longer than I anticipated. I’ve seen them play, but playing eighth grade opponents and then playing high-level varsity teams is a whole different ball game. I hope they’ve seen that and understand that.”

Cannon is also quick to point out, though, that she still sees plenty of potential in her underclassmen.

“Obviously, I feel like they’re going to be very good basketball players or I never would have brought them up,” she said. “I believe in them and really think they’ll help us down the line. Our offense and defense is pretty complicated so it takes a while. I think they’ve seen it’s going to take a while to learn everything.”

This story was originally published December 28, 2015 at 10:11 AM with the headline "Sandra Meadows tourney helps Trinity girls basketball build experience."