SPLENDORA — On a rainy Saturday, the 65th Annual Splendora Basketball Classic Championship Round saw an intense matchup between the Shepherd Pirates and the Episcopal Knights.
Both teams entered the game with identical 11–5 records for the 2024-25 season, but differences in governance systems set the stage for an uneven playing field. Episcopal, a private school, operates under different rules from the UIL system, which enforces stricter regulations, but despite these disparities, the Pirates refused to back down.
Even so, Shepherd lost 69-50.
The game tipped off with a ceremonial jump ball, and the Shepherd Pirates came out strong, putting up a solid first-quarter performance. The Knights countered with impressive scoring across all quarters.
Sophomore center Brayden White was a standout for the Pirates, contributing 19 points and going 4-for-5 from the free-throw line. Rogelio Covarrubias impressed with a 3-for-4 showing at the line, while Bryson Goodman added a field goal. Braydon Mettlen had a stellar performance with 16 total points, shooting 1-for-2 at the line. Senior Joshua Stowe posted 9 points, including a crucial three-pointer in the first quarter that helped set the tone for the Pirates.
Other games in the tournament showed the Pirates winning over Splendora 54-45, downing Santa Fe 53-52, and beating Coldspring 66-41.
On Dec. 10, Shepherd overpowered the New Waverly Bulldogs 69-33.
By halftime, the Pirates had built a substantial 39–14 lead, giving them a comfortable cushion heading into the second half. While New Waverly showed some resilience in the third quarter, their efforts were not enough to overcome the Pirates' overwhelming lead.
Key performances for the Pirates included Joshua Stowe, who sank three 3-pointers during the second half, and Braydon Mettlen, who led the team with 20 points. Brayden White was close behind with an impressive 19 points.
On Dec. 9, the Trojans lost to Kountze 87-49.
Coldspring went 1-3 in the weekend Splendora Tournament, losing 66-41 to Shepherd, 56-45 to Splendora and 50-46 to Santa Fe, but winning 44-32 over Lee.
