Each year, the week after Christmas transforms Acadiana into the epicenter of high school basketball in Louisiana. The region plays host to several premier tournaments, including the longtime Yuletide Classic at Vermilion Catholic, the Darrel Mitchell Sr. Classic in St. Martinville, and a Northwest tournament in Opelousas.
Among the most prestigious events, however, is the STM Sunkist Shootout, a boys-only tournament hosted by St. Thomas More, now in its 43rd year.
A 16-team field will tip off Friday in Lafayette. Below is a preview of the field, along with insight from STM head boys basketball coach and tournament organizer Danny Broussard. The tournament bracket appears below.
Team Previews
Teurlings Catholic
The Rebels enter at 6–2, highlighted by a 52–34 win over DeRidder. Losses include St. Charles (63–51) and Rummel (46–38).
Holy Savior Menard
Menard has endured a tough start at 3–10, including a 92–20 loss to Peabody, but owns an impressive 81–37 win over North DeSoto.
Catholic–New Iberia
The Panthers are 4–2, splitting a two-game series with Jesuit–New Orleans and posting a recent 42–26 win over Southside. A 49–33 loss to Rummel came earlier in the season.
Westgate
The Tigers sit at 3–2, with wins over East St. John (82–61) and Lafayette Renaissance (49–33). Their lone setback is a 73–48 loss to Marksville.
Archbishop Shaw
Shaw enters at 6–7, boasting strong wins over Newman (66–41) and Warren Easton (48–36). Losses include Madison Prep, East St. John, and St. Paul’s.
Lafayette Christian
The Knights are 2–3, with a notable 46–41 win over Acadiana and a close 62–57 loss to Northside.
Lafayette Renaissance
One of the tournament favorites, the Tigers are 8–1 under well-known Acadiana coach Brad Boyd. Wins include Scotlandville (65–54) and St. Martinville (76–45). Their only loss came against Westgate.
St. Louis Catholic
The Saints are 7–4 and will forego their traditional Burton Coliseum tournament this season. They own wins over Woodlawn–Baton Rouge and St. Martinville, with a loss to Peabody (79–69).
Vandebilt Catholic
The Terriers are 1–5, having faced a demanding schedule that includes losses to Rummel, Brother Martin, Jesuit, and Sophie B. Wright.
Neville
Neville stands at 9–2, highlighted by a 63–29 win over Carroll and a split with Richwood.
Church Point
The Bears are 4–7, having played mostly Acadiana-area opponents to open the season.
St. John XXIII (Katy, Texas)
The Lions are 15–3 against Texas TAPPS competition. Head coach Brandon Mouton, an STM alumnus, brings his squad back to Lafayette.
Terrebonne
The Houma-based Tigers are 4–5, with a notable win over Byrd (54–49) and losses to Liberty, Ellender, and Lafayette Renaissance.
St. Thomas More (Host)
The Cougars are 4–4, having tested themselves against out-of-state competition. STM defeated Jackson Prep (57–42) in Mississippi and went 1–2 at the KSA Pre-Holiday Tournament in Orlando. The Cougars narrowly fell to Madison-Ridgeland Academy, which will not compete this year.
Sulphur
One of the teams to watch, Sulphur enters at 11–2. The Golden Tors have victories over St. Louis Catholic (60–57) and Washington-Marion (67–53), with one of their losses coming to Anacoco (40–38).
Ellender
The Patriots are 5–8, with a win over St. Louis Catholic (51–48). Losses include Southern Lab, Catholic–Baton Rouge, De La Salle, and Plaquemine.
Coach’s Perspective
“This is the 43rd Annual Sunkist Shootout, and we want fans to come out and watch some of the best players, teams, and coaches from Monroe to Alexandria to Houma to Lake Charles to Lafayette,” Broussard said.
“It’s a tournament where eight future NBA players and more than 150 college players have competed.”
Broussard added that the teams to watch this year include Archbishop Shaw, Neville, Lafayette Renaissance, Sulphur, Teurlings Catholic, and St. John XXIII of Texas.