Huge Showdown as 2nd-ranked Canyon battles 3rd-ranked Amarillo High

If you are a fan of girls high school basketball,  you wont' want to miss the much anticipated meeting between state powers Canyon and Amarillo High on Friday at the Sandies' Activity Center.

This is the first of two meetings between the teams in the District 3-5A race but it's more like a match up you would expect to see at the State Tournament, not in district play.

The 2nd ranked Lady Eagles are the 3-time defending state champions in Class 5A and go into the contest with an 9-0 record this season.  The Lady Sandies are ranked 3rd in the state and are 16-0.

Each team is loaded with talent, including a very strong starting five and plenty of depth off the bench.

Canyon is led by All-State senior Angel Hayden, who has started since she was a freshman and has helped the Lady Eagles to three consecutive state titles. She was the MVP of the state Tournament the last two years and has a great all-around game.

Amarillo High features the one-two punch of sisters Sydney and Zayla Tinner. Sydney is a senior and leads the team in scoring, but Zayla, who is just a freshman,  is not far behind. Both average double figures in scoring and lead the team in rebounding.

As you would expect, the success of these two teams stems from great coaching - Joe Lombard for Canyon and Jeff Williams for Amarillo High.  Each is known for teams with great fundamentals and tenacious defense.

Expect an overflow crowd and playoff intensity for this one!