The Farmersville boys basketball team poses with the championship plaque after defeating Prosper Richland in the first-place game of the Bronze Division I Division at the Allen In-N-Out Invitational on Wednesday at Allen High School. Photo by Jerry Winfrey / C&S Media

By David Wolman

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When first-year Farmersville head boys basketball coach Kingsley Akinwole put together the season schedule, he made sure to include an appearance at Allen High School, where he spent the two previous seasons as an assistant coach.

Akinwole led the Farmers into the Allen In-N-Out Holiday Invitational, and it proved to be a successful return for the first-year head coach and also another championship effort by his team.

Farmersville, ranked No. 22 in the last week’s Class 4A state poll by the Texas Association of High School Basketball Coaches, beat Prosper Richland 66-57, Wednesday to earn first place in Bronze Division I.

It was the third straight tournament that the Farmers (18-1) have played in a first-place game. Farmersville placed second in the Dr. Pepper Caddo Mills Classic Tournament and earned first place in its home tournament, the Farmersville Hardwood Hoopfest.

“It was definitely a confidence booster,” Akinwole said. “We still have two more pre-district games left, both home games. We played Ranchview in semifinals and get them again Friday and then Monday against Dallas HSAA, which is a rematch from our championship game at the Hardwood Hoopfest. We know we can compete with some of the up and coming schools who are not in our district.”

Christian Smith and Koby Chavez were named to the all-tournament team.

Smith scored 24 points, 19 in the first half.

Chavez netted 13 points.

Devin Swain Jr. had 14 points, followed by 12 from Tavian Smith.

“I just loved the energy that our guys played with, the way they dictated the play of the game,” Akinwole said. “I was wonder if we could compete at a higher level against good teams, and I felt like we did that. North Lamar, who we played in the first round at Allen, could be one of our first-round playoff matchups. It showed that we just continue to play our speed. We should be just fine.”