12/21/2025
Cheese and Rice? 37 points!!! What a game!!!
Abrielle Gomez scores 37 points to spark McClave to a 55-43 victory over Springfield to claim a fifth straight championship in the 61st Lamar Holiday Basketball tournament.
By John Contreras
McClave High School senior Abrielle Gomez demonstrated exactly why she holds the title of returning Class 1A Player of the Year.
In a remarkable performance, Gomez poured in a game-high 37 points, powering the Lady Cardinals to a commanding 55-43 victory over the top-seeded Springfield Lady Longhorns.
This championship game was part of the 61st annual Lamar Holiday Basketball Tournament, held Saturday night at the Lamar Community Building.
McClave overcame a 27-24 halftime deficit, outscoring Springfield 31-16 in the second half and 19-8 in the fourth quarter to prevail.
It was a historic achievement for McClave under head coach Brianne Howe.
With their victory, McClave joined Kit Carson as the only two schools to have claimed five consecutive Lamar Holiday Basketball Tournament championships.
This remarkable feat places both programs at the pinnacle of the event’s storied history.
Springfield deserves recognition for their relentless and spirited performance against McClave, the reigning Class 1A state champions.
Throughout the game, the Lady Longhorns played with heart and determination, challenging McClave at every turn.
This matchup marked a repeat of last year’s tournament final.
McClave dominated Springfield with a decisive 58-13 victory.
The contrast between this year’s closely contested game and last year’s lopsided result highlights the progress and resilience displayed by the Springfield Lady Longhorns under the guidance of head coach Tom Jacobs.
Gomez was a one person wrecking crew. She had two 3’s and went 9-of-10 at the charity stripe including 7-of-8 free throws in the fourth quarter. She also grabbed 9 rebounds to go along with 5 steals and 2 blocked shots.
Also contributing to McClave’s success in the contest was Avery Hemphill with 3 points and 10 rebounds. Ashlynn Steinbrunn had 7 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists. Addison Vallejos had 5 points.
For Springfield, sophomore Jersey Speck tallied 23 points and sophomore Cobi Mackey had 14.
McClave will take a 5-1 record into the holiday break.
Springfield suffered its first loss and is now 5-1.
