Grace Men’s Basketball Secures Historic Win and Strong Tournament Finish

December 1, 2025 – The Grace Varsity Men’s Basketball team delivered an exciting week of competition prior to Thanksgiving, marked by resilience, growth, and milestone victories. The Cougars opened play on Tuesday, November 18, with a wire-to-wire win over Mabank, energized by an outstanding home student section whose support helped set the tone for the week.

Kemp Yellowjacket Invitational

Grace entered the Kemp Tournament on Thursday, November 20, ready to compete against a challenging field. The Cougars began the tournament with a landmark victory over Dallas Christian—Grace’s first win against the program in eight years—demonstrating disciplined execution and strong defensive pressure.

In their second game, the Cougars built a commanding twenty-point lead over Nacogdoches before narrowly falling by two in the final minutes. Despite the loss, the team showed poise, physicality, and the ability to control long stretches of the contest.

On Friday, Grace rebounded decisively with a 70–43 victory over North Forney’s junior varsity squad, executing efficiently on both ends of the floor and maintaining control throughout.

The tournament continued on Saturday, beginning with a matchup against Chapel Hill, the tenth-ranked team in the state. Grace battled throughout the contest, ultimately falling 58–51 in a competitive and hard-fought game that showcased the team’s toughness and readiness to compete at a high level.

In the final game of the event, the Cougars secured a 66–54 win over Venus, earning fifth place in the Kemp Yellowjacket Invitational and closing the week with momentum and confidence.

Individual Recognition: Senior Ian Murenzi was named to the All-Tournament Team, honoring his leadership, consistency, and high-level performance throughout the weekend.