Holiday basketball tournaments, if nothing else, can show how quickly a team can go from an underdog to a favorite before the turn of the year.

Colleyville Heritage, Hebron and Richardson Berkner – three teams unranked in area or state polls – return to district play this week after strong showings in their respective holiday tournaments. Colleyville Heritage won the Plano Wildcat Holiday Classic. Hebron claimed the White Division championship at the Whataburger Tournament.

Richardson Berkner lost to Highland Park in the first round of the DISD/Coca-Cola Tournament, but beat area-ranked Spruce and Pinkston and a rising Carter team to win the consolation championship.

"It just goes to show you that any team can make a run at the right time," Colleyville Heritage coach Greg Gober said.

Colleyville Heritage (16-3, 2-0) has won 11 straight games, despite playing without a marquee player.

MIKE STONE / Special to DMN

Colleyville Heritage's Kasey Cook (13) shoots the ball over Jesuit's Josh Bauer (55) in the Plano Wildcat Holiday Classic.

"We don't have the superstar name, but we have a balanced group that always does the job," Gober said. "They depend on each other, and if one doesn't do his job, we're all in trouble."

Four Heritage players average double figures in scoring – Alex Hart (11.8 points), Brandon Shaw (11.8), Chris McOmber (11.5) and Brian James (10.2). Colleyville Heritage visits Keller in a District 5-5A game Friday.

Hebron returns to District 6-5A action Friday at Coppell. Hebron coach Mark Bishop is hoping his team's tournament success will give it confidence. The Hawks are 15-5 overall, but lost their first two district games to Lewisville and Carrollton Newman Smith.

Hebron had to defeat one of the area's most prolific offensive teams in Fort Worth Southwest to win the Whataburger championship. Top scorer Trey Anderson finished with 39 points in the Hawks' 99-96 win over Southwest.

"We had to play several different styles to win this tournament," Bishop said.

Berkner (16-5, 2-0) claimed the DISD consolation crown in dramatic fashion, as Maxx Nakwaasah hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give Berkner a 72-69 win against Carter.

Berkner coach Rod Wright chalked up his team's tournament performance to its industrious approach. Berkner's tallest starter, Eric Redman, is listed at 6-3, but the team focuses on working harder than its opponents.

"It's our style of play. A big part of that is them just believing we can do it," Wright said.

Berkner plays at Plano on Thursday in a District 9-5A game.