Shead High School's Grayson Harkins Scores First Points of Basketball Tournament

Senior guard leads his team to victory in the opening round of the new Class S playoffs.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Grayson Harkins, a senior guard for the Shead High School Tigers, scored the first points of the 2026 high school basketball tournament with a smooth three-pointer in the opening game against the Washburn Beavers. Harkins went on to score a game-high 21 points, leading the Tigers to a 50-38 victory in the newly-created Class S playoffs for small schools.

Why it matters

Harkins' performance in the tournament opener highlights the excitement and anticipation surrounding the new Class S division, which was created to give smaller schools a chance to compete for a state championship. His hot start helped energize his team and set the tone for the rest of the tournament.

The details

Harkins was the first player to score in the 2026 basketball tournament, draining a three-pointer in the opening minutes of the game between Shead High School and Washburn High School. The senior guard went on to score a game-high 21 points, leading the Tigers to a 50-38 victory over the Beavers. Shead head coach Corey Sullivan said Harkins' early scoring helped get his team rolling in the playoff opener.

  • The 2026 high school basketball tournament began on Tuesday, February 11th.
  • Grayson Harkins scored the first points of the tournament in the opening minutes of the Shead vs. Washburn game.

The players

Grayson Harkins

A senior guard for the Shead High School Tigers who scored the first points of the 2026 high school basketball tournament.

Corey Sullivan

The head coach of the Shead High School Tigers, whose team defeated Washburn High School in the tournament opener.

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What they’re saying

“It feels good. It feels really great to get my team motivated to push.”

— Grayson Harkins, Senior Guard, Shead High School (bangordailynews.com)

“It was nice to come out and have Harkins catch on fire in the first quarter. That's always a bonus.”

— Corey Sullivan, Head Coach, Shead High School (bangordailynews.com)

What’s next

Shead High School will advance to the next round of the Class S playoffs, where they will face the winner of another first-round matchup.

The takeaway

Grayson Harkins' performance in the tournament opener showcases the exciting new talent and competitive spirit of the Class S division, which was created to give smaller high schools a chance to compete for a state championship. His hot start and leadership helped propel his team to victory, setting the stage for an intriguing playoff run.