Tim Hayes
Roast beef sandwiches won't be on the menu at the annual holiday tournament at Viking Hall this week, but quality high school basketball will still be served in abundance.
Having been sponsored by a fast-food chain and known as the Arby's Classic for decades, the 41st edition of the tournament is now simply The Classic at Tennessee High with Toyota of Bristol as the new corporate sponsor.
The name is the only thing that has changed as tourney director Richard Ensor has once again brought a stacked field to Bristol.
How good is it?
Half of the field is ranked among the top 100 teams nationally in the latest MaxPreps.com poll.
The St. Joseph Knights of California (12th) lead the way with Calvary Christian of Florida (19th), Lake Norman of North Carolina (28th), Milton of Georgia (40th), the Orem Tigers of Utah (49th), St. Michael's Catholic of Texas (60th), Bartlett of Tennessee (78th), Webb School of Knoxville (88th) and Bearden of Knoxville (91st) also making the list.
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The following is a look at each of the teams in The Classic:
Bartlett Panthers (9-3)
Bartlett, Tennessee
The Skinny: The Bartlett Panthers are making their second appearance in The Classic. They went 0-2 in the 2019 edition of the tourney, losing to Concord First Assembly of North Carolina and Maret (Washington, D.C.) by a combined four points. ... Bartlett advanced to the TSSAA Class 4A state semifinals last season, dropping a 41-39 decision to Cookeville. ... A couple of freshmen are the headliners for the Panthers - 6-foot point guard Braylon Williams and 6-foot-7 wing D.J. Okoth. Radford, Alabama State and Tennessee State have already offered scholarships to Williams, while Okoth is also getting NCAA Division I attention. ... Guard Kylan "K.J." Neville, 6-foot-7 junior Axton Perry and 6-foot-5 sophomore shooting guard Dylan Jones are varsity veterans for Bartlett. ... The Panthers are coming off a 73-51 loss to unbeaten national powerhouse Hoover (Alabama) on Dec. 21 in the City of Jasper Christmas Classic in Alabama. ... The last Memphis area school to win The Classic was Melrose in 2009.
Up First: Bartlett plays St. Michael's Catholic Prep of Texas on Friday at 4:30 p.m. in a first-round matchup.
Bearden Bulldogs (13-1)
Knoxville, Tennessee
The Skinny: The Bearden Bulldogs are making their fifth appearance (2008, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2024) in The Classic. They have an all-time record of 13-4 in the event. ... Bearden won the tourney in 2018 and placed third in 2008 and 2017. They are the last team from Tennessee to win The Classic championship. ... Bearden's only loss was to Hillsboro of Nashville. What is a strength for the Bulldogs? "Depth," said coach Jeremy Parrott. "We like to think we can play 8-10 guys on any night. We hope to play fast and play a lot of players." ... With that in mind, the long list of contributors for Bearden includes 6-foot-3 senior guard King Hubbard, 6-2 senior guard Jamichael Blair Jr., 6-2 junior guard Justin Nordin, 6-3 junior guard Sean Capshaw, 6-4 senior wing Domenic Mahoney, 5-9 senior guard Drew Parrott, 6-foot senior guard Justice Watson and 6-4 senior wing Andrew Baker. ... Tennessee High graduate Tyler Place is an assistant coach at Bearden. "Tyler is always a contributor to our team's successes," Jeremy Parrott said. "Great young man and coach. He came to Bearden with me in the spring of 2016. He has been here through all of the recent successes." ... Parrott is in his ninth season at Bearden after previously leading the program at Cherokee for 15 years. The Bulldogs have gone to five state tourneys with a championship and runner-up finish during Parrott's tenure. He also coached in The Classic four times while at Cherokee. "Winning the tournament in 2018 was a pretty amazing experience," Parrott said. "Electric atmosphere. We beat some great teams on the way to that title. The third-place finish in 2017 - we lost to Robert Woodard and Columbus, Mississippi, in the semifinals on a buzzer beater - was exciting as well. We played five games in five days that year. Another great memory for me was while I was the head coach at Cherokee in 2011, we beat defending Tennessee state champion Memphis Craigmont in the opening round. That was a big win for that team, but Cherokee did go on to the Tennessee state tournament that year, soe were pretty good too."
Up First: Bearden plays Sullivan East on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. in an opening-round game.
Calvary Christian Academy Eagles (7-0)
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
The Skinny: Calvary Christian is a first-time participant in The Classic and the Eagles are also among the favorites to win it all in 2024. ... They also have the coach with the coolest name in Cilk McSweeney, now in his 12th season at the helm. Calvary won FHSAA state titles in 2017, 2021 and 2022 under his watch. The Eagles won a national title of sorts in 2022 by winning an event called the State Champions Invitational. ... University of Cincinnati signee Shon Abaev is the main man for Calvary. The smooth 6-foot-8 playmaker is averaging 20.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.3 steals per game. "Shon's turned into a great leader for us and he wants to go out with a bang his senior year," McSweeney said. ... Sophomore guard Cayden Daughtry has offers form Arizona State, Florida State, West Virginia and Mississippi State and is putting up 15.9 points and 2.9 assists per game. He surpassed the 1,000-point mark for his career earlier this month. ... Six-foot-eight junior Collin Paul (16.9 points, 7.9 rebounds per game) and 6-7 senior Sam Hallas (10.9 points, 5.6 rebounds) get it done on the inside. ... Teams from South Florida have fared well at The Classic in the past. "I've been talking to [tournament director] Richard [Ensor] for a few years and it just never happened where we chose to come here," McSweeney said. "We get invited to so many different tournaments, but I've always had it on my radar and a lot of teams from down here told us it was a great event and the fan support is awesome." ... Utah Jazz rookie power forward Taylor Hendricks played at Cavalry Christian. ... The Eagles also hold another distinction. "We're the largest Christian school in the country," McSweeney said. "We have a lot of great resources at our disposal and we're grateful we're able to make the trip."
Up First: Calvary Christian plays either Virginia High or Webb School of Knoxville on Friday at 3 p.m.
Central Red Devils (13-3)
Phenix City, Alabama
The Skinny: Another first-time participant, Central is led by Jacksonville State-bound Jacoby Hill. The 6-foot-4 senior guard averaged 23.2 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game last season as the Red Devils reached the state semifinals. "Jacoby Hill is the best player in Alabama in my opinion," said Central coach Charles Burkett. "He's good in every aspect of the game. A complete player." ... Dez Williams, Jay Ford, Tyjoir Cooper, Bryce Dawson and Jonah Jones are the other names to remember for the Red Devils. Two of the team's losses have come in overtime. "We are a fast-paced and disciplined group who plays well together," Burkett said. ... Burkett starred at Jacksonville State and later played professionally in Europe. He won a state championship as Hoover's head coach in 2015. ... The team has nine seniors. "Seven of them have grown up in the program," Burkett said. "Therefore, I wanted to take them somewhere special." ... Big games are nothing new to the Red Devils. "We were state runner-up two years ago and Final Four last year where we lost both to Hoover," Burkett said. "Ironically, I coached at Hoover for 14 years before leaving to take this job. It's bittersweet knowing that's my assistant coaches and team who knocked us out." ... Central departs Alabama at 6 a.m. on Dec. 26 and the Red Devils play at 8:30 that night. "We love playing different teams with different schemes to see how our scheme matches up," Burkett said. "Also, we wanted to be a part of this prestigious tournament and competition." ... Located near the Georgia border, Central has produced several NFL players.
Up First: The Central Red Devils play George Wythe in a first-round game on Thursday at 8:30 p.m.
Daniel Boone Trailblazers (4-8)
Gray, Tennessee
The Skinny: Boone is in The Classic for the 24th time (1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2023, 2024) and the Trailblazers have an all-time record of 30-41 in the event. ... Boone won the tournament in 1984 and last placed in 1996, finishing sixth. ... Clay Rowland, Jacob Arnold and Gavin Pearce are standouts for the squad. "We are always excited about playing in the tournament," said Boone coach Chris Bown. "We know it is going to challenge us, and it is an event with a tremendous amount of history and prestige." ... Boone lost two games last week at an event in Charlotte, North Carolina, to Charlotte Country Day and Providence Day. "We have played a very difficult schedule in preparation for the tournament and I believe it will benefit us long term," Brown said. "We have to play at a specific pace that allows our players to be successful. Any team you draw in this tournament is a challenge but that is what makes the tournament special." ... Brown previously coached at Miami Palmetto when current NBA player Tim Hardaway Jr. played there and competed in The Classic in 2009. "I was honored to be invited when coaching Miami Palmetto," Brown said. "That experience, along with the people, and beauty of the area played a pivotal role in our relocation to the Tri-Cities. It is a special tournament and we are honored to be involved."
Up First: Daniel Boone plays Lake Norman of North Carolina on Thursday at 4 p.m. in a first-round game.
George Wythe Maroons (5-1)
Wytheville, Virginia
The Skinny: George Wythe is competing in The Classic for the third time (1984, 2023, 2024) and has a 1-4 all-time record in the tourney. That victory came last year in a first-round upset of the Dorman Cavaliers from South Carolina. ... George Wythe relies on a veteran cast led by Reed Kirtner, Shane Huff, David Goode, Trey Rainey and Brayden Rainey. Kirtner had 40 points in a tourney loss to Mentor (Ohio) last year and is one of Southwest Virginia's elite shooters. Huff and the Rainey brothers are also football stars, while Goode is one of the area's best prep golfers. ... What style of play is exhibited by the Maroons? "Hustle and unselfishness," said George Wythe coach Tony Dunford. ... George Wythe finished as VHSL Class 1 state runner-up in 2023 and the Maroons lost to Honaker in last season's state quarterfinals. ... The Maroons have the smallest enrollment of any public school in the event at 462. Only St. Michael's Catholic Prep at 415 has fewer among all schools. ... To prepare for the Classic, George Wythe ventured up Interstate 81 and beat Class 6 Annandale of Fairfax County and lost to Class 4 John Handley of Winchester. ... George Wythe became a fan favorite in last year's tournament and could do the same if the Maroons happen to spring another upset. "We are very grateful for the opportunity to have been invited back to this extraordinary and reputable event and we hope we can make our school and community proud," Dunford said.
Up First: George Wythe faces the Central Red Devils of Alabama on Thursday at 8:30 p.m. in a first-round game.
Greeneville Greene Devils (3-7)
Greeneville, Tennessee
The Skinny: Greeneville is making its 32nd appearance in The Classic (1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024) and sports a 35-56 all-time record. The Greeneville Devils best finish was a third-place showing in 2021 with current University of Maryland standout Ja'Kobi Gillespie leading the way. ... Greeneville once again has the top local college hoops prospect in the field in 6-foot-8, 220-pound junior Trey Thompson. Tennessee, Virginia Tech, Purdue, Appalachian State, Butler, East Tennessee State, Indiana State, Ohio University and Xavier are among the schools that have extended scholarship offers. "Trey is a great player, not just in my opinion, but also in the opinion of college coaches and those that follow high school basketball," said Greeneville coach Brad Woolsey. "The thing that college coaches love about him is his ability to shoot the 3 at 6-8 and his ability to be physical and score in the paint. One thing that he has added to his game this year is the ability to initiate the offense as a guard and get downhill towards the basket more efficiently." ... Isaac McGill and Zaydyn Anderson are other options for Greeneville, which lost to Tennessee High in last season's regional semifinals. "We are still in the process of establishing the habits that create our identity," Woolsey said. "We want to be tough and connected on the defensive end and play inside out on the offensive end."
Up First: Greeneville plays Milton (Georgia) on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in a first-round game.
Lake Norman Wildcats (8-0)
Mooresville, North Carolina
The Skinny: Lake Norman is a first-time participant in The Classic, but teams from the Charlotte area have had plenty of success in the tournament before. North Mecklenburg (2014, 2017) and Myers Park (2022) were previously champions of the event. ... The quartet of Trent Steinour (15.6 points, 11.6 rebounds, 3.6 blocks per game), Tre McKinnon (19.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.0 steals per game), Josh Yates (8.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists per game) and Nick Arnold (14.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 2.8 steals per game) form the nucleus of Lake Norman's attack. The 6-foot-10 Steinour has signed with Clemson, while the 6-foot-5 McKinnon is bound for Appalachian State. Steinour is the school's career leader in blocked shots, while McKinnon is Lake Norman's all-time leading scorer. ... The team is averaging 76 points per game and all but one of the eight victories by the Wildcats has been by double digits. ... Could Lake Norman be the latest North Carolina team to take the trophy back to the Tar Heel State? "I want our team to compete against great schools from across the country and have a great week of bonding and being together," said Lake Norman coach Grant Hodges. ... Lake Norman dealt with tragedy earlier this month when 31-year-old assistant coach Davis Emerson succumbed to brain cancer. He played at Lake Norman and later for four years at NCAA Division II Catawba College.
Up First: Lake Norman plays Daniel Boone on Thursday at 4 p.m. in a first-round clash.
Madison-Ridgeland Academy Patriots (9-4)
Madison, Mississippi
The Skinny: Madison-Ridgeland is in The Classic for the second time. The Patriots went 2-2 in 2022 and lost in the fifth-place game. ... The school from Mississippi has the most accomplished coach in the field in 72-year-old Richard Duease. He has 1,250 wins as a boys basketball coach and 1,843 hoops wins overall coaching boys and girls. Duease is in his 50th season as a head coach, 43 of which have been spent at Madison-Ridgeland "Coach Duease means so much to this school," said assistant coach Harper Hudnall. "As the all-time winningest coach in the state of Mississippi, he has played a key role in making the MRA basketball brand a prominent name in the state of Mississippi and all around the southeast. He has also had a big hand in helping our school grow into the largest private school in the state of Mississippi. He is a legend around our state, and highly respected by all coaches." ... Duease's team has the top-rated ninth-grader in the country in Erick Dampier Jr. He is the son of the former NBA and Mississippi State center of the same name who is now an assistant coach at Madison-Ridgeland. Erick Dampier Sr. once played in a tournament in Kingsport in 1992 for Lawrence County High School of Mississippi. ... A 6-foot-10 15-year-old with an 89-inch wingspan, Dampier Jr. was averaging 14.5 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.2 blocks at last check. "He is very good, and not just good for his age," Hudnall said. "He is a great player at the varsity level. What sticks out the most about Damp is that despite his age, he has no problem controlling the paint. Averaging 14 points and 11 rebounds - five offensive rebounds per game - is no easy task, especially for a freshman. He's our rock on both ends of the floor. Our guys can play with much more looseness knowing that they have him to protect the rim on defense and control the paint offensively." ... Junior Will Bizot is putting up 17.3 points and 2.6 steals per game, while shooting 45.1 percent from 3-point range. He is also a wide receiver on Madison-Ridgeland's football team. Senior shooting guard Joshua Smith is also a productive player. "Our identity is relentless man-to-man defense," Hudnall said. "Tough, relentless man-to-man defense has been the main identity of every one of Coach Duease's teams in his 49 years of coaching. As of Dec. 18 we were averaging 54 points given up per game." ... Smith, Bizot and Evan Carr were on the Madison-Ridgeland team that played in the 2022 edition of The Classic. "There are a couple of things that stuck out to us the last time we were at The Classic," Hudnall said. "First, the level of competition that was there. Coach Duease has always prided himself on the fact that at MRA we always want to compete against the best of the best. So, seeing the level of competition two years ago, we knew this was a tournament we wanted to come back to. Secondly, the atmosphere of The Classic is second to none. Giving our kids the opportunity to play in front of these types of crowds is an experience we did not want to miss out on."
Up First: Madison-Ridgeland plays Tennessee High on Thursday at 7 p.m. in a first-round contest.
Milton Eagles (7-1)
Milton, Georgia
The Skinny: Milton is in The Classic for the third time (2024, 2014, 2013), having gone 5-3 in its previous two visits. The Eagles lost in the finals to Greater Atlanta Christian in 2013 and fell in the fifth-place game in 2014. ... Milton won state titles in 2010, 2012 and 2021. ... The quartet of 6-foot-8 Daniel Ogunyemi, 6-2 junior Nathan Hearl, 6-2 senior Jaydon Cole and 6-1 senior Josh Dixon are the leaders for Milton, which lost in the state semifinals a season ago. Ogunyemi has committed to Yale University, while guard Braxton Giesler is heading to NCAA Division II Young Harris. ... Current San Diego Padres pitcher Dylan Cease attended Milton as did ex-MLB slugger Dexter Fowler. ... Milton boss Allen Whiteheart is one of the most decorated high school basketball coaches in Georgia.
Up First: Milton plays Greeneville on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in a first-round contest.
Orem Tigers (9-1)
Orem, Utah
The Skinny: Orem is in The Classic for the second time, having gone 2-2 in 2018. Puka Nakua was on that team, but did not make the trip to Bristol as he had a football function to attend. Nakua is now one of the NFL's elite wide receivers with the Los Angeles Rams. "It's great to see an Orem kid be so successful," said Orem coach Jace Tavita. "He's made the community really proud. He gives back to the school every year by hosting a football camp." ... The current Orem squad features three NCAA Division I hoops commits. Chamberlain Burgess, a 6-foot-9 senior center, is headed to Brigham Young University, 6-foot-3 senior guard Jax Allen will play at Utah State and 5-foot-10 senior guard Chance Dastrup will continue his career at Long Beach State. How do the Tigers play? "Tough defensive-minded team," Tavita said. "Run and gun offense." ... Tavita is in his fourth season as Orem's head coach. He played college hoops at both Utah and Hawaii. He was among the NCAA leaders in assists as a senior at Hawaii. ... He knows all about The Classic. "Coaches have shared that it's the best high school tournament experiences they've ever had," Tavita said. "We want a good experience playing against high-level competition." ... The Tigers will arrive on Thursday night after departing from the Salt Lake City airport.
Up First: Orem plays either Bearden or Sullivan East on Friday at 8:45 p.m. in a first-round contest.
St. Joseph Knights (9-0)
Santa Maria, California
The Skinny: This is the first appearance in The Classic for St. Joseph and the Knights are just the second team from California to compete in the event. The Dorsey Dons from Los Angeles came to Bristol in 1993, 2001, 2007 and 2014. ... Head coach Tom Mott pitched five seasons in the Minnesota Twins minor league system, including with the Appalachian League's Elizabethton Twins in 1994. ... The Knights are coming off two wins in the City of Palms Classic in Fort Myers, Florida. In an 82-71 victory over the Gibbs Gladiators of St. Petersburg, Florida, on Saturday, forward Tounde Yessoufou went for 30 points. Yessoufou is one of the top seniors in the country, has committed to Baylor University and is nearing the 3,000-point mark for his career. He is averaging 29.8 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. ... Point guard Julius Price (20.3 points, 6.7 assists per game), 6-foot-9 forward Godson Eyita and guard Malcom Price are big-time prospects as well.
Up First: St. Joseph tangles with West Ridge on Friday at 7 p.m. in a first-round game.
St. Michael's Catholic Prep Warriors (17-2)
Austin, Texas
The Skinny: St. Michael's is a first-time participant in The Classic and just the fourth school from Texas to compete in the event. Amarillo (2021), Clear Creek (2005, 2010) and Memorial of Houston (2001) previously did so. ... The player to watch for the Warriors is 6-foot-6 wing Bo Ogden, who has offers from Tennessee, Purdue, Texas and other major programs. "He can do a little bit of everything on offense," said St. Michael's coach Cooper Land. "He shoots it very well, but is also a really good ball-handler and likes to post up. He is also a great defender and rebounder." Ogden has missed 11 games with an injury but is back in the lineup. He is averaging 12.4 points per game. ... Aiden Disu, a 6-foot-7 forward, has signed with Holy Cross and is one of the most inspiring players in The Classic. "He was being recruited by higher level schools but kind of fell off the radar when he had to have an internal defibrillator implant surgically installed in his heart this fall," Land said. "We weren't sure if he was ever going to be allowed to play again, but he was cleared by the Mayo Clinic and has picked up right where he left off. Incredible story." ... Senior reserve Thomas Bruzoni has signed with Johns Hopkins University. Sugeeth Jinkal, Sunvith Jinkal, Nolan Barkley, Jake Broxterman and Will Gasink also contribute. "We have an extremely balanced team with five players averaging between 9-13 points per game," Land said. "The identity of our team is our depth, balance and unselfishness. I am truly blessed to get to coach this group. They could all be star players at other schools in our area, but have chosen to buy into a team over me mentality." ... Land played at Wright State University and professionally overseas. His father, Bill Land, was the play-by-play voice of the San Antonio Spurs from 2003-2024. ... St. Michael's flies into Nashville on Dec. 26 and will drive two vans to Bristol. The team heads back to Texas on Jan. 1.
Up First: St. Michael's meets Bartlett on Friday at 4:30 p.m. in a first-round matchup.
Sullivan East Patriots (4-10)
Bluff City, Tennessee
The Skinny: Sullivan East is in The Classic for the 23rd time (1983, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2023, 2024) with a 9-44 all-time record. The Patriots have never placed in the top six of the event. ... Brandon Barnes is in his first season as head coach and took over a rebuilding project. Thomas Ridlehuber, Eli Hubbard and Ryan Hurley are among the cornerstones for the Patriots. "Our identity is a team that is going to compete until the final buzzer," Barnes said. "We are never going to quit and we are going to push you to play your best basketball in an effort to beat us." ... Barnes played at Sullivan Central and competed in The Classic. "I remember our first game against a team from Gainesville, Florida," Barnes said. "I just remember how exciting it was to get to play against a team that had that kind of talent and just the chance to get to go up against players that were going to compete at the collegiate level the next season. I also competed in the3-point contest. Didn't win it, but it was a great experience and a lot of fun." ... Now, his players will get to experience that excitement. "For the majority of these guys this is their first experience in this tournament and it is a great experience that they will always remember," Barnes said.
Up First: East faces Bearden on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. in an opening-round game.
Tennessee High Vikings (11-3)
Bristol, Tennessee
The Skinny: The tournament host and the only school to appear in each of the 41 editions of the event, the Vikings have a 52-75 all-time record in The Classic. The best showing was a runner-up finish to Sullivan North in 1985. ... The Vikings finished as regional runner-up last season and are expected to be a state tournament participant come March. Colin Brown, Braden Howard, Zander Phillips and Reed Miller are the catalysts for the Vikings. Brown was the Bristol Herald Courier's player of the year last season and is dynamic. ... While Brown can score in bunches, Tennessee High's calling card is on the other end of the floor. "Our defense," said THS coach Michael McMeans. "We change it up a lot and pressure other teams. We start our gameplans with defense and how we can attack on defense." ... Tennessee High is coming off a third-place finish in the KSA Pre-Holiday Classic in Florida. "We are an older team with experience in this event, so I hope it pays off for us. We will be ready to compete," McMeans said. "We hope to give the crowd something to cheer about."
Up First: Tennessee High plays Madison-Ridgeland of Mississippi on Thursday at 7 p.m. in a first-round game.
Virginia High Bearcats
Bristol, Virginia
The Skinny: The Virginia High Bearcats are in The Classic for the first time since going 1-2 and placing sixth in the inaugural event way back in 1983. ... The Bearcats finished as VHSL Class 2 state runner-up to John Marshall last season after winning their second straight Region 2D title. Deonta Mozell is the leader, a smooth guard with a silky shooting stroke and a calm demeanor needed by every floor general. Sophomore Landon Lee is strong inside, while Te'ron Woolen and Keshawn Smith were also key members of the state finalist squad. "Very excited about participating in The Classic," said VHS coach Julius Gallishaw. "It will be a great opportunity to compete against some of the top schools in the country. I would say our identity is playing hard and competing without being intimidated." ... Gallishaw played in the 1992 tournament for Hillcrest High School of South Carolina. He was later a NAIA All-American at Virginia Intermont College. ... VHS is coming off a runner-up finish in the Coach Ballard Lee Invitational it hosted. The Bearcats lost 62-61 in overtime to Unicoi County in the title game.
Up First: The Bearcats play the Webb School of Knoxville on Thursday at 1 p.m. in an opening-round clash.
Webb School Spartans (13-1)
Knoxville, Tennessee
The Skinny: Webb is making its fifth appearance in The Classic (2014, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2024) and has a 9-7 all-time record in the event. The Spartans placed fourth in 2017. Always a quality program, Webb has had some memorable moments in the event. "We played Fern Creek Kentucky in the first round of the tournament in 2017," said Webb coach Ricky Norris. "Fern Creek had just won the King of the Bluegrass and was picked my most media outlets in the area to win the tournament. There was a sellout crowd in the gym because Mac McClung [of Gate City] was playing after us. We won on a buzzer-beater in overtime, and a dogpile ensued on the court. It was a big moment for our program, as it allowed our kids to realize they could compete at that level." ... Guys like Jaylen Pompey, Alex Leeth, Cam Swearengen, Owen Lentz and Shavar Young will be counted on if Webb is to make another good showing. Pompey is an all-state point guard who has committed to Maryville College, while Leeth and Swearengen are legitimate NCAA Division I prospects. Lentz is an exceptional outside shooter, while Young is an elite defender who has committed to play football at Clemson University. "We are a well-balanced, unselfish group that can shoot the ball pretty well and is growing into a tough team defensively," Norris said.
Up First: Webb plays Virginia High on Thursday at 1 p.m. in an opening-round showdown.
West Ridge Wolves (10-4)
Blountville, Tennessee
The Skinny: The dean of Northeast Tennessee high school basketball coaches, John Dyer is in his fourth season at West Ridge after previously having success at Johnson County and Sullivan East. ... West Ridge is in The Classic for the second time as the Wolves went 1-2 in 2021. The three schools that were consolidated to form West Ridge in the fall of 2021 were frequent participants and didn't fare so well. Sullivan Central went 10-34 in 17 appearances, Sullivan South was 4-32 in 16 appearances and Sullivan North was 9-20 in 11 appearances. North did win the tournament in 1985. ... Avery Horne (19 points, five rebounds, three assists per game) and Trey Frazier (12 points, eight rebounds) are the tone-setters for the Wolves. "We are improving on defense, which allows us to get easier baskets in transition," Dyer said.
Up First: West Ridge plays St. Joseph of California on Friday at 7L15 p.m. at
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