The pairings have been set for the 21st annual GreenBank Ladies' Classic, which will be held the week after Christmas, Dec. 28-31, at Hal Henard Gym in Greeneville.
Recognized as one of the top girls' tournaments in the country since its inception, the Ladies' Classic again will bring in some of the best teams in the state of Tennessee, plus two out-of-state squads with very impressive credentials.
All five local girls' teams will participate, along with regional teams Cocke County and Kingsport Dobyns-Bennett, and perennial power Oak Ridge will return this year after several years' absence.
Two-time defending champion Wilson Central is also back to try to make it a "three-peat."
The tourney begins on Monday, Dec. 28, at 10 a.m. when the Chuckey-Doak Lady Knights take on Maryville High School. The 11:30 a.m. game has Cocke County meeting Livingston Academy, and the 1 p.m. contest features Dobyns-Bennett facing off against Mt. Juliet.
Action continues at 2:30 with the West Greene Lady Buffs taking on Wilson Central, followed at 4 p.m. by Oak Ridge vs. Cleveland. The 5:30 p.m. contest has South Greene going up against Sycamore. Greeneville's Lady Devils play at 7 p.m. against Cosby High School from Midlothian, Va., and the 8:30 p.m. finale has the North Greene Lady Huskies taking on the Lady Mounties from Rogers High School in Rogers, Ark.
Eight more games will be played Tuesday and again on Wednesday, with the tourney semifinals Wednesday evening. The final day of the tourney is Thursday, Dec. 31, with five games on tap starting at 10 a.m., leading to the finals which will be played at 4 p.m.
Tournament tickets will go on sale soon at the Greene County Partnership and all GreenBank locations.
"We think we've assembled a great field of teams, and I think the basketball fans in Greene County will be pleased with the caliber of competition," said first-year tournament director Ron Metcalfe, who took over following last year's classic after Buddy Yonz, who had led the tournament since its inception, resigned.
"The mid-state teams are always very good, and we've got some good local teams as well," Metcalfe said. "It's always good to have Oak Ridge back in the field. The team from Arkansas has the Gatorade Player of the Year returning from last year who has committed to Oklahoma. And the team from Virginia has two Division 1 commitments."
