Arby's Classic field announced

[beamer_ball]

http://www.tricitiessports.com/default.a...ssports&he=.com

Field Announced for 26th Annual Arby's Classic Tournament

By Bucky Dent
TriCitiesSports.com
November 23, 2008

BRISTOL, Tenn. -- Mark Blevins could have taken his Knox Bearden team to Hawaii for some holiday hoops.

He could have shipped them to Puerto Rico for a start-up tournament which promises to be among the best anywhere.

He also could have journeyed to a prestigious tournament in Delaware which annually attracts some of the nation's best teams.

But Blevins had just one destination in mind for his Bulldogs this holiday season.

"The Arby's Classic is the premier tournament in this country," he said, "and we're excited to be in it."

Bearden's first-time presence figures to add to an event which tournament director Richard Ensor projects to be one of the best in the tourney's 26-year history.

Defending champion Briarcrest Christian of suburban Memphis, along with Florida powers Dr. Michael Krop, Monsignor Pace and Boyd Anderson, are among the prestigious out-of-town schools in the 17-team field.

"An excellent field," Ensor said. "I don't think you can look at this draw and really pick out a winner. I think it's balanced and deep."

Blevins made the drive up from west Knoxville for Sunday's draw and found out he'd be running into an old friend in the first round on Dec. 26. Bearden tips off against Sullivan East and coach John Dyer at 7 p.m.

The game matches up two former Johnson County coaches. In fact, Blevins guided the Longhorns' program in 1983, when they played in the first Arby's.

"It just means I've been coaching for a long time," he grinned, "and that it took them 25 years to let me back in it."

Dyer said his team is eager for the challenge of Bearden, which went 33-4 last year behind 6-foot-9 center Demonte Simpson (14.6 ppg, 10 rebounds).

"Our kids would rather come here than go to Florida," Dyer said. "Arby's is a fun event for them -- they look forward to it every year. We're happy to be invited."

The first round, which starts at 1 p.m. Dec. 26 when Twin Valley (Va.) takes on Sumter (S.C.), is highlighted by Science Hill's clash with Briarcrest Christian. The game continues the Hilltoppers' recent trend of difficult first round draws.

Of course, as many area coaches were quick to mention, there is no such thing as an easy draw in this tournament. But some are clearly more difficult than others.

Take Gate City, for instance. The inexperienced Blue Devils must take on Monsignor Pace out of Opa Locka, Fla. in an 8:30 p.m. tipoff Dec. 26. Pace is led by Louisville signee Rakeem Buckles, a 6-8 forward who averages 14 ppg.

"We hope the experience will make us better," Gate City coach Scott Vermillion said. "We're going to be awfully young besides (point guard) Tihlee Anderson, but we just want to hit them in the mouth and see what happens."

Anderson might be as good as any point guard in the tournament, but the Blue Devils took a major injury hit when much-improved 6-10 center Josh Johnson was lost for the year with a torn ACL.

Tournament Notes -- Ensor said he has already received requests from five prominent prep programs, including Memphis White Station, to play in next year's event ... The championship game is set for a 7 p.m. tipoff Dec. 31 ... In his first year as tournament director, Ensor, who replaced Dale Burns, said the biggest challenge has been taking care of logistics. "Once the games tip off," he said, "maybe I can relax and watch them."

Arby's Classic

Friday, December 26
Game 1--Twin Valley (Va.) vs. Sumter (S.C.), 1 p.m.
Game 2--Dobyns-Bennett vs. Tabernacle Baptist (Bahamas), 2:30 p.m.
Game 3--Tennessee High vs. Bryan Station (Ky.), 4 p.m.
Game 4--Greeneville vs. Miller Grove (Ga.), 5:30 p.m.
Game 5--Sullivan East vs. Knox Bearden, 7 p.m.
Game 6--Gate City vs. Monsignor Pace (Fla.), 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, December 27
Game 7--Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 2:30 p.m.
Game 8--Winner Game 1 vs. Dr. Michael Krop (Fla.), 4 p.m.
Game 9--Louisville Male (Ky.) vs. Boyd Anderson (Fla.), 5:30 p.m.
Game 10--Science Hill vs. Briarcrest Christian, 7 p.m.
Game 11--Winner Game 2 vs. Benedictine (Ohio), 8:30 p.m.

Monday, December 29
Game 12--Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, 9 a.m.
Game 13--Loser Game 5 vs. Loser Game 6, 10:30 a.m.
Game 14--Loser Game 8 vs. Loser Game 9, Noon
Game 15--Loser Game 10 vs. Loser Game 11, 1:30 p.m.
Game 16--Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 5 p.m.
Game 17--Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 6:30 p.m.
Game 18--Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 9, 8 p.m.
Game 19--Winner Game 10 vs. Winner Game 11, 9:30 p.m.

Tuesday, December 30
Game 20--Winner Game 12 vs. Winner Game 13, 9 a.m.
Game 21--Winner Game 14 vs. Winner Game 15, 10:30 a.m.
Game 22--Loser Game 16 vs. Loser Game 17, Noon
Game 23--Loser Game 18 vs. Loser Game 19, 1:30 p.m.
FritoLay/Food Lion Slam Dunk Contest, 5:30 p.m.
Game 24--Game 16 Winner vs. Game 17 Winner, 7 p.m.
Game 25--Game 18 Winner vs. Game 19 Winner, 8:30 p.m.

Wednesday, December 31
Game 26--Game 12 Loser vs. Game 7 Winner, Noon
Game 27--Game 20 Winner vs. Game 21 Winner, 1:30 p.m.
Game 28--Game 22 Winner vs. Game 23 Winner, 3 p.m.
Fun Factory 3-Point Contest, 4:30 p.m.
Game 29--Game 24 Loser vs. Game 25 Loser, 5:30 p.m.
Game 30--Game 24 Winner vs. Game 25 Winner, 7 p.m.

[bkbasketball]

I didn't know Josh Johnson tore his ACL.
Here's wishing him a full recovery

[cvcgrad]

Can't wait for the tournament!

[cvcgrad]

Another article from the BHC...

BRISTOL, Tenn. ? Gate City High School basketball coach Scott Vermillion had a bad feeling all the time he was driving to Sunday's draw for the 26th Arby's Classic, and he couldn't shake it.

"I just knew we were going to get a pretty tough draw,"? Vermillion said.

Turns out, his gut feeling was right.

Vermillion drew first because his team was at the top of the alphabetical list of local teams in the tournament draw. That meant he had a shot at six different out-of-area opponents.

He drew a rugged one: Monsignor Pace High, of Opa Locka, Fla. The Spartans are two-time defending 4A state champions, and they boast a Division I prospect in 6-foot-8 University of Louisville commitment Rakeem Buckles.

"It's a tough draw,"? Vermillion conceded, "but every game in this tournament is tough. We've got the last game on opening night. It's an exciting opportunity for our kids."?

The tournament, which features seven area teams and 11 from out of the area, tips off Dec. 26 and runs through Dec. 31. All games are played at Tennessee High.

While acknowledging that Gate City had as tough a draw as any of the local teams, first-year tournament director Richard Ensor agreed with Vermillion that there were no easy draws.

"We sent out applications to 55 of the best teams we could find, and we heard back from 50 of them,"? Ensor said. "The quality of the teams coming here is exceptional."?

Sullivan East coach John Dyer understands that all too well. While Vermillion might wonder exactly what his team will see from a Florida team, Dyer knows exactly what his team will face. That's because the Patriots drew Knoxville's Bearden High School, rated by MaxPreps.com as the No. 3 team in the state.

"You never know who you're going to draw, but you know that any team you draw out of that bowl is going to be a good one,"? Dyer said. "It's going to be quite a challenge."?

Dyer said the key for any local team playing in this tournament is to get off to as good a start as possible and not be intimidated.

"Sometimes, if you draw a team that's coming a long distance, that can be an advantage in the first game for a local team,"? he said. "We don't get that break. Bearden doesn't have to come very far."?

This year's tournament doesn't have quite the international flavor of some of its predecessors. The only team coming from outside the continental United States is Tabernacle Baptist, from Freeport, Grand Bahamas. It plays its first game Dec. 26 against Dobyns-Bennett.

No matter how Gate City fares during the tournament, Vermillion said he knows it will be a valuable experience for his players.

"You don't look at the score,"? he said. "You look to see how your players handle different aspects of the game. How do they handle the pressure? How do they handle the size and speed of the other team?

"I figure, if they can compete with that team, they can compete with anyone in Southwest Virginia."?

[pvfan]

I'm going to try and go watch Science Hill/GC/TV play, does anybody have the bracket for the Coal Classic?

[imported_GC1]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bkbasketball</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I didn't know Josh Johnson tore his ACL.
Here's wishing him a full recovery </div></div>

He was injured last Saturday in a scrimmage. Very tough break as I was expecting Josh to be much improved over last season.

[PioneerPride]

I hate to hear about the Johnson kid getting injured. GC has had a very successful program the past few years. Now I believe that the Pioneers are about to embark on some past due success for their athletic programs. My predictions for the CMD this year in boys basketball:

1. Lebanon
2. Gate City
3. Lee
4. Virginia High
5. John Battle

Good luck to all teams. Go Pioneers!

[cvcgrad]

Looking forward to seeing how Dobyns Bennett and Science Hill do in the tournament. The Hilltopers will have a talented group of seniors this year, starting with Josh Odem. The Indians will be down a bit from last year since losing several players.

Looking forward to seeing Monsignor Pace, Briarcrest, and Bearden. Rasheem Buckles is currently ranked 48 nationally by Scout.

[Rich_Kotite]

You Gate City fans might wanna come strapped. Opa Locka is comin' to town. [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif[/img]

[imported_GC_Quincy]

Doesn't matter. As long as they get better later in the season by playing these teams. The best thing for an inexperienced team, is experience.