Big 25: Arby's Classic begins again.

From the BHC...


Sullivan East coach John Dyer rolls through the names with ease.

Princeton High School. Dorsey. Wheeler.

Then Dyer matches the names with the years. And then he has fun.

"I remember in 1999, we came into the tournament at 11-2," Dyer said laughing. "We had a good team, a great group of kids. I liked our chances. Then we went up against a really good Princeton [Cincinnati, Ohio] team. And they ... they beat us pretty bad. They punched us in the mouth."

But to Dyer, blowouts are a major part of what makes the Arby's Classic ? which celebrates its 25th year of existence today ? so special.

Lasting memories are created; legends are born. And for every blowout or mismatch, there are a season's worth of lessons instantly learned.

"It's easy to get intimidated because of some of the competition that comes in here," Dyer said. "But it's also a great experience. If, as a team, you can keep from being intimidated, you're going to be so much better after it's over. How often do you get to go up against future NBA-type caliber players in high school? It's rare for most kids. But it happens all the time in the Classic."

Dyer heads a Patriots (11-3, 5-1 Big Nine Conference) squad that opens up the 2007 Arby's Classic with a 1 p.m. matchup today against Tabernacle Baptist (Freeport, Great Bahamas) at Viking Hall.

Five-foot-11 senior guard Isaac Snapp (18 points, two assists per game) leads East, while 6-foot-4 senior center Kyle Barnes (12 points, seven rebounds) and 6-foot-1 senior guard Dillon Faver (11 points, five rebounds, two assists) have helped propel an early-season Patriots push.

East combines an up-tempo, shoot-and-run offense with a pesky, persistent defense. The combination has paid early dividends, as the Patriots have knocked off Tennessee High, Daniel Boone, Sullivan South, Sullivan Central, David Crockett, Abingdon and Virginia High while going 7-2 in their last nine games.

"Our team is off to a great start because of all the hard work and dedication of these young men," Dyer said.

Five other games kick off today's action, including a 5:30 p.m. contest between Archbishop Carroll (Washington, D.C.) and Tennessee High, and an 8:30 p.m. matchup between Pine Castle Christian (Orlando, Fla.) and Gate City.

Vikings (6-6, 3-4) coach Roby Witcher hopes his team can use the Classic to improve on its early season roller-coaster ride.

"We have been in four of the games we lost and only needed to do a few things better during the game[s] to win," Witcher said. "We are gaining ground and working hard to eliminate mistakes and improve on our weaknesses."

Meanwhile, Dyer is already dreaming up possible scenarios and matchups that could arise if East is able to stay in the winner's bracket and make a strong run.

"All the kids in this area grow up thinking about playing in this tournament, so this is exciting for our boys," Dyer said. "The teams that come in, the players, the way it's run ? everything about it is top class. It's definitely one of the premier Christmas tournaments in the nation. I know we're all excited for it to start."

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Arby's Classic at a Glance

Today's Games

Game 1 ? 1 p.m., Tabernacle Baptist (Great Bahamas) vs. Sullivan East
Game 2 ? 2:30 p.m., Urspring, Germany vs. Greeneville
Game 3 ? 4 p.m., Northview (Duluth, Ga.) vs. Science Hill
Game 4 ? 5:30 p.m., Archbishop Carroll (Washington, D.C.) vs. Tennessee High
Game 5 ? 7 p.m., Columbia (Decatur, Ga.) vs. Dobyns-Bennett
Game 6 ? 8:30 p.m., Pine Castle Christian (Orlando, Fla.) vs. Gate City

Thursday's Games

Game 7 ? Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser
Game 8 ? Briarcrest Christian (Eads, Tenn.) vs. Game 1 winner
Game 9 ? Iolani (Honolulu, Hawaii) vs. Father Henry Carr (Toronto, Canada)
Game 10 ? Charlotte (Punta Gorda, Fla.) vs. Volunteer
Game 11 ? Dorsey (Los Angeles, Calif.) vs. Game 2 winner

Fact Box

What: 25th-year anniversary of the Arby's Classic
When: Today-Dec. 29, Dec. 31
Where: Viking Hall at Tennessee High, 1100 Edgemont Ave., Bristol, Tenn.

Out-of-area teams to watch: Columbia, Northview, Iolani, Briarcrest Christian, Urspring.


Players to watch: Christopher Niemann (Urspring), Ralph Samson III (Northview), Kristopher Joseph (Archbishop Carroll), Tremaine Gash (Greeneville), Issac Snapp (Sullivan East), Derek Gaitor (Tabernacle Baptist), Thomas Austin (Pine Castle Christian), Jamie Hackney (Gate City), Rodel Grenaway (Father Henry Carr), Nigel Carter (Dorsey), Travis Leslie (Columbia), Dago Pena (Charlotte), Leslie McDonald (Briarcrest Christian).


Other Highlights
Slam Dunk Contest ? 5:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 29
3-point Contest ? 4:30 p.m., Monday, Dec. 31
Championship ? 7 p.m., Monday, Dec. 31

Anyone see the thing on the arbys on the news this morning? It showed alot of the NBA players from the 80s and up on it.

I can't wait, I hope to get thier for the 2:30 game, to see upspring

Science Hill sure wasn't in awe of the Sampson's today. 77-35 over Northview according to the tourney's website.

I just talked to PVFAN and he said that the oldest Sampson didn't even play said he never even took his warm ups off......and another buddy said his youngest son wasn't to great of a ball player!

Oh, I wonder what was wrong with him? I was gonna say that might be the biggest upset margin ever.

Looks like DB is going down. Columbia leading in the 4th right now by about 20 with about 4 minutes to play..Columbia pulling away after a 4 point halftime lead. You can listen to the games on WXSM... http://www.640wxsm.com/ for those wanting to listen to the GC game when it starts.

Columbia was huge at every postion but they couldn't hit [censored] tonite

Ralph Sampson's oldest son Ralph III did not play...and he was like his younger brother was at his age, kinda lanky and didn't look too well but really came on in the AAU circuit in the spring of his Jr. year...i would suspect the same will happen with the younger one

would've been much different had Ralph III played, he can play

BHC article on the game says he was out with bronchitis and is expected to play Friday.

http://www.tricities.com/tristate/tr...2-26-0028.html

GC is playing DB now, what time is it? Its friday right?