Tournaments tip off today in Ozark, Dothan

Basketball junkies can get their fill of quality hoop action in the next few days, including a rare late December matchup of undefeated teams, as two of the premier holiday boys tournaments begin today in Ozark and Dothan.

The 26th Annual Dothan Progress/Dothan Eagle/Southern Star Holiday Prep Classic, presented by The Cochran Firm, starts at 5 p.m. today at the Ozark Civic Center. The 3rd Annual Downtown Dothan Hoops Classic tips off today at 2 p.m. at the Dothan Civic Center.

Both are 16-team, single-elimination events that continue Saturday, take Sunday off then resume Monday and Tuesday before holding consolation and championship games on Wednesday, New Year’s Eve.

Admission to the Ozark tournament is $5 each night for those 18 and under and $10 for adults. Admission to the tournament in Dothan is $6 each day with kids 6 and under admitted free.

Proceeds from tickets sales from both tournaments, following expenses, are returned back to participating teams.

Both tournaments have quality fields.

The Holiday Prep Classic in Ozark features four teams ranked in the latest Alabama Sports Writers Association poll, including a pair of teams who enter undefeated.

Those two unbeaten teams — Eufaula and Andalusia — square off Saturday at 8 p.m. in one of the opening-round marquee match-ups.

Eufaula enters at 13-0 after sweeping through the Glynn Academy Christmas Tournament last week in Brunswick, Ga. The Tigers are ranked No. 4 in Class 5A.

Andalusia is 12-0 and is owner of the Andalusia Tournament title. The Bulldogs are No. 2 in Class 4A.

The field also features a top-ranked team in the state in Barbour County, a two-time Class 2A state runner-up. The Jaguars are 8-2. They appear to face a tall task in the opener, Class 6A Opelika, which was ranked until a recent loss.

The other ranked team is Abbeville, another club on a roll heading into the event. The Yellow Jackets are 12-2 and ranked No. 3 in 3A after a tournament title last week at the Willis Valley Shootout in Fort Payne.

Abbeville, like Barbour County, opens with a bigger school — Class 6A Enterprise — tonight at 8 p.m.

This year’s Holiday Prep Classic features the return of former tournament powerhouse Randolph-Clay of Cuthbert, Ga. The Red Devils won five straight tournaments from 1996-2000 and own the second best percentage (.952, 20-1) in the tourney’s history.

Bullock County, 4-0 at the tournament, returns to defend its title. Three teams will make their first Holiday Prep Classic appearance — Luverne, McIntosh and Robertsdale.

Elba returns for the first time since 1991 and Pike County makes its first appearance since its only other Classic game in 1982 — the tournament’s second year.

City host Carroll, off to a strong start at 8-2, plays Class 6A R. E Lee in the tournament’s opening game today.

The Downtown Hoops Classic also features a solid field, highlighted by three state ranked teams.

The Houston County Lions enter ranked No. 5 in Class 2A with a 13-3 record. The Slocomb Red Tops, currently 9-2, are No. 10 in Class 3A and the Georgiana Panthers, 10-3, are No. 6 in Class 1A.

Several other teams are having strong seasons and could be factors at the tournament. Among those teams are Dale County, Ashford, Rehobeth and Dothan.

Dale County, a potential sleeper in Class 3A, is off to a 10-2 start. Ashford (8-5) has played a tough early schedule, but is considered one of the most potentially explosive teams at the tournament.

Rehobeth (6-6) has a strong starting five that have been a driving force for the Rebels. Dothan (6-8) struggled early, but has momentum after winning the Daleville Christmas Tournament last week, highlighted by a win over ranked Houston County.

Other teams in the Downtown Hoops Classic are Providence Christian, Headland, G.W. Long, Northview, Malone (Fla.), New Brockton, Geneva, Houston Academy and Wicksburg.
Ashford, Wicksburg and G.W. Long will be competing in the Hoops Classic for the first time.

Houston County is the two-time defending tournament champion.

The tournament opens today at 2 p.m. with Dale County facing Wiregrass Athletic Conference foe Headland at 2 p.m. followed by Long and Houston County.

Dothan area teams Northview and Providence Christian are also in action on day one.

Saturday’s second day features rivals Houston Academy and Wicksburg meeting for the second time in a week. Last Saturday, the Raiders downed the Panthers 41-38.