Hoops tourneys abound for area teams
Area teams looks to gain big-game experience
From California to Florida to the Jersey Shore, and many places in between, area basketball squads will be playing all over this coming week, keeping plenty busy over the holidays.
Players and coaches embrace the challenge of getting to go against some high-quality competition.
“Our tournament had a Philly flavor to it,” said Dock coach Mike Fergus, his team fresh off a Dock Tournament Title, with wins over Dobbins Tech and Sankofa Freedom. “I intentionally did that because last year we made states and played a really good Math, Civics and Science team, which went all the way to the state semifinals (in Class 2A).
“So if we get to states, hopefully we can make it back and if we do, that’s the kind of team we’re gonna play.”
Several holiday tournaments are being held this week — in fact Dock will be in action again at the Calvary Baptist Round Robin Friday and Saturday.
Heading to the beach
The Boardwalk Classic in Wildwood, N.J. will feature multiple area teams, including the Lower Moreland boys and Hatboro-Horsham and Methacton girls.
Girls action begins Tuesday morning as the Hatters take on Ocean City (N.J.) at 11 a.m. and Methacton tips off against Strath Haven at 12:45 p.m.
Wednesday’s consolation game will be at 9:30 a.m. and the championship will be held that evening at 6:45.
The Lower Moreland boys have a 4 p.m. tipoff Tuesday against Millville (N.J.).
44th Annual Triangle Club Tournament
The Triangle Club of Montgom-
ery County, a non-profit organization, organizes a holiday basketball tournament every year, and this time, the tourney will be held at Montgomery County Community College’s new Health Sciences building.
On Thursday, the Bishop McDevitt boys take on Upper Merion at 6:30 p.m. and following that contest will be Norristown-HatboroHorsham.
The consolation and final will be held Friday, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Full slate
Wednesday is a busy one. In boys action, Germantown Academy travels out to the State College Holiday Classic, taking on Loyola Blakefield School at 3 p.m., Upper Moreland faces host Jenkintown in the Jenkintown Tournament at 3:45, and Abington Friends will host the Coaches vs. Cancer Invitational — games are at 4:30 and 7:30 p.m.
The Perk Valley Holiday Tournament pits two local squads against each other on Day One, as Methacton takes on Wissahickon at 5 p.m. Wednesday. Upper Dublin travels out to the Great Valley Tournament for a battle with West Chester Henderson, beginning at 5:30.
On Wednesday night, North Penn is at the Perk Valley Tournament for a 6:30 tipoff with PV and Souderton Area is at the West Chester Rustin Tournament for a 7:30 clash with host Rustin.
Also Wednesday, Jenkintown hosts the Robert Hopf Tournament; La Salle is at
the Benedictine Tourney; Phil-Mont Christian is at the William Tennent Tournament; Springfield Montco competes in the Over the River Holiday Classic; and Spring-Ford is out in sunny California for the San Diego Surf & Slam.
In girls action, Lower Moreland is at the Abington Friends Coaches vs. Cancer Invitational — games are at 3 and 6 p.m.
Other afternoon contests include Souderton taking on Spring-Ford at 4 p.m. in the Penncrest Holiday Tournament.
In the evening on Wednesday, Wissahickon and Council Rock South do battle at 5 p.m. at the Lady Vikings Holiday Invitational at Upper Merion, host Upper Merion faces Bishop Shanahan at 7 p.m., and host Upper Dublin has a 7 p.m. tipoff at the Cardinal Classic.
Gwynedd Mercy will also be at the Cardinal Classic, Cheltenham is at the Downington West Tournament, and Jenkintown will be hosting its Robert Hopf Tournament.
Lansdale Catholic and Norristown are both at the George Snear Tournament at the Fellowship House in Conshohocken while PhilMont Christian is at the William Tennent Holiday Classic.
Several tournaments continue on Thursday, along with the Dock boys facing Salem Christian at 5:30 in the Calvary Baptist Round Robin. Pennridge, meanwhile, has a 3 p.m. contest at the Boyertown Tournament.
The Faith Christian boys will hit the road, traveling to the Zephyr Holiday Classic, starting with a clash with Whitehall on Thursday.
Thursday girls action also includes Archbishop Carroll at the Cardinal O’Hara Tournament; Central Bucks West at Boo Williams; Mount St. Joe’s at the Marple Newtown Holiday Tournament; and Pope John Paul II at Boyertown.
St. Basil will be competing down in Tampa, Fla. for its holiday hoops.
Wrapping it up
Tournaments will cap off the week Friday and Saturday.
In boys action Friday, Academy New Church and Cheltenham head to the Nelson Classic at Jefferson University — ANC will take on St. George’s (Del.) at 3:45 p.m. and Cheltenham faces St. Joe’s Prep at 3:45 p.m.
Also at Nelson, Abington takes on Archbishop Carroll at 7:15 p.m. and PlymouthWhitemarsh plays Bonner Prendergast at 8:45 p.m.
Abington Friends faces Interboro at 4 p.m. in the Girard College Shootout; Dock takes on Upper Bucks Christian at 5:30 at the Calvary Baptist Round Robin; and Archbishop Wood plays Immaculate Conception at Slam Dunk to the Beach at Cape Henlopen High (Del.).
Also, La Salle is at the Benedictine Classic and Pope John Paul II is at the Hill School Tournament.
Girls contests Friday include Archbishop Carroll at the Cardinal O’Hara Tournament; Mount St. Joseph at the Marple Newtown Holiday Tournament; Plymouth-Whitemarsh hosting its holiday tourney; Pope John Paul II at the Boyertown Tournament; and St. Basil will be playing in Tampa, Fla.