26th Annual Prep Classic draw held Wednesday

By David Mundee

Published: December 2, 2008

The anticipation ends, yet begins today for the 26th Annual Dothan Progress/Dothan Eagle/Southern Star Holiday Prep Classic.

That’s because the 16 teams in the tournament, after months of waiting, will find out their opening-round opponent today and then begin the build up to the actual tournament three weeks from now.

A blind draw will be held today at noon at the Ozark Civic Center, which will determine the pairings for the tourney, scheduled for Dec. 26-27 and 29-31 at the Civic Center.

This year’s 16-team field features six current state-ranked teams, four teams that reached the state Final Four and the return of the tournament’s premier program.

“We’ve assembled what I believe will be another competitive tournament which will display some outstanding individual talent and exciting team play,” tournament director Jon Johnson said.

Defending tournament champion Bullock County and last year’s tourney runner-up Eufaula are back.

Both teams had standout years last season. Bullock won the Class 4A state title and Eufaula advanced to the Class 5A Final Four.

Two other teams with Final Four experience from last year are in the field. The Barbour County Jaguars have been the Class 2A state runner-ups the last two years, while the McIntosh Demons, who will make their first Holiday Prep Classic appearance,  made the Class 1A state semifinals last year.

One of the most anticipated storylines, though, is the return of Holiday Prep Classic kingpin, Randolph-Clay.

The powerhouse from Cuthbert, Ga., is back in the event for the first time since 2000. The Red Devils own the best winning percentage in the tournament’s 26-year history at .952 (20-1) and five tournament titles, second most at the event.

They are currently ranked seventh in Georgia’s smallest division, Class 1A, in the latest GACA coaches rankings.

A year ago, they went undefeated and advanced to the state quarterfinals in Class 2A before losing by a point to the eventual state runner-up.

The Red Devils have already played two Wiregrass teams this year, having beaten Northview 72-55 and lost to Eufaula 64-47.

Randolph-Clay is one of six teams in the field that are currently ranked. Eufaula is No. 6 in Class 5A in the Alabama Sports Writers Association poll, Andalusia No. 3 and Bullock County No. 7 in 4A, Abbeville No. 5 in 3A and Barbour County No. 2 in Class 2A.

As usual, the field is dominated with quality Wiregrass teams. Enterprise, Carroll, Charles Henderson, Eufaula, Andalusia, Abbeville, Pike County, Barbour County and Elba make up the area contingent.

Two teams — Luverne and Bullock County — that border the Wiregrass area are also among the teams.

This year’s tournament, however, also features a good dose of teams from other parts of Alabama in addition to the out-of-state presence in Randolph-Clay.

Two teams — Robertsdale and McIntosh — will come from Southwest Alabama. Several will come from central and east Alabama, including R.E. Lee of Montgomery and Opelika.

“Along with some of the top teams in the Wiregrass, we’ve got what I believe is a nice mix of teams coming in from outside of the area,” Johnson said.
“It gives the teams a chance to see how they stack up against some competition they normally don’t match up against, and the fans a chance to see different styles of basketball in a big-time setting.”

The field is sprinkled with teams from every classification in the Alabama High School Athletic Association.
Enterprise, Opelika, R.E. Lee,  and Robertsdale are members of Class 6A.

Carroll, Charles Henderson and Eufaula are Class 5A entries. Bullock County and Andalusia are Class 4A participants.
Abbeville, Luverne and Pike County are Class 3A teams in the field, while Barbour County and Elba are 2A and McIntosh is a Class 1A program.

Of the 16 teams, only three have not competed in the event before. Those three are Robertsdale, Luverne and McIntosh.

Once again, proceeds from ticket sales of the Holiday Prep Classic go back to the schools and a percentage also goes to the Dothan Eagle’s Newspaper in Education program, which provides newspapers to classrooms for free to be used for educational purposes.

The AHSAA also receives a check as part of a required fee for any tournament.

“I’m hopeful the fans in our area will turn out in big numbers to support the tournament and enjoy some entertaining nights of basketball,” Johnson said.