Basketball fans can watch plenty of it at West Virginia Hoops Classic

During the past five years, the West Virginia Hoops Classic has experienced many changes from the number of teams to the number of days the event is held.

There have even been college teams competing in the event.

However, the basketball tournament's executive director, Keith Tyler, wants to see it evolve even more.

"It would be nice to see larger crowds," said Tyler, who took over coordination of the event three years ago. "We get around 2,000 fans per day."

The Hoops Classic will tip off its sixth year Monday, Dec. 12 when a full day of girls action begins with Meadow Bridge and Grafton playing at 9 a.m.

That begins a five-day, eight-game per day basketball experience with 80 teams, which is believed to be the largest of its kind in the United States.

The classic wraps up with the Spring Valley boys facing Greenbrier East at 7:45 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 16.

While the Timberwolves and Spartans contest pits two of the state's better Class AAA programs, it's the two preceding games that are arguably the backbone of this year's classic.

The 4:45 p.m. game on Friday features Morgantown and Parkersburg South, two teams considered candidates for a Class AAA state title this year. Following that game is a matchup of two of the state's biggest rivals -- despite being separated by almost 240 highway miles.

Wheeling Park and Beckley will play the next-to-last game of the tournament. This is the swan song for Wheeling Park Coach Sam Andy, who has been the school's only coach in its 29-year history.

Beckley won the 2004 Class AAA title and finished runner-up last year to Huntington, which plays Notre Dame at 7:45 p.m. Wednesday in the classic.

"We try to bring state tournament teams in here," Tyler said. "But, we also like to give everybody an opportunity to play in it."

The girls event also features notable teams, including Sissonville, which won the Class AA state title in 2003. The Indians wrap up the first day's action at 7:45 p.m. when they face 2005 Class A state tournament qualifier Charleston Catholic.

The George Washington girls, primed for a state tournament run with senior star Brittany Holestine, face Riverside and first-year Coach Josh Bailey at 3:15 on the first day.

Wednesday's girls action is highlighted with a battle of Class AA 2005 state tournament semifinalists Winfield and Wyoming East.
The classic benefits the Charleston area chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, for whom Tyler is the director.

Although Tyler is looking for a few extra fans to fill the stands, he mostly seeks out enough funds to hold the tournament another year with a little left over for the FCA coffers.

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THERE ARE 13 girls teams and 26 boys teams returning from the 2004 field.

Returning girls teams: Meadow Bridge, Midland Trail, St. Albans, Ripley, Cabell Midland, Charleston Catholic, Burch, Hamlin, Poca, PikeView, Summers County, Wyoming East, Logan, Roane County, Williamstown.

Returning boys teams: Burch, Tucker County, Shady Spring, Poca, Capital, St. Marys, Union, Winfield, Wyoming East, Valley-Fayette, Tolsia, Liberty-Raleigh, Grafton, St. Albans, North Marion, Lincoln, Ravenswood, Independence, Chapmanville, PikeView, Roane County, Greenbrier East, Spring Valley.

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MANY OF the boys teams are playing their first game of the season at the event. The boys basketball season begins with practice on Nov. 14, but the teams aren't permitted to play a game until Dec. 13, the second day of the tournament.

The girls teams, however, begin practice Monday and are permitted to play their first game on Dec. 6 according the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission.

All games at the Charleston Civic Center
Monday, Dec. 12
9 a.m. Girls Meadow Bridge vs. Grafton
10:45 a.m. Girls Braxton County vs. Tug Valley
12:15 p.m. Girls Teays Valley vs. Guyan Valley
1:45 p.m. Girls Cross Lanes Christian vs. Midland Trail
3:15 p.m. Girls George Washington vs. Riverside
4:45 p.m. Girls St. Albans vs. Bluefield
6:15 p.m. Girls Ripley vs. Cabell Midland
7:45 p.m. Girls Charleston Catholic vs. Sissonville
Tuesday, Dec. 13
9 a.m. Girls Tucker County vs. Burch
10:45 a.m. Boys Tucker County vs. Burch
12:15 p.m. Girls Hamlin vs. Berkeley Springs
1:45 p.m. Boys Hamlin vs. Berkeley Springs
3:15 p.m. Girls Poca vs. Shady Spring
4:45 p.m. Boys Poca vs. Shady Spring
6:15 p.m. Boys Teays Valley vs. Buffalo
7:45 p.m. Boys Capital vs. Mount View.
Wednesday, Dec. 14
9 a.m. Boys Guyan Valley vs. Matewan
10:45 a.m. Girls Summers County vs. PikeView
12:15 p.m. Girls Union vs. St. Marys
1:45 p.m. Boys Union vs. St. Marys
3:15 p.m. Girls Winfield vs. Wyoming East
4:45 p.m. Boys Winfield vs. Wyoming East
6:15 p.m. Girls Logan vs. Nitro
7:45 p.m. Boys Notre Dame vs. Huntington
Thursday, Dec. 15
9 a.m. Boys Wood Co. Christian vs. Valley-Fayette
10:45 a.m. Boys Liberty-Raleigh vs. Tolsia
12:15 p.m. Girls James Monroe vs. Westside
1:45 p.m. Boys James Monroe vs. Westside
3:15 p.m. Boys Tug Valley vs. Mercer Christian
4:45 p.m. Boys Braxton County vs. Grafton
6:15 p.m. Boys St. Albans vs. North Marion
7:45 p.m. Boys Ripley vs. Hurricane
Friday, Dec. 16
9 a.m. Boys Ravenswood vs. Lincoln
10:45 a.m. Boys Independence vs. Calhoun County
12:15 p.m. Boys PikeView vs. Chapmanville
1:45 p.m. Boys Roane County vs. Philip Barbour
3:15 p.m. Girls Williamstown vs. Roane County
4:45 p.m. Boys Morgantown vs. Parkersburg South
6:15 p.m. Boys Beckley vs. Wheeling Park
7:45 p.m. Boys Spring Valley vs. Greenbrier East