BERLIN, Ohio–The 10th annual Classic in the Country tips off tomorrow and, as in years past, Holmes County and Amish country may well be the place to be the best in girl’s high school basketball. Honoring the legacies of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coach Perry Reese Jr., the Classic has earned a reputation as one of the nation’s elite regular season tournaments and become the standard bearer for how to run a first class event.
Since its inception back in 2004 over 200,000 folks have enjoyed the competition and hospitality of The Classic in the Country. Last year’s event saw 25,520 people come through the doors and this season’s version should see very few empty seats as well. Over the years, according to the Holmes County Chamber of Commerce, the Classic has provided an impact in excess of 11 million dollars to the local economy. Beyond fans and competitors, plenty of college coaches have added their share of expenditures to that figure. Over the years 1232 recruiters have attended the event highlighted by the fact that 21 of the 32 NCAA Division I conferences were represented in Berlin in 2012.
This year’s lineup continues the tradition of outstanding competition. Ohio Division I powerhouses Fairmont Kettering, two time defending state champs Twinsburg, Princeton and Reynoldsburg will be on hand as well as a litany of other programs from the talent rich Buckeye State. Adding national flavor to the mix this year is the trio of Regis Jesuit out of Colorado, Memphis Central from Tennessee and Maryland’s Damascus High School. Regis and Damascus come in with unscathed records while two of Central’s three losses have come at the hands of nationally regarded Hoover (Alabama) and Riverdale (Tennessee). Day one is highlighted by the Kettering Faimont and Regis Jesuit match-up in the 6:45 contest with both teams finding themselves in multiple national polls.
Check in with Blue Star Media daily for results, evaluations and photos.
SCHEDULE OF GAMES FOR SATURDAY, JANUARY 19
Game 1 – 10:00 am
Reedsville Eastern vs Orrville
Game 2 – 11:45 am
Sylvania Northview vs Shaker Heights Hathaway Brown
Game 3 – 1:30 pm
Columbus Africentric vs Millersburg West Holmes
Game 4 – 3:15 pm
Memphis Central, TN vs Cincinnati Princeton
Game 5 – 5:00 pm
Gahanna Lincoln vs Canton McKinley
Game 6 – 6:45 pm
Regis Jesuit, CO vs Kettering Fairmont
Game 7 – 8:30 pm
Damascus, MD vs Berlin Hiland
