BERLIN, Ohio—Moving into its second decade, the 11th annual Classic in the Country is on tap this weekend celebrating the legacies and contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coach Perry Reese Jr. Over three days (Saturday – Monday) 31 teams will take the floor competing in 20 games in front of full house crowds, a bevy of college recruiters from every level and a who’s who among scholastic evaluators and media. Basketball from the Buckeye State (with a little flavor from Colorado!) will be on display offering a reminder of why Ohio sees more recruiting traffic jams than a New Jersey bridge.
Since its inception in 2004, teams in national ranking conversations, subsequent McDonald’s All-Americans as well as 29 participants that went on to claim a state title in the same season have made the trip to Berlin. With over 200 games now in the books, the combined average final margin is a competitive 12.1 points per game with attendance through the years now topping the 225,000 mark.
Throughout the event participants, fans, recruiters and media enjoy pre-game audio clips of many of Dr. King’s memorable speeches while the host facility bears the name of Reese who redefined local barriers and mentalities as a successful African American, Catholic coach in a rural Amish and Mennonite community. For a quick synopsis of each of this year’s match ups, follow the link below to see a video featuring Tom Jenkins, director of Ohio Girls Basketball Report and tournament organizer.
http://holmescountyticket.com/classic-in-the-country-2013-videos/
Below is the game by game schedule for the 2014 Classic in the Country. Check back with Blue Star Media nightly for evaluations and photos of standout players and performances.
