Brainerd's Jakira Walker, left, is pressured by GPS's Brianna Farris (24) in the first round of the Best of Preps basketball tournament at Chattanooga State Thursday.With a new location and several new teams competing, the annual Times Free Press basketball tournament tips off on Dec. 27. It has become one of the top holiday tournaments in the state because of the eight boys and eight girls teams competing in the all-day format, and begins each day at 10 a.m. and continuing until the nightcap of each round, slated to begin at 8:30 all three days.
The tournament, which had been held at Arts & Sciences for several years, has been moved to Chattanooga State to accommodate larger crowds.
Among the boys' teams featured in this year's tournament are annual competitors Baylor, McCallie, Ooltewah, Notre Dame and Red Bank, as well as newcomers Boyd-Buchanan, North Jackson (Ala.) and the Chattanooga Patriots.
The girls' teams include perennial powers and veteran Best of Preps competitors Cleveland and GPS, as well as Baylor and Chattanooga Christian and newcomers Brainerd, East Hamilton, Arts & Sciences and Silverdale Baptist.
Admission for each day is $8.
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293.
Best of Preps tournament
At Chattanooga State
Complete schedule online at www.timesfreepress.com.
Thursday, Dec. 27
Girls
-- Chattanooga Christian vs. Arts & Sciences, 10 a.m.
-- East Hamilton vs. Baylor, 11:30 a.m.
-- Cleveland vs. Silverdale Baptist, 1 p.m.
-- GPS vs. Brainer, 2:30 p.m.
Boys
-- Red Bank vs. Notre Dame, 4 p.m.
-- Baylor vs. Chattanooga Patriots, 5:30 p.m.
-- McCallie vs. Boyd-Buchanan, 7 p.m.
-- Ooltewah vs. North Jackson, 8:30 p.m.