Maple City basketball fans are in for a real treat this winter.
The Honesdale Area Jaycees are deep into preparations for their 2009 Holiday Tournament, which is scheduled for December 28th and 30th.
This year’s edition of the annual scholastic hoops event will be the 50th in a series that dates all the way back to 1960.
“We’re all very excited about the tournament,” co-chairman Joe Murray told TWI Sports. “I am really proud to be associated with an event like this that’s been going on for 50 years.”
The Honesdale Area Jaycees held their annual tip-off dinner last week. Tick-Tock’s hosted the festivities, at which time the ‘09 brackets were unveiled.
“I think the level of competition will be pretty intense,” Joe said. “It should be a great lead-in to the league seasons.”
On the Hardwood
Honesdale, Wallenpaupack and Western Wayne all return on the boys’ side of the bracket.
In addition, defending champion Nazareth will be back to seek another tourney title. The Blue Eagles compete in the Lehigh Valley Interscholastic Athletic Conference, where they finished 13-10 last winter.
Under the direction of veteran Coach Joe Arandt, Nazareth hammered Honesdale in the semifinals (73-36), then downed Paupack (63-35) to capture the 2008 crown.
Honesdale battled its way to the girls championship in ‘08. Tournament MVP Marisa Gallik led the way as a fired-up Lady Hornet ballclub defeated Western Wayne (48-40) in the semis and Forest City (40-31) in the title tilt.
Coach Carl Urbas’ feisty Forester squad earned its berth in the final via a wild 52-50 upset of Class AAAA Paupack.
Coach Bob Donovan’s Lady Buckhorns bounced back to take third place with a 50-35 victory over Western Wayne in the consolation game.
This year’s tournament will tip-off at 4:15 p.m. in the high school. Boys games will follow in the Wayne Highlands Middle School gym, beginning at 5:00 p.m.
