BOWMAN COLUMN: Basketball tourneys heat up
It's a week for some serious basketball action.
The Lowcountry hosts three major tournaments this week, including the long-running Piggly Wiggly Roundball Classic and the Modie Risher Classic. Throw in a new girls event, the Bojangles Carolina Invitational, and you have one week of great competition -- and teams.
Wando is seeking its second straight Roundball Classic title. The tournament runs Tuesday through Friday at North Charleston High School. There are nine in-state teams in the field: Wando, Porter-Gaud, Pinewood Prep, James Island, Manning, Timberland, Ashley Ridge Goose Creek and North Charleston.
The out-of-state entries include three from Georgia: Berkmar, Effingham County and Northview. Maryland has two entries: John Carroll and the Bullis School. New Jersey power Don Bosco Prep is back in the field. Gonzaga, of Washington, D.C., a consensus national top 25 team, is the highest-profile team in the Roundball Classic.
Pinewood Prep coach Pat Eidson is expected to gain his 700th career victory in the tournament. Eidson has 699 wins and will join only three other coaches in state history with 700 victories.
The Modie Risher Classic runs Tuesday-Friday at Burke High School. Burke is the defending champion and heads the eight-team field. The others are Carmel (N.Y.), Orangeburg-Wilkinson, Beaufort, Ridgeland, Greg Mathis, Garrett Tech and Baptist Hill.
The Bojangles Carolina Invitational, organized by Event Management Associates and the United States Basketball Association (USBA), will be held Tuesday-Friday at Bishop England. The tournament has two eight-team divisions and will crown two champs.
The Carolina Division includes Goose Creek, Northwood Academy, Pinewood, Wando, and North Carolina entries Concord, Hoggard, Northeastern and South Lake.
The Palmetto Division includes Bishop England, Berkeley, Stratford, Hebron (Ga.), Crest (N.C.), North Myrtle Beach, Richland Northeast and Cross.
Davis is All-American
Sports Illustrated's writers and editors named their High School Football All-America teams, and 21 states are represented on the first and second teams, as well 50 different programs. Leading the way with the most recipients were Texas with six and Ohio with five.
Gaffney receiver Quinshad Davis is the only player from South Carolina on the first team. He had 2,009 receiving yards and 25 touchdowns.
Lexington wide receiver Shaq Roland T.L. Hanna tight end Justin Meredith were honorable mentions.
Attention coaches
The Post and Courier will run basketball statistics on Friday's Prep Zone page beginning with the Jan. 6 edition. The statistics will include scoring, rebounding, assists and steals. The deadline will be on Wednesday. Call 937-5592 or email stats to pbowman@postandcourier.com.
Follow Phil Bowman on Twitter at @pandcphil
