When Elkmont boys basketball coach Garth Garris posted information on the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s website looking for teams to participate in the Red Devils Thanksgiving Tournament, he didn’t anticipate one particular response.
Shortly after the post, Garris received a phone call from Joe Spencer, the head coach of University, a laboratory school on the LSU campus in Baton Rouge, enquiring about the holiday tournament.
On Sunday, the team made the roughly eight-hour trip to Athens and opened tournament play Monday against Pope John Paul II of Huntsville.
“I was looking for a tournament to play in and wanted something out of state,” Spencer said. “I got to searching on the Internet, ran across it and called coach. He’s helped us tremendously. We’ve had a great time so far. Everyone has been extremely nice.”
Because of the connection with the university, several of the Tigers’ football coaches have children who attend there, including head coach Les Miles’ son who is on the Cubs junior varsity team.
A year ago, University finished the season at 19-12 with an appearance in the state playoffs.
Cambell High School in Smyrna, Ga. also made the trip to Elkmont, along with Riverside Christian Academy out of Fayetteville, Tenn. Ardmore, Westminster Christian and Madison Academy are also participating.
“We want to make basketball important and give our fans exposure to teams they normally don’t get to see,” Garris said of the tournament.
Play begins at 9 a.m. today with Madison Academy taking on Westminster Christian, followed by University vs. Campbell at 10:30 a.m. Pope John Paul II will face Riverside at noon and Elkmont vs. Pope John Paul II at 4 p.m.
Admission is $5.
source: Athens News Courier
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