It’s that time of year when one of the most anticipated sporting events in Chatham County gets under way: the annual Chatham County Middle School Basketball Tournament.
Year in and year out the tournament showcases the top talent in the county and this year should be no exception. The stars of tomorrow in the high school ranks will be on display for area sports fans and the attendees rarely leave disappointed.
More often than not the giant middle school of the county in Pollard enters both the boys and girls events as the prohibitive favorites. The Pollard girls are unbeaten at 14-0 while the boys are 13-1, earning both squads the top seeds.
Action gets under way with the girls on Monday at the top seeds with tip-offs slated for 5 p.m. at each site.
In girls action, Pollard hosts No. 8 seed Bonlee (2-12) while on the same side of the bracket No. 4 seed Bennett will entertain No. 5 seed Silk Hope (5-9).
On the other side of the bracket No. 2 seed Moncure (11-3) welcomes No. 7 seed J.S. Waters (3-11) to the eastern side of the county while No. 3 seed Horton (10-4) hosts No. 6 seed Chatham Middle (4-10).
In the boys bracket at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, top seed No. 1 Pollard (13-1) will host No. 8 seed Bonlee (0-14) while on the same side of the bracket No. 4 Bennett (10-4) will host the No. 5 seed which will be determined from a trio of 4-10 teams in Chatham Middle, Moncure and Silk Hope.
On the other side of the bracket No. 2 seed Horton (11-3), battles the No. 7 seed out of Chatham Middle, Moncure and Silk Hope. Also on that side, No. 3 seed J.S. Waters (10-4) entertains either Chatham Middle, Moncure or Silk Hope.
On Wednesday at Pollard Middle School, it will be the girls semifinals as No. 1/No. 8 winner versus the No. 4/No. 5 survivor at 5 p.m. before the No. 2/No. 7 winner and the No. 3/No. 6 victor plays at 6:15.
On Thursday at Pollard Middle School it will be the boys semifinals as No. 1/No. 8 winner versus the No. 4/No. 5 survivor at 5 p.m. before the No. 2/No. 7 winner and the No. 3/No. 6 victor plays at 6:15.
The championships will be held back at Pollard Middle School on Monday, Feb. 17, with the girls squaring off at 5 p.m. and the boys following at 6:15 p.m.
So as area fans take in the action, it’s always one of the most anticipated events in the county year in and year out. And the games are action-packed in front of large crowds.
The cost of admission for the first round of the tournament will be $3 for adults and school-aged children. The cost for the semi-final and championship rounds will be $5 for adults and school-aged children, while fans 4 and under will be admitted free in all of the rounds.
Organizers will accept Chatham County Schools employee identification badges and Chatham County Schools Senior Citizen passes for admission into the tournament as well.
