LIHU‘E — The 2012 Merv Lopes Kaua‘i Hoops Classic basketball tournament opens Thursday with pool play at the Island School Wilcox Gym and the Kaua‘i High School gym and continues through Sunday. Admission to the tournament is free and a concession
LIHU‘E — The 2012 Merv Lopes Kaua‘i Hoops Classic basketball tournament opens Thursday with pool play at the Island School Wilcox Gym and the Kaua‘i High School gym and continues through Sunday.
Admission to the tournament is free and a concession stand will be available at both locations, said Clarence Sales, coach of the Team Central basketball program, host of this year’s tournament.
“We are pleased to announce Team Central Basketball as host of the 2012 Merv Lopes Kaua‘i Hoops Classic,” Sales said in an email. “With the help of Michelle Lemi and her officials table crew and Peter Rayno, the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation head basketball official, we are excited to announce this year’s tournament will feature 26 teams participating in four separate division.”
D1 Boys will consist of players in the 10th through 12th grades; D2 Boys will include players in the 8th and 9th grades.
Joining the boys, girls will be playing in the D1 Girls division consisting of players in the 10th through 12th grades and the D2 Girls division which will include players in the 8th and 9th grades.
Sales said a total of 57 games will be played over the span of four days at both the Island School Wilcox Gym and the Kaua‘i High School gym.
Joining Kaua‘i basketball teams in the tournament, Outer Island teams participating include the ‘Aiea Blazers, CitySide, &Dream Hoops Elite from O‘ahu. The Upcountry Kings, reigning champions from the 2011 D2 division, Imua, Maui Elite and Maui Mayhem are winging to Kaua‘i from Maui to join the tournament.
The first games open Thursday from 2 p.m. at the Island School Wilcox Gym when the D2 Girls Westside Bajingas go up against Kaulupono. Games continue through the afternoon with the final Thursday game starting at 8 p.m. featuring the D1 Boys Imua taking on the Goblins.
Games at Kaua‘i High School start at 3 p.m., Thursday when the D1 Girls Kaua‘i Ballers go up against the Maui Elite. The last game starts at 8 p.m. and features the D1 Boys host Team Central going up against the ‘Aiea Blazers.
Visit www.tcb808.com for a complete tournament schedule, division breakdowns and more information.