ACHS hosting Christmas tournament
There are sparse pickings this week as the holidays creep closer.
Clinton has no games scheduled this week as the teams rest before their trip to Washington, D.C., after Christmas. Anderson County, meanwhile, hosts its annual Christmas tournament.
This will be Anderson County’s seventh year hosting the Christmas Tournament, started by Maverick Head Coach Derek Wallace to give the team a chance to play at home before the much larger, and much more competitive tournament at Maryville after Christmas.
“We just do it every year,” said Wallace. “It’s just to get some local teams here to be able to play at home a bit before we head over to Maryville.
Some of the best teams in the state play in that tournament. We just do it to stay home a bit and get a few games in before the break.”
The tournament is played like a normal bracket, and Wallace says he tries to get teams from outside the division to come and play, usually allowing only a single school from Anderson County’s division.
This year that honor went to Campbell County, who the Mavericks recently beat after a slugfest of a game that ended 55-47.
“I have something like five former assistants that are head coaches now,” said Wallace. “I try to bring them here. This year we’ve got William Blount.”
William Blount will be a strong challenger for the Mavericks this season after beating both Clinton and Farragut.
Other schools included in this year’s tournament will be Gibbs, Oliver Springs, First Baptist Academy, Maryville Christian, and Apostolic Christian.
Apostolic Christian is where the son of Steve Hamer, former UT Vols basketball player, currently attends.
The Christmas Tournament will start at 10 a.m. Dec. 19 and run through Dec. 21..