PREP HOOPS: MA hosts tourney but sits out due to football
LAMP’s Conner Lough works against Stanhope Elmore’s DJ Jamerson in last year’s MA Tournament. The tournament returns on Monday and runs through Wednesday at the Joe Moody Gymnasium. (File Photo)
By TIM GAYLE
It’s a bit unusual to put together a season-opening tournament, only to discover you won’t get to participate.
That’s the dilemma facing the Montgomery Academy boys’ basketball team, which has all but three members of its varsity (as well as all but three of its junior varsity) team playing in a state playoff football game this Friday, ruining its opportunity to host the season opening Coach Larry Chapman Foundation Tip-Off Classic at Joe Mooty Court next week.
“It will be weird being here and kind of running everything and not having a team playing in it,” Montgomery Academy coach Jeremy Arant said. “At the same time, we’re fortunate to be playing football still, so we’re excited for that opportunity and the opportunity to host the tournament. Even if our boys’ team isn’t playing in it, our girls are still going to play.”
The MA girls will make their debut with a pair of AISA transfers, with 2020 Player of the Year Chloe Johnson moving from Lee-Scott Academy and taking over at point guard for the Eagles while longtime Fort Dale Academy coach Reg Mantooth will take over as head coach.
The Eagles started a season opening tournament (the MA Tip-Off Classic) a year ago while hosting the Chapman Foundation Tournament in December. This year, they decided to combine the two tournaments.
“When we brought coach Mantooth in as girls coach, the school he was previously at had gone to a tournament (Destin Holiday Classic) in Destin (Fla.) right after Christmas,” Arant said. “I was looking forward to doing that and so we said let’s reach out to Coach Chapman and see if they would be fine making our Tip-Off Classic the foundation tournament. We had eight teams last year and were looking to grow the Larry Chapman Foundation Tournament (to 16 teams) so they were all on board with it.”
Unfortunately for the Eagles, the Destin tournament was canceled by coronavirus.
“We’re trying to find some way to fill in some games at that time,” Arant said. “From the boys’ perspective, we’re losing six or possibly seven games.”
That’s on top of the three games he will lose next week.
“You get a tournament feel at the beginning of the season to get your guys excited about playing and playing for something,” Arant said. “We are going to miss out on that. That’s one of the things that draws you to a tournament.”
Many of the participants are the same from last season, with the addition of Pike Road boys and girls and Prattville Christian boys and girls. The Pike Road girls are coached by former MA coach Barry Fencher, who helped promote the tournament a year ago. PCA boys and girls coach Jason Roberson wanted to participate in a season opening tournament closer to home this year, but was placed in the opposite side of the bracket from area rival Montgomery Academy. Still, it won’t come as a big shock if those two stage the first of several classic battles this season in the girls’ championship game on Wednesday.
The eight boys’ and eight girls’ teams open play on Monday at Montgomery Academy. The finals are set for Wednesday, with the girls scheduled to tip off at 1:30 p.m. and the boys following at approximately 3 p.m.
2020 COACH LARRY CHAPMAN FOUNDATION TIP-OFF CLASSIC
BOYS
Monday’s schedule
Game 1 – Pike Road vs. Marbury, 2:30 p.m.
Game 2 – Sidney Lanier vs. Stanhope Elmore, 11:30 a.m.
Game 3 – LAMP vs. Prattville Christian, 11:30 a.m.
Game 4 – Loachapoka vs. Team TBA, 2:30 p.m.
Tuesday’s schedule
Game 5 – winner of Game 1 vs. winner of Game 3, 11:30 a.m.
Game 6 – loser of Game 1 vs. loser of Game 3, 11:30 a.m.
Game 7 – winner of Game 2 vs. winner of Game 4, 2:30 p.m.
Game 8 – loser of Game 2 vs. loser of Game 4, 2:30 p.m.
Wednesday’s schedule
Game 9 for seventh place – loser of Game 6 vs. loser of Game 8 – 10:30 a.m.
Game 10 for third place – lower of Game 5 vs. loser of Game 7 -- Noon
Game 11 for fifth place – winner of Game 6 vs. winner of Game 8 – 10:30 a.m.
Game 12 for championship – winner of Game 5 vs. winner of Game 7 – 3 p.m.
GIRLS
Monday’s schedule
Game 1 – Prattville Christian vs. Fairfield, 10 a.m.
Game 2 – Sidney Lanier vs. Stanhope Elmore, 10 a.m.
Game 3 – Pike Road vs. Marbury, 1 p.m.
Game 4 – Loachapoka vs. Montgomery Academy, 1 p.m.
Tuesday’s schedule
Game 5 – winner of Game 1 vs. winner of Game 3, 10 a.m.
Game 6 – loser of Game 1 vs. loser of Game 3, 10 a.m.
Game 7 – winner of Game 2 vs. winner of Game 4, 1 p.m.
Game 8 – loser of Game 2 vs. loser of Game 4, 1 p.m.
Wednesday’s schedule
Game 9 for seventh place – loser of Game 6 vs. loser of Game 8 – 9 a.m.
Game 10 for third place – lower of Game 5 vs. loser of Game 7 -- Noon
Game 11 for fifth place – winner of Game 6 vs. winner of Game 8 – 9 a.m.
Game 12 for championship – winner of Game 5 vs. winner of Game 7 – 1:30 p.m.