BRIDGES In
the News
Bridges concept adopted for boys, girls basketball
tourney at Northside
By Jason Smith
Originally appeared in the October 5, 2004 edition of the
Commercial Appeal
Donald Holmes says it's so big, even he can't come up with a
fitting name for it yet.
But the Northside girls basketball coach knows when, he knows
where and he's just about got it figured out who will play in
a Hall of Champions basketball quadruple-header in November
that Holmes is modeling after the Bridges Kickoff Classic.
"I've been working on this for the last month," Holmes said
Tuesday. "They do the Bridges Classic in football, and I just
thought somebody needed to do something like that in
basketball."
So on Nov. 20, Holmes's Northside gym will play host to four
games involving four boys and four girls teams beginning at 3
p.m.
Already committed to the event are defending Division 2 girls
state champion Briarcrest, ranked No. 16 nationally by Street
and Smith's, Class AAA girls state runnerup Craigmont as well
as the Northside and Washington girls teams.
Holmes said Mitchell's boys team, with star junior forward
Thaddeus Young, and the East boys have also committed to take
part in the event.
"Once I get with all the coaches, we'll come up with a name.
Don't worry about that," Holmes said.
"I'm just really excited about it. Everybody's calling me
about it already. I've got teams all over that want to be in
it."
Holmes said he's contacted fellow head coaches Terry Tippett
(Evangelical Christian School), Bubba Luckett (Christian
Brothers) and Jerry Peters (Memphis University School) to fill
out the remaining two boys slots.
"I'd like to keep it private schools vs. public schools like
the Bridges if we can," Holmes said. "But I'm waiting to hear
back from those coaches."
Holmes said the girls matchups are set. Craigmont will play
Washington to tip things off at 3 p.m. while Northside, led by
senior center Birdie Campbell and junior guard/forward Candace
Rucker, will hook up with Briarcrest later on in the evening.
Hall of Champions games are generally considered exhibitions,
though the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association
does allow teams to count them on their records should they
choose to.
Contact reporter Jason Smith at 529-5804
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Memphis, TN. All Rights Reserved.
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