Holiday hoop feast coming to The Kennel

Published 7:59 pm Thursday, December 22, 2011

King’s Fork guard C.J. Hailes leads a break to the basket during KF’s game against Nansemond River earlier this season. The Bulldogs (4-3) are hosting the King’s Fork Christmas Tournament with a quadruple-header of basketball in The Kennel for three straight days, Tuesday through Thursday. King’s Fork meets Churchland in a first-round game Tuesday at 8 p.m.

Suffolk basketball fans will be able to take in three straight quadruple-headers next week as King’s Fork’s Kennel hosts the inaugural King’s Fork Christmas Tournament Tuesday-Thursday.

The eight-school field features six teams with winning overall records and six squads with winning marks in their respective districts, including the Bulldogs (4-3, 4-2).

The tourney has two schools from each region in the Eastern Region, and that’s by design, said King’s Fork head coach Joshua Worrell. The strength of the field, the way the bracket is set and playing three games in three days all add up to an event that’ll get teams ready for postseason play and the Eastern Region Tournament.

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“Hopefully we’ll see what kind of shape we’re in,” Worrell said. “At this point in the season we should be in shape to play good competition three straight days. This will be more like regional competition so if we get there, we won’t be surprised with the turnaround or the level of competition.”

Granby, at 7-1 overall and 4-1 in district, and Churchland, at 5-3 overall and coming in off a win over previously-undefeated Norview, are the Eastern District representatives. Granby’s fine record includes a 63-57 win over defending state champion Norcom last week.

The Bulldogs and Churchland will clash in the final first round game Tuesday at 8 p.m. Tuesday’s quadruple-header starts with Salem against Menchville at 2 p.m. Oscar Smith plays Granby at 4 p.m. followed by Tallwood versus Woodside at 6 p.m.

Oscar Smith is off to a 4-2 start in the Southeastern District. Menchville and Woodside both have 4-3 marks in the Peninsula District.

“All of the teams we’ll have here have a good opportunity to compete at the next stage at the end of the season,” Worrell said. “It will be good for our kids to see that now.”

King’s Fork has won three straight games, district contests against Western Branch, Oscar Smith and Indian River, during the last two weeks.

Tickets are $10 per day of the tournament, good for all four games, with $8 tickets for kids 10 and under.

King’s Fork Christmas Tournament

Tuesday, Dec. 27

Salem vs. Menchville – 2 p.m.

Oscar Smith vs. Granby – 4 p.m.

Tallwood vs. Woodside – 6 p.m.

Churchland at King’s Fork – 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 28

Consolation round games – 2, 4 p.m.

Semifinal games – 6, 8 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 29

Seventh-place game – 2 p.m.

Fifth-place game – 4 p.m.

Third-place game – 6 p.m.

Championship game – 8 p.m.