While the holiday season is largely for sharing time with family and friends, it is also a good time to feast on a vast array of high school hoops action.
One of the biggest events of the season takes place in Nicholas County where the Summersville Area Chamber of Commerce hosts the Winter Classic featuring 40 games over five days, Dec. 26 – Dec. 31.
The event tips off Thursday with a full day of middle school action followed by four days of high school battles. No games are scheduled for Sunday.
Friday’s action will feature the Greenbrier West girls playing Wahama at 9:30 a.m. and the ladies from River View battling Tygarts Valley at 2 p.m. Independence and James Monroe girls clash at 5 p.m. with the ladies from Nicholas County hosting Grafton in the final game of the evening starting at 8 p.m.
The Independence and River View girls are back on the floor Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m., while two-time defending Class AA state champion, Wyoming East, plays AAA Winfield at 12:30 p.m.
James Monroe battles the Class AAAA Parkersburg South girls at 2 p.m. followed by games featuring the Richwood boys, Oak Hill girls and Nicholas County boys in the nightcap.
Monday morning at 9:30 a.m., River View and Greenbrier West meet for the first time since the epic girls regional co-final game last year. The two teams combined for over 180 points on that historic night.
Montcalm, Richwood, Midland Trail, Summit Christian Academy and Nicholas County boys will all see action on the final day of the tournament, New Year’s Eve, along with the Oak Hill, Montcalm and Nicholas County girls.
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The Greenbrier East girls are off to a fast start going undefeated over its first seven games and are currently ranked No. 2 in the latest Class AAA Girls Basketball Coaches Poll.
The wins include victories over defending Class AAA state champion Nitro, Class A No. 6 St. Joseph Central, Class AAA No. 8 Chapmanville, Class AAAA No. 9 Woodrow Wilson, and a season sweep of regional foe PikeView.
Friday evening, the Lady Spartans will look to build on that streak when it hosts the Spartan Christmas Showcase.
Class AA No. Mingo Central will play Jefferson Christian in the opener at 5 p.m. inside Spartan Gym with Greenbrier East playing Ripley in the nightcap scheduled for 7 p.m.
The consolation game will be played Saturday at 5 p.m., with the championship game between the two winners set for 7 p.m.
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Summit Christian Academy will host the SCA Shootout starting Friday at 9 a.m. and wrapping up Saturday.
The event will feature nine games each day with a mixture of boys middle school and high school action.
Middle School games will comprise the first seven games of the day with a pair of high school games to top off the evening.
Friday’s high school games include Giles County, Va. versus Riverside and Summit Christian hosting PikeView. Saturday night Summit Christian will battle Riverside and PikeView will tangle wit Giles County.
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The new year will start off with a bang inside the famous Willie Akers Arena with the 2025 Wildcat Classic featuring some of the top girls programs in the state.
Along with the AA No. 5 Lady Wildcats who are out to a 5-1 start this season, the showcase will feature two-time Class AA defending state champion, No. 3 Wyoming East, and AA runner-up from a year ago, No. 2 Williamstown.
St. Joseph Central will play PikeView in the opener on Friday, Jan. 3, followed by Shady Spring and Robert C. Byrd. The host team will clash with Williamstown in the night cap.
Logan Middle and Greater Beckley Christian Middle will open day two at 11 a.m., followed by PikeView and Robert C. Byrd.
AAA No. 5 East Fairmont and AAAA No. 6 St. Albans play at 2:15 p.m. ahead of the AA championship rematch between the Warriors and the Yellowjackets.
Johnson Central clashes with AAAA No. 7 George Washington, with Logan and AA No. 6 Charleston Catholic wrapping up the two-day event.
