Posted Date: 12/20/2018
Frye Basketball Classic
Reaching Tip-off Status
It’s reaching that time of year. When Christmas dinner is done, presents are played out, and bowl games become boring; it’s time for some classic basketball action in abundance at the Mansfield High School gymnasium.
Starting on Thursday, December 27 the Bill Frye Classic, a high school basketball tournament sponsored by Today’s Bank of Mansfield, will tip-off at Mansfield High School. The 3 day, 20 games schedule will run through to the finals on Saturday, December 29.
The Frye tournament has been a holiday classic since legendary coach George W. Frye hung up his whistle with 400 basketball victories several seasons ago. The 38 year coaching veteran retired as Mansfield’s winningest basketball and baseball coach in 2015. Even before that retirement date, the large scale basketball tournament has honored Frye by carrying his name.
This 2018 basketball season, Today’s Bank of Mansfield has joined in the quest to provide a high quality experience to the teams and fans involved in the tournament. Their sponsorship allowed for upgrades in championship and runner-up plaques, all-tournament medals, and hospitality food for school and team officials.
To accommodate team travel, tournament directors Keith Dake and Josh Bryan arranged the bracket so that visiting men’s and women’s teams from the same school could travel together for at least the first round.
Booneville and Arkoma open play on December 27 with the 9:00 AM (for girls) and 10:30 AM (for boys) contests. Waldron and Hackett square off next with games 3 and 4 scheduled for noon and 1:30 PM. Vian verse Magazine set the stage for the early evening contests at 3:00 PM and 4:30 PM. Host Mansfield welcomes Mulberry/PV for the two night cap games starting at 6:00 PM and 7:30 PM.
Day 2 action resumes on Friday, December 28 with another 8 game slate also beginning at 9:00 AM.
The last day, Saturday, December 29 will begin with consolation games for third and fourth place at 10:00 AM. The championship rounds will begin at 1:00 PM for the women and conclude with the men’s finals at 3:30 PM.
David Scruggs, River Valley Market President for Today’s Bank, will be on hand for the finals to assist Coach Frye in the presentation of awards.