November 19, 2007

DECEMBER TOURNAMENT OFFERS MARCH PREVIEW

Lady Gators Hosting Wendy's/IGA Holiday Showcase

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Basketball fans won’t have to wait until March to see which teams are setting the pace for the state’s high school basketball championship. The Greenwood Lady Gators will be hosting the first Wendy's/ IGA Holiday Showcase tournament December 26-29 at Greenwood High School.

The tournament will feature some of the top players and highly ranked girls’ teams in Kentucky. The twelve teams invited are Hart Co., Adair Co., Pulaski Co., Fern Creek, Rockcastle Co., Muhlenberg North, Mercer Co., Atherton and Cumberland Co. plus local favorites Franklin-Simpson, Greenwood and Warren East.

“We wanted to bring a quality tournament to the Bowling Green community,” tournament manager and Greenwood Athletic Director Todd Tolbert said. “There are a lot of schools across the state that really enjoy playing here, and this tournament, along with the Lady of the South tournament in Scottsville, are great ways to get parents, players and coaches familiar with the area,” he said.

There are potentially five or six teams playing in the Holiday Showcase that could be making an appearance at the Houchens/KHSAA Sweet Sixteen in the spring, according to Tolbert. He also noted that several of these teams’ outstanding players are all-State candidates likely to play some level of college basketball, and that could mean college coaches in the stands.

That could also mean some potential scholarship opportunities for players like Hart County’s Megan Isaacs, already noted as one of the most versatile players in the state, and Warren East’s Ashley Rainey, ranked number one in this region.

With the tournament falling over winter break, these ladies won’t get too relaxed before regular season play picks back up in January. Another benefit of the timing is the tournament’s economic boost to the area, according to Bowling Green Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Sports Director Amy Cardwell. “In between games, these visitors will be checking out our after-Christmas sales and continuing their celebration of the season,” Cardwell said.

But simply attending an out-of-town tournament is expensive, so the Greenwood High School All Booster Club is providing a $400 allowance to each participating team to be spent on travel or lodging expenses. This is possible due to the title sponsorship of Crossroads/ IGA and Wendy’s, and several other local businesses stepping up as meal sponsors. If interested in other sponsorship opportunities, please contact Todd Tolbert at 842-3627 ext.1855 or 792-4933, or by email at todd.tolbert@warren.kyschools.us.

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