Holiday Break Offers More Than A Trip to the Movies
By Ken McKenzie
For some people, making annual Holiday memories includes a trip to the theatre to see one of those special Christmas release movies. For others, the Holidays offer some non-conference, tournament atmosphere sporting events, some cleverly arranged to match talented teams for the devoted sports fan’s entertainment.
That explains in part the historical success of the Sentry Classic which offers its 43rd annual rendition this coming Saturday, Sunday and Monday; giving plenty of options in lieu of returning and exchanging wrong size clothing items at your favorite department store. Among the attendees at this year’s edition taking place on the UWSP campus in the Quandt Fieldhouse at Bennett Court will be area teams including SPASH (boys and girls), Pacelli (boys and girls), Amherst (boys and girls), Wisconsin Rapids boys team and Mosinee girls team.
With all proceeds of this great seasonal event held right here in town going to the Community Parks Improvement Committee, what better place and time to devote a few select hours to see some high school basketball? And for those with a longer memory than I, the Sentry Classic of years’ gone by just reeks of making memories for past players and fans alike.
Fans may remember single game fetes such as Wisconsin Rapids Assumption rolling up 102 points in their win over Milwaukee Messmer in 1979 or Iola-Scandinavia’s Mike Griffin lighting up the Quandt’s rims for 54 points in 2007. How about Mickey Crowe of JFK Prep hitting 18 field goals in a single game in 1974 or Gabe Stevens of SPASH going 11 of 11 from the charity stripe in a single game in 1992? Shelly Stroik of Pacelli had 29 points in a single game in 1990 with Paige Selbo of Amherst hitting 13 times from the charity stripe in 2006. Mark Molski of Pacelli hit 13 of 14 shots in 1984 and SPASH’s own Janel McCarville knocked down 9 of 10 shots in 2000. This leaves the question: who will make special memories at this year’s event?
Saturday, December 27, 2014
11:00 a.m. Game 1 Green Bay Southwest vs. Hortonville (Girl’s National)
12:45 p.m. Game 2 Amherst vs. Green Bay NEW Lutheran (Girl’s American)
2:30 p.m. Game 3 Amherst vs. Elk Mound (Boy’s American)
4:15 p.m. Game 4 Pacelli vs. Mosinee (Girl’s American)
6:00 p.m. Game 5 SPASH vs. DePere (Girl’s National)
7:45 p.m. Game 6 Pacelli vs. Green Bay NEW Lutheran (Boy’s American)
Sunday, December 28, 2014
12:00 p.m. Game 7 Wisconsin Rapids vs. Fond du Lac (Boy’s National)
1:45 p.m. Game 8 DePere vs. Hortonville (Girl’s National)
3:30 p.m. Game 9 Amherst vs. Green Bay NEW Lutheran (Boy’s American)
5:15 p.m. Game 10 SPASH vs. Green Bay Southwest (Girl’s National)
7:00 p.m. Game 11 SPASH vs. Sussex Hamilton (Boy’s National)
Monday, December 29, 2014
12:00 p.m. Game 12 Pacelli vs. Green Bay NEW Lutheran (Girl’s American)
1:45 p.m. Game 13 Wisconsin Rapids vs. Sussex Hamilton (Boy’s National)
3:30 p.m. Game 14 Amherst vs. Mosinee (Girl’s American)
5:15 p.m. Game 15 Pacelli vs. Elk Mound (Boy’s American)
7:00 p.m. Game 16 SPASH vs. Fond du Lac (Boy’s National )
The SPASH boys will battle Sussex Hamilton in Sunday’s last game and Fond du Lac in the tourney’s final game Monday night. Sussex Hamilton earned their way into top ten rankings before dropping twin games in the Greater Metro Conference last week.
For those who still haven’t had enough holiday basketball before the new year, take heart as there’s the SPASH boys team appearance at the highly regarded Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook (WBY) Shootout being held at Concordia University in Mequon, just north of Milwaukee. The Panthers appearance will beWednesday, (Dec. 31) at 1:30 p.m. on the third and final day of this 24-game event featuring some of the best teams in the various Divisions from around the state.
For SPASH, it will be a test of mettle against an often seen rival at tournament time, Oshkosh North of the Fox Valley Association. The Spartans now feature the summer transfer of sophomore Philip Flory, formerly of Wisconsin Rapids, who averages just over 16 points per game to lead the Spartans who are are 4-2 thus far this season after dropping a 40-39 decision at Kimberly and suffering a ten point loss to conference foe, #5 ranked Neenah last week. In their wins, Oshkosh North has absolutely annihilated their opponents in their four wins with winning margins averaging over 47 points.
We’ll hope to see you court side in support of your favorite local team!
