Christmas Shootout Tips Off Tonight At LaGrange High School

Christmas Shootout Tips Off Tonight At LaGrange High School

A sea of youthful round ball fanatics are set to converge on the LaGrange High School gymnasium.

The Christmas Shootout will get underway tonight at LHS. The holiday extravaganza is a four-day basketball tournament for elementary school teams and middle school squads. The tournament is in its third year with boys and girls divisions.

Tonight the tournament will tip off with three elementary school games, slated for 5:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Otis Gilbert, the director of the tournament, will greet the players at the front door.

“We’re going to have some real good teams. We like putting a good product together. We’ve had some overtime games (in the past),” said Gilbert. “We like seeing teams compete at a high level.”

And there will be wall-to- wall teams in the gym. Gilbert has put together a 21-team field, between the elementary school division and the middle school category.

“This is about competition. We’re going to have some great games. We have grown. We had to turn away some teams (this year),” said Gilbert.

The Christmas Shootout is becoming popular. This year’s tournament dance card will include teams from Alabama and Georgia, including Gardner Newman, Callaway Middle School, Lanett Junior High, Valley, Ala., Handley Middle School from Roanoke, Ala. and South Girard School from Phenix City, Ala.

Greenville Middle School will also play in the basketball tournament. Tickets will be sold at the door for $7. Children five and under will get in for free.

Zaxby’s will be in charge of the concessions. The menu will include chicken fingers, chicken wings, chicken sandwiches and soft drinks. The championship round of the tournament will begin on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. For additional information on the tournament, call Otis Gilbert at 706-594-0930.

The author of this article can be reached via email at info@troupcountynews.net.