FLORENCE — Basketball coaches and players from high schools across the Pee Dee and beyond met at the Florence Boys and Girls Club to share some pizza and camaraderie on Wednesday.
They also wanted to know who they were playing in next month’s Pepsi Carolina Classic at West Florence High School.
The anticipation ended and surprises began as the brackets were announced, starting with the eight schools that will participate on the first day of the tournament.
“We have a committee of several guys to determine the brackets,” Carolina Classic director Rod Ruth said. “We decide what teams have players that are coming back.
“The teams that have the most and best players coming back get the byes.”
Dillon coach Harold Wilson was slightly flabbergasted at the announcement that his Wildcats will open against Region 8-2A rival Mullins.
“Mullins is a region rival, and I was kind of surprised with (the announcement),” he said. “I know Mullins lost a lot of players, but they’re still a pretty good team. It’s going to be a challenge.”
Tournament newcomer Lugoff-Elgin will play host West Florence in Game 2. Demons coach Calvin McRay participated in the Carolina Classic while coaching at Sumter, and is thankful for the opportunity to coach in the tournament again.
“We have a good group of guys that deserve to play here,” he said. “We’re happy to get the invitation.”
Wilson is back in the Classic after a six-year hiatus, and will meet Timmonsville in Game 3. First-year Tigers coach DeAndre Scott coached in the tournament while coaching Chester.
Hartsville meets defending BB&T Division champion Florence Christian in the final game of opening day.
“Last year’s pairings I was more pleased with. This year, (the selection committee) made it a little harder,” Florence Christian coach John Brown said. “Our final two games won’t be easy.”
South Florence, Hemingway, Lake City and defending Pepsi Division champ Marlboro County all earned first-day byes.
“I kind of wish we were playing (on the first day) because we draw the Hartsville/Florence Christian winner,” Lake City coach Willie Thomas said. “That’s gonna be a tough first round game for us, whoever it is.”
Bruins coach David Alexander serves on the selection committee, and thought the pairings were fine under the circumstances, even though his team will face a team it will eventually play twice during the season.
“We had a tough time getting brackets this year because teams lost so many players,” said Alexander, whose team faces the winner of Wilson/Timmonsville. “Kids graduated or went to prep schools, so we had no idea who to place in those brackets.”
TOURNAMENT BRACKET
Play-In Day
Dec. 28
Dillon vs. Marion, 2:15 p.m.
Lugoff-Elgin vs. West Florence, 4 p.m.
Wilson vs. Timmonsville, 5:45 p.m.
Hartsville vs. Florence Christian, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 29
Dillon/Marion loser vs. Lugoff-Elgin/West Florence loser, 11:15 a.m.
Wilson/Timmonsville loser vs. Hartsville/Florence Christian loser, 1 p.m.
South Florence vs. Wilson/Timmonsville winner, 2:45 p.m.
Hemingway vs. Dillon/Mullins winner, 4:30 p.m.
Lake City vs. Hartsville/Florence Christian winner, 6:15 p.m.
Marlboro County vs. Lugoff-Elgin/West Florence winner, 8 p.m.
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