By By Rocky Higginbotham/The Meridian Star
JAN. 11, 2001
The field is half the size it was a dozen years ago, and the name has been changed.
But one mention of the Sam Dale basketball tournament brings back plenty of memories for area coaches.
The 2001 edition of the Sam Dale/Walter Ethridge Memorial Tournament tips off today at Northeast Lauderdale, one of three high school basketball tournaments in the area.
Lightsey's Trojans and Dan Stegall's Lady Trojans of Northeast are joined by cross-county rival Southeast Lauderdale, Kemper County and Enterprise. All four were members of the old Sam Dale Conference.
Miller's Lady Tigers, riding a seven-game winning streak, may be the girls' favorite in this year's tournament, along with host Northeast.
On the boys' side, the host Trojans playing in their newly-remodeled gym figure on getting a fight, as well.
The action starts at 4:30 today when Southeast meets Kemper County in a girls' game. The same two schools tangle at 5:45 in a boys' contest.
The 7 p.m. game pits the Northeast girls against Enterprise, while the Trojans and Bulldogs do battle at 8:15.
The starting times are the same all three days.
Friday, Southeast and Enterprise tangle in the early games, while Kemper County battles Northeast in the two late contests. Saturday, Kemper takes on Enterprise in the afternoon session and Northeast collides with Southeast in the 7 p.m. and 8:15 games.
Here's a brief look at the area's other two tournaments this week:
Newton County Tournament: This high-emotion tourney is being held at Union this year, and begins at 6:30 today when Newton County's girls battle Newton.
The Newton High boys meet the host Yellow Jackets in the nightcap at 8 p.m.
Friday, Newton and Union meet in the girls' game at 6:30 p.m., while the boys from Newton County and Newton play at 8 p.m. Saturday's girls' game at 6:30 pits Union against Newton County, and the boys' game at 8 p.m. has Newton County taking on Union, as well.
Scott County Tournament: There are still five teams remaining in the Scott County event, which is a single-elimination bracket being held at Scott Central this year.
There are two games today: At 6:30, the Morton girls take on Sebastopol; and at 8 p.m., Lake and Scott Central meet in a boys' game.
Friday, Lake's top-seeded girls get the Morton/Sebastopol winner at 4 p.m., while the Forest girls tangle with Scott Central at 7 p.m.
At 5:30 p.m., Friday, Morton's boys will meet Forest, while the top-seeded Sebastopol boys get the Lake/Scott Central winner at 8:30 p.m.
Saturday's finals are set for 6:30 and 8 p.m.
Rocky Higginbotham is the sports editor of The Meridian Star. E-mail him at rhigginbotham@themeridianstar.com.