By By KEVIN TRAVIS
Sports Editor
YEATESVILLE — Keith Boyd has been working overtime to make sure the 30th annual Washington Daily News/PCS Phosphate Holiday Tournament is a successful one.
The Northside High School athletic director and the WDN have put together what just may be the most exciting tournament to date. Along with the 12 tournament games, two showcase games featuring three impressive squads will be a part of the event.
PCS Phosphate’s generous donations are helping to fund the tournament.
It all gets started Friday, Dec. 18, with the first of two showcase games. The tournament kicks into high gear Saturday, Dec. 19.
Four tournament games will be held that day, followed by the second showcase game.
The tournament resumes Monday, Dec. 21, and wraps up Tuesday, Dec. 22.
All of the games will be held at Northside.
“I think it will be a very competitive tournament,” Boyd said. “Fans will certainly get their money’s worth.”
After Northside’s conference game against Perquimans on Dec. 18, the first showcase game will be held at approximately 9 p.m. The Miller School (Va.) Mavericks will square off against the Stevens Prep Academy Golden Griffins, featuring two teams with Division I college signees and/or prospects.
Miller is led by hometown star Mychal Parker, who has signed to play at the University of Maryland.
Meanwhile, Miller teammate Hippolyte Tsafack, a center, has signed to play at Memphis. Also, Maverick power forward Brice Kofane is looking at, according to Scout.com, Connecticut, Boston College, Columbia, Fairfield, Harvard, LaSalle and Massachusetts.
The Mavericks will battle the South Central Falcons in the second showcase game on Saturday night. South Central, which plays in the Coastal Conference, is led by coaching great Chris Cherry.
Cherry, who guided the Plymouth Vikings to several successful seasons, is in his first year with the currently undefeated Falcons. James Carlton, a power forward/center, has committed to the College of Charleston.
Shooting guard Donta Harper is looking to play at, according to Scout.com, East Carolina, Western Carolina, Georgia, Virginia Commonwealth, Richmond, UNC-Wilmington and Florida Atlantic.
“I think the showcase games will be great,” Boyd said. “You’re going to see maybe some more talent, maybe a few dunks and teams playing at maybe a higher level.
“The showcase games are good for the area. I lot of times kids in this area talk about playing at the next level. They’re going to get a chance to see what some other schools have to offer, and what it takes to play at the next level. You’ll see some Division I talent out there, and this will show the kids what it takes to accomplish their hopes and dreams.”
All three Beaufort County schools, Northside, Southside and Washington, are competing in the tournament. Those schools will be joined by Terra Ceia, Mattamuskeet, Creswell, Pamlico and East Carteret.
“I think it’s a well-matched tournament,” Boyd said. “I feel like all eight of the teams have the same chance to bring home the trophy. It’s probably one of the most evenly matched tournaments we’ve had.”
The Mattamuskeet Lakers and Terra Ceia Knights tip off the tournament on Dec. 19 with a 1 p.m. game. The Pamlico Hurricanes face the Creswell Tigers at 2:30 p.m. That will be followed by the Washington Pam Pack taking on the Southside Seahawks at 4 p.m. The Northside Panthers will then battle the East Carteret Mariners at 5:30 p.m. The fifth game of the day will have Miller taking on South Central.
Look for more information on the games in the upcoming issues of the WDN.
30th Annual Washington Daily News/PCS Phosphate Tournament
Northside High School
Friday, Dec. 18
Showcase Game
9 p.m. – Miller School (Va.) vs. Stevens Prep Academy
Saturday, Dec. 19
1 p.m. – Mattamuskeet vs. Terra Ceia
2:30 p.m. – Pamlico vs. Creswell
4 p.m. – Southside vs. Washington
5:30 p.m. – Northside vs. East Carteret
Showcase Game
7 p.m. – Miller School (Va.) vs. South Central
Monday, Dec. 21
3 p.m. – TBA
4:30 p.m. – TBA
6 p.m. – TBA
7:30 p.m. – TBA
Tuesday, Dec. 22
3 p.m. – TBA
4:30 p.m. – TBA
6 p.m. – TBA
7:30 p.m. – TBA
Showcase Teams
Miller School (Va.) Mavericks – coach Scott Willard
Stevens Prep Academy Golden Griffins – coach Darryl Harris
South Central Falcons – coach Chris Cherry
Tournament Teams
Northside Panthers – coach Mike Proctor, Class 1-A Four Rivers Conference
Southside Seahawks – coach Dwayne White, Class 1-A Four Rivers Conference
Washington Pam Pack – coach Joe Lawrence, Class 3-A Coastal Conference
Terra Ceia Knights – coach Roger Klaassen, NCISAA Class 1-A Tarheel Independent Conference
Mattamuskeet Lakers – coach Melvin Blount, Class 1-A Tideland Conference
Creswell Tigers – coach Wayne Rodgers, Class 1-A Tideland Conference
Pamlico Hurricanes – coach Earl Sadler Jr., Class 1-A Coastal Plains Conference
East Carteret Mariners – coach Billy Anderson, Class 1-A Coastal Plains Conference