Today opens the annual Monticello Holiday Hoopla basketball tournament at Monticello High School.
The annual tournament that welcomes eight teams in a boy's and girl's round-robin pool is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Monticello Athletic Boosters. President of the Booster Club Angie Bundy says they start in September engaging other programs in the school along with the community.
The Monticello Athletics Booster Club supports programs within the high school. Bundy indicates they've helped with everything from apparel for programs to maps for wrestling and rarely are they not in a position to help a program with a request.
This year's hoopla will allow Monticello to showcase the new Sievers Center to a large audience for perhaps the first time. Monticello boy's basketball coach Kevin Roy is excited about the prospect of getting a feel for all the excitement in the new facility.
The Clinton boy's and girls' basketball squads will participate in the hoopla again this year. The Maroons are pooled with Neoga, GMCS, and Monticello for both the boys and girls. The other girl's pool consists of Ridgeview, PBL, Stark County, and Tuscola. The other boy's pool features Ridgeview, PBL, Oakwood, and Tuscola.
The Sages begin their slate with an 11:30 start time Monday on the boy's side taking on Neoga and then play again Monday at 7:30 pm taking on Clinton. They'll resume play Tuesday at 3:30 pm playing GMCS and based on how they finish in pool play, will play Wednesday.
On the girl's side, the Lady Sages open pool play at 10 am against Neoga, then play the Lady Maroons of Clinton at 6 pm. They'll be back in action Tuesday at 2 pm against GCMS and like the boys, based on how they finish will play Wednesday in a placement game.
The Maroons boy's team opens play on Monday at 10 am taking on GCMS then as mentioned at 7:30 pm taking on Monticello. They'll be back in action Tuesday playing Neoga at 2 pm and finishing the tournament Wednesday with a start time to be determined based on their finish in pool play.
Hear the Sages boy's basketball team throughout the Hoopla on 95.9 FM WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com.
On Monday evening, hear a special simulcast broadcast of Monticello and Clinton girl's and boy's basketball starting at 6 pm on WEZC as well as on 92.3 FM/106.5 FM WHOW and at dewittdailynews.com, the WHOW mobile app, and at Amazon Alexa followed by a simulcast of the boy's basketball matchup between Clinton and Monticello.
