CULLMAN —
With 2013 rapidly approaching, people are no doubt coming up with brand-new resolutions and goals heading into new year.
For Cullman boys’ basketball coach Bobby Meyer, however, his goal has already been accomplished.
The inaugural Cullman Yule Tide Classic is set to be held next Thursday through Saturday at Wallace State’s Tom Drake Coliseum.
Both Cullman varsity squads, as well as Holly Pond’s girls, will head the 16-team (eight boys, eight girls) field.
Meyer said the tournament has been a long-time coming.
“We’ve always wanted to host a tournament based in Cullman,” he said. “We were originally planning to have it on our campus, but after talking to Wallace State, we decided it would be best to do it there.”
Meyer said the venue change brings nothing but good things to the table.
“Tom Drake Coliseum is a great location and a great facility for this tournmant,” he added. “It’s a regional site for the state, so it’s well-known by most of the teams.”
Cullman heads up an eight-team boys’ field that consists of Athens, Walker, Gardendale, Tanner (No. 2 in Class 2A), Dallas County (No. 2 in 4A), Ravenwood HS, Tenn. and Newton HS, Ga.
On the girls’ side, Cullman and No. 6 Holly Pond (3A) will vie for the top-spot with Northridge, Athens, Gardendale, Hazel Green, Hartselle and Walker.
The Cullman High School Basketball Booster Club is responsible for the tournament coming to fruition, according to Meyer.
“They’ve done a good job,” he said. “We are hoping this becomes a top-notch tournament that can rival any in the state at this time of the year.”
The opening game of the tournament will be played at 9:30 am on Thursday.
There will also be a 3-point shooting contest to complement tournament play.
At least eight other local boys and girls basketball teams are scheduled to participate in Christmas tournaments.
West Point, Good Hope, Fairview and Cold Springs’ boys will be on hand for the West Point Classic Dec. 26-28; Good Hope and Fairview’s girls will play in the Hayden Christmas Tournament Dec. 27-29; Holly Pond’s boys are heading to Albertville for the WQSB Christmas Classic Dec. 27-29; and Cold Springs’ girls will be in Decatur for the River City Classic Dec. 27-29.
% The Times’ sports editor Rob Ketcham contributed to this report.
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