Annual tournament tips off Thursday

Local basketball fans will get an early Christmas present with this week’s Flaming Gorge Classic Basketball Tournament.

The 20th annual event will start Thursday afternoon and feature 90 games in three days of whirlwind action. The popular tournament will take place in six gymnasiums across Sweetwater County and will features teams from Wyoming, Utah, and Idaho.

Sweetwater County School District No. 2 Activities Director Tom Wilson said the tournament is a great event for the entire community, especially the number of people that will be in Green River.

“We play close to 100 basketball games, this year it’s 90 and in the past we’ve played as many as 108 in three days,” Wilson said. “When you think about the busloads of kids and parents it brings to the community, what a great showcase for our school and the community in general.”

This year’s tournament will feature several bigger high schools including Campbell County and Bonneville High School, a 5A School out of Idaho Falls, Idaho.

Wilson said it’s really nice to see some different competition and in Green River’s case, a chance to play some different teams.

This year’s tournament will include a girl’s matchup between perennial power Campbell County and Bonneville.

Wilson said those type of games are always fun to watch.

“It’s just a great opportunity to watch some great basketball and see some schools you wouldn’t normally see,” he said.

Varsity games are scheduled to take place at Green River High School, Lincoln Middle School, and Rock Springs High School.

Junior varsity games are scheduled to take place at the Green River High School auxiliary gym, Monroe Intermediate School and the Rock Springs High School auxiliary gymnasium.

The tournament will also feature a three-point shooting and slam dunk contest that is scheduled to take place Friday at 7:45 p.m. in Wolves Gymnasium.

Wilson said this event has really grown to be a highlight of the tournament.

“We pack the gym and we have a great time putting it together. The kids from out of town as well as our kids really enjoy it,” he said.