High school holiday basketball tournaments are simply great fun. You get to watch talented amateurs play ball without the pomp and glitz of the NBA experience (and at a fraction of the price). No, there aren’t marquee names to watch. Spectators show up for, as they say, the love of the game. The Tampa Hoops Classic will feature nationally-ranked teams from NYC, Chicago, D.C. and Cincinnati, Florida clubs from North Port, Ft. Lauderdale, Bartow, Palm Beach Gardens, Orlando and Winter Springs. Local teams include Sickles, Clearwater, Berkeley Prep and King. The weekend rounds take place at Plant and Jefferson High Schools in Tampa. On Monday, the action moves to the USF Sun Dome. Dec. 26-30, 2-11 p.m. Fri.-Sat., at Plant and Jefferson High Schools, 2415 S. Himes Ave., and 4401 W. Cypress St., Tampa, and 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Mon., 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Tues., at USF Sun Dome, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, $8 adults/$4 students.
This article appears in Dec 24-30, 2008.