7-29-2002
MOUNT VERNON -- Brewton-Parker College's new Student Activities Center
gymnasium is yet to see its first action, and already Athletic Director Steve
Barker has a loaded tournament schedule for the facility that includes two
postseason events this winter.
Brewton-Parker will play host to its first
Georgia-Alabama-Carolina Conference postseason tournament March 12-15, when the
conference's 10 men's teams will play for the league title and automatic berth
into the NAIA National Tournament in Kansas City, Mo.
"I think a lot of people are excited because it's the newest
facility in the league, and I think it will be one of the finest in the league
as well," said Barker, whose bid for the men's GACC tournament includes the
right to also serve as host for the 2003-04 men's tourney.
In addition, Brewton-Parker was recently awarded the Georgia Class AA
Region III high school boys' and girls' basketball tournaments on Feb.11 and
13-15.
"It was nice to have the Georgia High School Association to give us
the respect and confidence to host the first round of the state tournament
without the gym even being built yet," Barker said.
The No. 7 through 10 seeds for the GACC men's tournament will have
qualifying games March 12, with all 10 teams participating in a welcome banquet
that evening in the Brewton-Parker cafeteria.
The four quarterfinal games will be played March 13, with the semifinals
planned for March 14 and the championship contest at 8 p.m. on March 15.
The men's and women's GACC tournaments will be run on different dates for
the first time; the women's tourney will be at North Georgia College and State
University in Dahlonega on March 6-8.
The reason for the different dates is that the NAIA moved the men's
national tournament back a week because of scheduling conflicts with the
Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City.
Two regular-season college basketball tournaments also have been planned
for the 1,500-seat gymnasium, as has a high school tournament that will include
boys' and girls' teams from eight Georgia high schools.
Teams in the December high school tournament will include those from
Montgomery County, Toombs County and Wheeler County. Each team will play three
games in the round-robin tourney set for Dec. 26-28.
The basketball court will get its first action in the Brewton-Parker
Tip-off Classic on Nov. 8-9. The Lady Barons and Barons will play their
respective foes from Morris (S.C.) College on Nov. 8, then face the teams from
Webber International (Fla.) University on Nov. 9.
GACC rival North Georgia fills out the schedule, playing afternoon games
against Webber on Nov. 8 and Morris on Nov. 9.
The Brewton-Parker Christmas Tournament will be Dec. 13-14, with the
Friday games determining match-ups for Saturday's games.
The Lady Barons and Barons will have their games both nights, first
playing Claflin (S.C.) College on Dec. 13. Spring Hill (Ala.) University and
Embry-Riddle (Fla.) Aeronautical University will play the afternoon games the
first day.
Friday's women's losers will meet Saturday afternoon, as will the men's
first-day losers. The Friday winners will play Saturday night, with the women's
game first.
"To have this many tournaments this year will really allow us to
showcase the building and break it in well," Barker said.