The finals of the Logan County Middle School Basketball Tournament will be expanded and different this year.
One of the biggest events on the local sports scene each year, the middle school tournament often draws bigger crowds than do the LCHS varsity games. Certainly the fans are more enthusiastic.
The top seeds-- the Lewisburg girls and the Olmstead boys-- qualified for the finals with their wins Monday night. Their opponents were to be determined in Thursday's semifinals.
This year, the finals are being played on Friday night instead of the usual Monday. That could make the crowd even larger. The high school season almost being over with a scarcity of home games may also add to the attendance. Additionally senior winter athletes from the high school will be honored between games, since Tuesday's Senior Night observance was canceled because of snow.
According to Athletic Director Hugh McReynolds, those to be honored are as follows: boys basketball-Jonathan Barbee, Derrod Blakey, Seth McReynolds, Brett Sowell, Tyler Statton, Reuben Rawlings-Watson; girls basketball- Ann Dorris, Michelle England, Sarah Speck; and swimming- Jordan Chick, Logan Fugate, Cullen Pittman, Jeremy Rager, Jonathan Strickland and Paige Taylor.
Also to be honored are the top two academic teams from the middle schools while the top two middle school cheerleading teams will perform at halftime of the basketball games.
LCHS Principal Casey Jaynes has released the following schedule:
Schedule of Events for Middle School Basketball Championship on Friday, Feb. 12
5:15 Doors open for general public
6:00 Girls Championship Tipoff
6:20 approx Halftime of Girls Game 2^nd place Middle School Cheerleading Squad Performance
7:15 approx End of Girls game
Presentation of LCHS senior winter sports athletes
Presentation of Middle School Academic 1^st and 2^nd place team trophies
7:45 approx Boys Championship Tipoff
8:05 approx Halftime of Boys Game 1^st place Middle School Cheerleading Squad performance
8:45 approx End of Boys Game
Presentation of Girls basketball 1^st and 2^nd place trophies
Presentation of Boys Basketball 1^st and 2^nd place trophies
Net cutting by Boys and Girls Championship teams (1 at each basket)
9:00 Finish evening