It has been since 2019 when the last H.B. Stewart Classic was played in the Arena that carries the same namesake. Through the runs of the Girls Basketball in the State Championship that included a 3-Peat, and a Boys basketball team on the rebound, one thing was missing, a tournament that is held in Greenwood, Arkansas.
In the absence of a hometown tournament, either squad picked up tournaments in Missouri, Oklahoma, and within Arkansas and won those tournaments. Now it is a new chapter in Greenwood Basketball. Hooping in the Wood, comes to the H.B. Stewart Arena December 12th and December 13th. Birthed out of necessity as the two tournaments the Lady Bulldogs and Bulldogs were slated to participate in dissolved (Fayetteville – Lady Bulldogs) or changed dates (Lake Hamilton – Bulldogs).
The two squads now will play host to Arkansas and Oklahoma teams. Girls Basketball sees, Fayetteville, Tulsa Union, Springdale Har-Ber, Charleston, and Hugo, OK. On the boys’ side it is Searcy, Paris, and Hugo, OK.
The idea started two years ago in a conversation between Boys Head Basketball Coach B.J. Ross and Assistant Dexter Pearcy. Coach Ross’ longtime friend and Girls Head Basketball Coach Ryan Casalman were on board from the get-go as well.
“We got a 2-day, classic coming up. Trying to bring back something to Greenwood. You know where our fans and people can just come out and watch a lot of basketball in two days, December 12th, and 13th.” Head Coach B.J. Ross said.
“We’ve been working on it you know. Coach [Dexter] Pearcy talked about back when he played here. He played in the H.B. Stewart Classic. Something that me and him, the last couple years have been trying to talk about and it just kind of worked out.” Coach Ross said. “A Classic in Fayetteville kind of dissolved and we inherited some of those teams. And we got Hugo, Oklahoma and Tulsa Union coming, Searcy, and we got some teams from all over Oklahoma and here. It’s kind of something that we’ve, Coach Casalman, myself, and Coach Pearcy, and we’ve worked really hard to get it together.”
When hosting a tournament, there is always extra pressure and pride from the host teams to do well. For Greenwood that is no different.
“I think it’s a big deal, we get to play teams, we’re going to play Searcy and Hugo, going to play two really good teams. And our young kids get to see that. They get to see the importance of playing at H.B. Stewart Arena and protecting your home and doing things like that. So, we’re pretty excited about that.” Coach Ross said.
First game is at 5:00 p.m. December 12th when Fayetteville girls go against Tulsa Union. Check with Greenwood Athletics on Facebook and the new Greenwood Athletics app on Apple and Google IOS for more information.
