So setting up an eight-team high school holiday basketball tournament bracket is simple and straight forward, right?
Actually, not in some cases, with one being the annual George Long Holiday Hoops boys tourney starting today at Wakefield High School.
With so many conflicting situations, like teams in the tournament from the same districts, and other teams having already met this season, tournament director Tony Bentley had a bit of a time putting the bracket together. The process took some considerable thought and trial and error.
Some years, the bracket can be filled out quickly.
This year, though, with tourney entries Wakefield and Washington-Liberty each in the Liberty District, Centreville and Madison both from the Concorde District, and W.T. Woodson and South County playing in the Patriot, those teams are not supposed to meet during the first round or semifinals. After that, anything goes.
Bentley eventually got the bracket set up correctly with all of those conflicts avoided.
But it took some thought.
– Dave Facinoli
dfacinoli@sungazette.net