By Gary Lloyd
BIRMINGHAM — Knight Eady Sports Group, in partnership with the Birmingham Tip Off Club, has announced the first-round schedule for the second annual Steel City Invitational.
The event, presented by Andrews Sports Medicine and St. Vincent’s Health System, is loaded with three 2014 Alabama High School Athletic Association state champions and an additional three 2014 Final 48 teams.
The defending Class 5A champion and 2013 Steel City Invitational champion, Parker, will take on Cullman in a repeat of the 2014 regional semifinal game. Additionally, Class 6A champion Mountain Brook will go head to head with Class 3A champion Midfield on the opening night. The 2014 Class 5A runner-up, Ramsay, will face Clay-Chalkville.
Should the Cougars win in the first round, they will face the winner of the Bessemer City vs. J.O. Johnson game Dec. 20.
All this action will take place on the first night of the three-day event held Dec. 19-22 at Samford University. There will be a winners’ bracket and a consolation bracket, and all teams are guaranteed at least one game each of the three playing days. The championship will be held on Monday, Dec. 22.
The schedule for first-round matchups is included below:
2:30 p.m. – Hoover vs. Bibb County (Seibert Hall)
3:30 p.m. – Parker vs. Cullman (Pete Hanna Center)
4:00 p.m. – Ramsay vs. Clay-Chalkville (Seibert Hall)
5:00 p.m. – Bessemer City vs. J.O. Johnson (Pete Hanna Center)
5:30 p.m. – Tuscaloosa County vs. Grissom (Seibert Hall)
6:30 p.m. – Theodore vs. Fairfield (Pete Hanna Center)
7:00 p.m. – Faith Academy vs. Wenonah (Seibert Hall)
8:00 p.m. – Mountain Brook vs. Midfield (Pete Hanna Center)
For more information, visit www.steelcityhoops.com, find @SteelCityHoops on Twitter or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SteelCityInvitational.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.