The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE date has been set and the country’s longest running basketball tournament will continue its legacy in 2017.

The 34th edition of the Hugh Campbell Basketball Classic is scheduled to be hosted February 20-27. Tournament organisers made the announcement via the event’s official page on Facebook.

For over three decades, the tournament has established a reputation as the pre-eminent training ground for senior boys’ basketball teams throughout the country.

In 2016, the CC Sweeting Cobras captured their fifth title in school history with a 55-54 win over the Sunland Baptist Stingers. The programme has won four titles under current head coach Mario Bowleg (2012-13, 2015-16) and one under Ian Pinder (2007).

The Tabernacle Baptist Falcons, under head coach, Norris Bain, still hold the record of having won the title six times (1995-96, 1998, 2000, 2009-10). Bain has stepped aside as Kevin Clarke now mans the helm for the Falcons.

The Rattlers and coach Johnson are close behind with five (2002, 2004-2006 and 2014), while Catholic High has also won it five times, three times under Gladstone ‘Moon’ McPhee (1983, 1989 and 1991) and twice under Charlie ‘Softly’ Robins (1999 and 2003).

The initial tournament, which was only played between the New Providence schools, in 1982 was won by the LW Young Golden Eagles, coached then by Walter Rand with Bernard Storr as the MVP. The next year, the Grand Bahama teams joined and McPhee and the Crusaders with Ben Russell as the MVP won their first title in 1983.

The other tournament winners were LW Young, coached by Watler Rand and led by MVP Bernard Storr, as the initial champions in 1992, Sir Jack Hawyard Wildcats, coached by Ivan Butler in 2001, RM Bailey Pacers, coached by Nigel Ingraham, in 2011, Eight Mile Rock Bluejays, coached by Gary McIntosh in 1985 and 1990, CR Walker Knights, coached by Jimmy Clarke in 1997 and Trevor Grant in 2008 and the host AF Adderley Fighting Tigers, coached by Doug Collins, back-to-back in 1987 and 1988 before they became a junior high school, but continue to host the invitational tournament as their major fundraiser.

No Family Island or BAISS school has ever won the tournament, which was cancelled once in 1986 because of a dispute with the teachers that eventually led to the formation of the GSSSA and the BAISS.

A tournament rich in history and traditionally hosted at the AF Adderley Gymnasium returned to the school’s campus in 2014 following a five-year hiatus.

Due to the deterioration of the floor in the gym, organisers were forced to relocate the entire tournament to the Kendal Isaacs Gym. But once the renovations were completed, the event relocated to “Tiger Country” for the 31st version.