High school basketball: Bulldog Classic enters 23rd season of hoops thrills

GIDEON — Around the turn of the milennium, two area basketball coaches had the idea for a basketball tournament in The Bootheel.

Current Gideon head boys basketball coach/athletic director Keenan Buchanan and South Pemiscot’s Bobby McCulloch brainstormed the Bulldog Classic — since that’s the mascot at both schools.

From a historical perspective, Buchanan reported at one point the Bulldog Classic was a 16-team event featuring eight boys and eight girls squads.

The tournament is now an exclusive all-boys format.

“There are a lot of big schools in the tournament,” noted Buchanan, who said there will be plenty of talented players on the court. “It’s going to be a tough tournament for us.”

Gideon has drawn the No. 8 seed, and it will play top-seeded Caruthersville at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 28.

“Caruthersville is a very athletic team, and it’s a tough draw for us,” Buchanan said. “But, we’re going to give it everything we’ve got.”

No. 2 Kennett will square off with No. 7 Delta C-7.

This game will feature two first-year coaches in Fred Garmon and Chris Dye, respectively.

Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 27.

“I’m excited to get the season underway,” Garmon said. “We’ve been practicing against each other for more than a month. It’s going to be fun to compete (against someone else).”

Other first-round games are as follows: No. 3 South Pemiscot vs. No. 6 Senath-Hornersville at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 27 and fourth-seeded East Prairie versus fifth-seeded Hayti at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 28.

Caruthersville stopped Cooter 80-60 in last year’s championship game dated Dec. 2, 2022. The Wildcats play in only two tournaments during the 2023-24 season, including the Campbell Christmas Tournament.

Admission will be $4 for adults and $2 for students per day, Buchanan reported.

What’s more, for those who can’t attend the event, the entire tournament will be streamed on 106.5 KTMO The Wolf’s YouTube channel.

INFORMATION

BOYS BASKETBALL

TOURNAMENTS

2023 Bulldog Classic

At Gideon

Monday, Nov. 27

6 p.m., No. 2 Kennett vs. No. 7 Delta C-7

7:30 p.m., No. 3 South Pemiscot vs. No. 6 Senath-Hornersville

Tuesday, Nov. 28

6 p.m., No. 1 Caruthersville vs. No. 8 Gideon

7:30 p.m., No. 4 East Prairie vs. No. 5 Hayti

Thursday, Nov. 30

4 p.m., Consolation semifinals, two games

7 p.m., Championship semifinals, two games

Friday, Dec. 1

4 p.m., Seventh-place game

5:30 p.m., Consolation championship

7 p.m., Third-place game

8:30 p.m., Championship game

Admission: $4 for adults and $2 for students per day, Gideon School District officials reported.

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