As the Christmas holidays begin on the Columbus High School campus, many students and teachers are looking forward to some time off and a chance to catch up with family and friends.
For Columbus boys basketball coach Sammy Smith, such time away could only take place in his dreams.
The Falcons and Lady Falcons are gearing up to host the 15th annual Joe Horne Columbus Christmas Classic.
The annual two-day holiday treat will feature 17 games over two days on the two courts at the Columbus High Gym.
Tournament play begins with Lawrence County and Starkville playing a girls contest at 3 p.m. Friday.
“Every summer, it’s like do we really want to do this again?” Smith said. “Then you see someone, and they tell you how much they enjoy the tournament and that it is one of their sports highlights of the year.
“Then, it’s like, well yes, we have to do another one.”
Smith and CHS girls coach Yvonne Hairston have worked overtime to make sure this event remains one of the southeast’s best basketball draws.
“It’s such an honor to host such a big event,” Hairston said. “The community really responds around this tournament. It is a chance to see some exceptional basketball.”
The event continues to grow thanks to the quality of basketball in the event. Smith spends up to three months making sure the proper invites go out. He follows a similar pattern when putting each tournament field together.
“You want teams that people around here do not see every day,” Smith said. “We bring in teams who have players you are going to see play on the next level.
“We want the best teams in the southeast. The other day a coach called and had to withdraw from this year’s tournament because his team was given a chance to play on ESPN.
“We have now established a reputation that this is a premier event and an honor to be chosen.”
The Columbus girls are off to an 8-1 start. The Lady Falcons will face defending Class 4A state champion Lawrence County and traditional power Jackson Wingfield.
“We play two very aggressive teams,” Hairston said. “It will be a good measuring stick for us. These are the types of teams we could face at the state tournament.
“We will have to be aggressive ourselves and take the challenge to them.”
The tournament traditionally plays to overflow crowds. The box office success is needed, since expenses for the event can run in the neighborhood of $10K.
“We have to have 75 hotel rooms,” Smith said. “We also have to feed the teams. My cell phone rings non-stop this week because of all the logistics that are involved.
“We host the tournament for the community. It is our chance to give something back for the support they give our program. The crowds are always tremendous. This is the cheapest holiday date you will find.”
The Columbus boys are 4-5. A relatively young squad, the Falcons have won three of their last four games.
“The kids get real excited about this event because it is a new challenge,” Smith said. “It is not the same as playing West Lowndes or Starkville, teams you see ever week.
“At this tournament, you will face a unique challenge. You have a chance to go up against some of the best players playing high school basketball.”
The Falcons will take on Lawrence County and Tuscaloosa Central (Ala.) in the event.
The boys draw also includes Mississippi’s top team — No. 1 Starkville.
“A year ago, we were 0-9 at the time of this tournament,” Smith said. “However, my ninth graders from last year are tenth graders now. We have gotten better each week. As a coach, that is all you can really ask.”
As a coach, yes. As a tournament promoter, Smith wants much, much more.
“The admission charge is seven dollars,” Smith said. “That is a dollar per game for Friday. That is less than a dollar per game on Saturday.
“You can not beat the value. Once you come out here and experience the atmosphere, it is truly an amazing event.”
When you are having the amount of fun that Smith and his coaches are having, one has to ask…
Do you really need the time off?
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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