CitC’s high-octane action sure to heat up winter

For the past two decades, some of Ohio’s finest female athletes have graced the floor at the Perry Reese Community Center at Hiland High School for the annual Classic in the Country Challenge.

The CitC has pitted some of the greatest girls high school basketball teams against one another. Some all-time great coaches have battled wits and game plans, the games have seen many players among the top 10 in the nation compete, and the aura surrounding this festival of high school hoops is unparalleled in the girls game.

Classic in the Country XXI marks the 21st year of celebrating high school girls basketball, the memory and purposefulness of Martin Luther King Jr. and Perry Reese Jr., and a community effort that is second to none as local businesses and volunteers roll out the red carpet for the visiting teams, coaches, officials and fans who come in by the thousands.

This year’s CitC XXI will take place Saturday to Monday, Jan. 13-15, and the lineup of games is as attractive as ever.

The event was under the guidance of Tom Jenkins, former owner of Ohio Girls’ Basketball Report, who ran the event until his passing three years ago. Since then his protégé Bryce McKey, who operates SheHoopsOhio, has taken the reins and continued the success of this fan favorite that has been recognized nationally for its quality and hospitality.

“We’re very excited to bring another great showcase of high school girls basketball to Berlin again this year,” McKey said. “We stayed mainly in Ohio this year because of the great talent in teams and individuals, and we really worked hard to mix in a lot of local teams who should compete well.”

While hoops is queen for the weekend, what also drives the event is the hospitality. Countless volunteers make everyone in attendance feel special, from the players and coaches to officials and fans.

It is a red-carpet moment for anyone who visits.

“This would not be possible without our volunteers,” McKey said. “They are incredible, and hospitality has always been a signature of this event. Making sure everyone who attends this weekend feels special is something we really strive hard to make happen.”

The other aspect the CitC was built on was unity. Jenkins was a huge proponent of equality and unity, and his desire to focus this showcase over Martin Luther King weekend was central.

“It’s important to me and to all of us to not only put together a great weekend of basketball, but to continue to celebrate our togetherness and unity, and we continue to have those conversations that we need to come together and celebrate the many things that connect us rather than divide us,” McKey said. “I know Tom would be proud that we’ve continued to make this event something that focuses on that. That is something that Tom really worked hard to convey, and for me personally, being Tom’s ‘adopted son,’ as he always used to say, it is very personal to me and our company to promote the memory of Martin Luther King Jr. and coach Reese and their efforts to break down racial barriers.”

McKey has worked hard to manufacture a slate of games that will be competitive and fun, with some of the nation’s top players facing one another and teams with similar and contrasting styles of play dueling.

McKey said the goal is to create a buzz that keeps the Reese Center at fever pitch, and adding to the pizazz of the weekend is entertainment leader Trinity Ramos, a former player at CitC.

“She and her staff ramp up the excitement all weekend,” McKey said. “I have so much respect for the job they do because it isn’t easy. It’s a tireless effort, but they are fantastic at what they do.”

The schedule this year is as scintillating as ever, with many of the competing teams likely to be competing at state come March.

Local teams playing in the weekend classic include an eight-game slate of activity on day one. Tusky Valley will square off with Western Brown on Saturday, Jan. 13 at 9 a.m., followed by Waynedale facing Waterford in a matchup of two outstanding small-school programs. That evening West Holmes will knock heads with Margaretta at 6 p.m., and Hiland and Reynoldsburg will put the finishing touches on day one.

Sunday will feature some of the top teams in the state’s bigger divisions, with Classic favorites like Solon, Kettering Alter, Magnificat, Princeton, Toledo Notre Dame, Lakota West, Mason and Fairmont among the teams looking to put on a good show. Smithville and Ottawa-Glandorf will kick off day two’s action at 9 a.m.

On Martin Luther King Day on Monday, Jan. 15, the biggest day of all will roll into the Reese Center and include a flood of college coaches who will witness the action.

The games will dive right in with a stunner at 9 a.m. with Fairland and Gilmour Academy squaring off. Laurel, Mason, Olentangy, Fairmont and Reynoldsburg will pave the way for the event’s final two games, with West Holmes facing Strasburg at 6 p.m. and Hiland and Olmstead Falls putting the wraps on the 23-game weekend.

For a complete look at the updated schedule, visit www.classicinthecountry.org.

Entry to all 23 games is $40, with single-day admission available for adults at $15 and $10 for students.

WKLM will livestream each game, with pay per view available by going to https://portal.stretchinternet.com/wklm. Audio-only broadcasts are no charge, and every game will be on WKLM FM 95.3.