The Jefferson City Jays hope for an elusive first-round victory, the Helias Crusaders expect more first-round excitement and the Blair Oaks Falcons are happy to be back on the bracket in the Joe Machens Great 8 Classic.
"I just hope we're on the correct side of the bracket," Jays coach Mark Anderson said at Wednesday's press conference at Joe Machens Ford.
Jefferson City last won its first-round game of the Classic in 2009, and this year's matchup against Hopkinsville, Ky., will make it difficult to break the trend. The Jays and Tigers will tip off at 7 p.m. Dec. 27 at Fleming Fieldhouse.
"Hopkinsville has a great tradition," Anderson said. "I want to say they've won over 200 games in the last 10 years. That's not going to be an easy task for us in the first round."
Jefferson City is also one of 14 teams playing in the Capital City Shootout on Dec. 15 at Fleming Fieldhouse. The Jays will cap off the seven-game event at 7 p.m. against Miller Career Academy.
Helias is in the top half of this year's Classic bracket as the Crusaders look for their fifth straight first-round win.
"We're extremely grateful to be a part of it every year," Helias coach Joe Rothweiler said. "It's definitely a fun time of year. It's kind of a turning point to lead into the second half of the season."
While Helias has found success in first-round games, they haven't been easy.
Helias has escaped with single-digit wins in the first round in three of the last four years, including the 2016 shootout between the Crusaders and Oxford, Miss.
Helias won 88-80, Landon Harrison scored a tournament-record 44 points and Jarkel Joiner, a sophomore at Cal State Bakersfield, put up 40 points.
"We've always had exciting first-round games," Rothweiler said, "and it's usually tough. We've had overtime games in the first round, and then of course we've faced Jarkel Joiner, where Landon Harrison breaks the scoring record."
Helias will tip against Mount Lebanon, Pa., at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 27.
The first game of the tournament features Blair Oaks and Harvest Prep (Canal Winchester, Ohio). Those teams will tip at 4 p.m.
"It's a great opportunity for our kids," Blair Oaks coach Ryan Fick said. "This is one of the premier tournaments in the state and the Midwest. The tournament has gotten a great reputation over the years. Good teams, good players. There's constantly players that play in this tournament that go on to play at a high level in college."
This is Blair Oaks' first appearance in the Classic since 2011.
"With it being right in our backyard, you can't pass up the opportunity," Fick said. "This is a tournament that our kids have grown up going to watch every Christmas break. For them to have the opportunity to be a part of it themselves is just awesome."