The Fatima Comets have watched the Joe Machens Great 8 Classic year after year from the bleachers at Fleming Fieldhouse.
This year, they’ll be one of the eight teams playing on the court.
“They were excited to go watch. For them to be a part of it, you can feel the energy from them,” Fatima coach Ryan Robertson said of the Comets’ first Classic appearance during Wednesday’s press conference. “They’re excited, they want to compete.
“We won’t be the biggest team or the fastest team, but we’ll get after it.”
Gallery: Great 8 Classic/Holiday Hoops Classic Press Conference
The Comets are taking the place of the Blair Oaks Falcons, who won last year’s Classic. Fatima will play Oxford, Miss., in the first round Dec. 28.
Fatima, ranked No. 9 in Class 4, is off to a 4-2 start and has already played tate-ranked opponents in Mexico and Father Tolton.
“Our theory has always been you’re not going to beat big, fast and strong (teams) at the end of the year if you’re not playing big, fast and strong (teams) throughout the year,” Robertson said.
The Helias Crusaders will face Lausanne Collegiate -- out of Memphis, Tenn. -- in the second game of the first round.
Helias has won six of its past seven first-round games in the Classic.
“We do take pride in winning that first game,” Helias coach Joe Rothweiler said. “We come out on top most years in that game and put ourselves in a chance to advance in the winner’s bracket.”
Helias, ranked No. 9 in Class 5, is off to a 2-2 start with three games against state-ranked opponents. The Crusaders played in a three-day tournament last weekend in Springfield, and after the Classic, Helias will play in another three-day tournament next month at Bolivar.
“Three straight days can be a grind,” Rothweiler said. “We saw that last weekend, where we kind of ran out of gas in that championship game. We learn from it, and that’s what makes us better.”
The Jefferson City Jays are in line to play game No. 3 in the first round of the Classic against Rogers, Ark. The Jays have won their home tournament seven times, the most titles in Classic history.
“It’s a chance for our kids to stay home over the holidays,” Jefferson City coach Josh Buffington said. “You’re not only practicing in your own gym, you’re playing in your own gym.”
Jefferson City has a 3-2 record following Wednesday’s 83-39 win against Warrensburg. It was the Jays’ home opener, but they won’t be home again until the Classic.
Until then, the Jays play at Ewing Marion Kauffman, then play neutral-court games against East St. Louis, Ill., and University City.
“You almost have to look at our season and break it up into three parts,” Buffington said. “You have the before the Great 8, you have the Great 8 turning point and then you’re starting to get ready for conference before you get into postseason.”
The Capital City Cavaliers will play the final first-round game on Day 1 against The Webb School out of Bell Buckle, Tenn.
It will be the Cavaliers’ second appearance in the Classic.
“One thing you’ve got to do for sure is scout the team you’re playing and the next game,” Capital City coach Darrin Young said. “Our program, we try to scout two games ahead if we can. We’ll use that first day to really watch and observe everyone and try to get a feel for how each team plays.”
Capital City has a 1-3 record following Wednesday’s 63-61 loss at Blair Oaks. Young said the Cavaliers are learning through the losses as the players gain more experience.
“Some of our younger guys, we’ve got a lot of guys who have never played at this level before,” he said. “I’ve been leaning on the seniors a lot to try to get them to understand the consistency that’s required on the court and off the court.”
The three-day, 12-game Classic will conclude Dec. 30.