Gwinnett Daily Post

The basketball tournament action begins in a big way today when The Loop/Lee Sports Holiday Classic tips off at Parkview and the Dacula/Shiloh Shootout starts at Shiloh.

Later in the week the Bulldog Classic at North Gwinnett begins to cap off a hoops-heavy first week to the

season.

Today's schedule at Shiloh includes an interesting matchup at 7:30 p.m. between the Generals and the powerful Norcross boys. Shiloh's first-year head coach Don Einolf coached prior to this season as a Norcross assistant.

The Dacula/Shiloh Shootout also features the Peachtree Ridge boys, although the Lions won't face Norcross in the event. Central Gwinnett, Dacula, Duluth, Mill Creek and Apalachee also have boys and girls teams in the season-opening tourney.

Parkview's tournament features one of the state's top boys players, Southwest Atlanta Christian guard and Georgia Tech signee Javaris Crittenton. In addition to the host Panthers, Collins Hill and Berkmar also will have boys teams in the field.

The girls side includes Parkview, defending Class AA state champion Wesleyan, St. Pius and Holy Innocents'.

"The girls side should be competitive and I like the early-round matchups," Parkview girls coach Mike McCoy said. "Wesleyan, St. Pius and Holy Innocents' bring solid teams within their respective classifications and we have many players that are sure to bring attention from the college scouts - Kelley Cain from St. Pius, the Whitney sisters from Wesleyan and Jessica Geiger from Parkview to name a few."

The Bulldog Classic includes the North boys and girls along with both the Meadowcreek boys and girls and the Berkmar girls among local teams. M.L. King and Eastside also are in the tournament.