September 5, 2008

Hall of Fame Classic basketball coaches look forward to December

STATING HIS CASE—Bluffton Tigers head basketball coach Wayne Barker (right) updates members of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame about his prospective 2008-09 boys’ team which will be one of the four teams playing in the 2008 Hall of Fame Classic at New Castle. Seated to his right are the three other coaches (from left to right): Mark James of Franklin Central, Scott Bunnell of Lafayette Jefferson and Travis Daugherty of Tipton. (Photo by Paul Beitler)

INDIANAPOLIS — With the actual tipoff of their games a few months away, coaches of the eight teams for the 2008 Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame Classic tournament are eager to bring their teams to New Castle for the annual event.

Bluffton’s Wayne Barker was one of the eight coaches who gave members of the Hall of Fame an update about his Tigers, who finished the 2007-08 season with an amazing 23-1 record.

The City Securities Hall of Fame Classic boys tournament is set for Dec. 30 at New Castle Fieldhouse.

Bluffton and Tipton will tip off in the first game at 10 a.m., followed by Franklin Central vs. Lafayette Jeff in the noon contest.

The consolation game is 6 p.m. and the championship contest is at 8.

The girls tournament is Monday, Dec. 29, with Ben Davis playing Connersville at 10 a.m. and Oak Hill facing Wawasee at noon. The consolation game is at 6 and championship at 8.

Each school will be given tickets to sell and Bluffton will have 1,000 tickets. Information about purchasing tickets will be announced later.

Bluffton has all of its players returning. The No. 1-ranked Tigers finished the regular season with a 21-0 mark and lost to eventual Class 2A state champion Fort Wayne Bishop Luers in the Sectional 38 championship game 67-65.

Tipton ended up 21-3, led by 6-8 Indiana recruit Derek Elston.

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