Dec 10

Dec 10 Rams seeded second, Chargers third and Hawks fifth for 2019 Parker's Holiday Classic

Greene Central’s Dontavious Pettaway (12) takes a shot in a game earlier this season. Pettaway and his teammates play a semifinal-round game Dec. 27 in the post-Christmas event. Bud Hardy/Neuse News

GREENVILLE - John Moye shrugged his shoulders and grinned sheepishly moments after Ayden-Grifton received the No. 3 seed for the 2019 Parker's Holiday Classic.

Moye felt that might have been a little gracious.

"Hopefully, we can own up to where they voted us," Moye said. "We're very excited...look forward to it, especially with us playing at home. That's big for us. Hopefully we can win the first night, move on to the second night and do something special."

Coaches and athletic directors met Monday evening at Parker's BBQ on Memorial Boulevard to determine the seeding for the three-day, six-team post-Christmas fiesta. Coaches submitted ballots with teams seeded one through five, excluding their own.

J.H. Rose claimed the top spot.

Greene Central, an eastern 2-A finalist each of the past three seasons, grabbed the No. 2 seed.

Each of those teams will play a semifinal-round game Dec. 27 inside Bob Murphrey Gymnasium on the Ayden-Grifton campus.

The Classic tips off Dec. 26 with fourth-seeded D.H. Conley facing fifth-seeded North Lenoir at 6 p.m. Sixth-seeded North Pitt tangles with Ayden-Grifton at 7:30 p.m.

"Hopefully we can get some guys back healthy," said NL head coach Anthony Lofton. "It's a tough tournament, good atmosphere we're going to be playing in. I'm looking forward to it."

The fifth-place game is Friday at 4:30 p.m., followed by the two semifinals.

The third-place and championship contests are Saturday at 6 and 7:30 p.m.. respectively.

"This tournament is probably more wide open than we've had in a long time," said Ron Butler, athletics director for Pitt County. "It's early in the year. A lot of times you don't know about your record...got a few losses maybe to some really good teams and may have a few wins against teams not as strong, so your resume is not complete enough to know what you've really got.

"A six seed can play with a one seed in this tournament. The crowds have always been spectacular and we expect the crowds to be the same this year."

Admission to the Classic is $10 per game. Fans can purchase a tournament pass for $20. Parking is available on the south side of campus near the baseball field.