WOBM Christmas Classic Begins This Weekend

It was a nice little tournament in 1984. Today it’s a nice big tournament that takes months to plan for two dozen plus people to run. 

While a lot has changed the philosophy of the WOBM Christmas Classic remains the same and that is to run a first-class event for high school basketball players, coaches and fans.

The 29^th edition of the shore’s biggest holiday tournament, presented by Community & Kimball Medical Centers gets underway this weekend at the Pine Belt Arena which has been the host since 2003.

The field of 16 girl’s teams will play their first round games tomorrow beginning at 1pm with action taking place pretty much simultaneously on both courts inside the arena.

Among the opening round matchups will be top-ranked Point Boro against Lacey, #2 seed Rumson faces Barnegat while defending champ Manasquan meets Brick Memorial.

Sunday will find all 16 boys’ teams taking the court, including #1 seed Toms River North facing Brick.  Second-seed and first-time entrant CBA will play Barnegat while defending champion Jackson Memorial opens with Red Bank Catholic.  The complete schedule can be easily found at shoresportsnetwork.com

A total of 52 games will be played over 7 days at the Pine Belt Arena with the Boys & Girls championship games scheduled for Sunday, December 30^th.  On that final day we will also present a total of $4000 in scholarships to players who participated in last year’s tournament and are now college freshman.

The selections were made based on their academic performance while in high school and we have awarded more than $60.000 over the years.  Receiving $1000 will be Brick Memorial graduate Brandon Rodgers and Emily Kunzman from Toms River East.  Other scholarships will be presented to Conor Mulholland of Wall, Lacey’s Jenna Fleck, Brandon McDonnell of Jackson Memorial, Danielle Chiarella of Barnegat and Toms River South’s Casey O’Connor.

For the second year in a row someone will get a chance to sink a half-court shot during the Boy’s Final and win $10,000 from IPlay America in Freehold.  Five finalists will be selected from those who sign up on line at WOBM.com.  Each will receive a $100 gift certificate to the Riverwatch Restaurant & Lounge in Brick and one gets to take the shot for $10,000. Even if they miss they’ll win a $500 gift card to IPlay America, America’s Indoor Theme Park.