The longstanding Beach Ball Classic holiday high-school basketball tournament in Myrtle Beach is one of the most well-known in the country.
The Bishop O’Connell Knights of Arlington added to the lore of that competition in recent days by winning the top-division (Traditional Bracket) of the boys tournament for the third time.
In its 22-year history, the George Long Holiday boys basketball tournament has become a popular annual high-school sporting event in Arlington County — and beyond.
Each season, eight teams from different jurisdictions, public and private, have participated in the three-day event at Wakefield High School, usually beginning Dec. 26 or 27.
They finished fourth with a 1-2 record, suffering two lopsided losses in their own holiday basketball tourney, yet the experience was beneficial, according to the Wakefield Warriors varsity boys head coach.
Host Wakefield (5-4) won its seesaw first game, 55-53, over the West Springfield Spartans in the annual eight-team, three-day George Long Holiday Tournament, now in its 22nd year.
The coaching staff of the Washington-Liberty Generals frequently has used a dozen or more players in games early in the 2024-25 boys basketball season.
The Generals (4-8) did so again in all three of its contests in the recent George Long Holiday Tournament at Wakefield High School, finishing sixth with a 1-2 record.
Shane Morrison scored the first points for the Wakefield Warriors boys basketball team on a three-pointer, and then the last of the game on a winning backdoor layup.
In between those baskets, a lot happened in Wakefield’s 55-53 seesaw victory over the West Springfield Spartans in an opening-round boys high-school contest of the George Long Holiday Tournament.
The Wakefield Warriors (3-4) defeated the host Westfield Bulldogs, 51-39, in non-district girls high-school basketball action Dec. 19.
Wakefield began strong in the game, taking a 6-0 lead on two three-pointers by Lucy Strawn. Harris added four points in the early going and Ryan Seeley made a three-pointer as the Warriors led 22-9 at halftime.
The Wakefield Warriors (4-2, 1-0) warmed up for their upcoming George Long Holiday Tournament by finishing with a 1-1 record in boys basketball action last week.
Wakefield defeated the Langley Saxons, 59-36, in a Liberty District high-school contest, then lost to the Westfield Bulldogs, 64-42, in non-league play.
With their latest victory, the Yorktown Patriots completed the pre-winter-break portion of the boys basketball team’s schedule with a 7-1 overall record.
Win number seven came on the road Friday night (Dec. 20) by a 59-57 score over the Marshall Statesmen in the first Liberty District action of the campaign for the Patriots.
After a tough stretch of eight games in 14 days, including playing five of the stronger teams in the area, the Yorktown Patriots girls squad has a 2-6 overall record opening the 2024-25 basketball season
Yorktown has lost to top high-school teams like the Madison Warhawks, 49-39, South County Stallions, 46-34, Oakton Cougars, 64-46, Chantilly Chargers, 48-42, and defending 6D North Region champion Centreville Wildcats, 70-42. The Patriots’ wins were over the Westfield Bulldogs, 52-36, and Osbourn Eagles, 47-12.
The basketball brackets are set for this year’s annual eight-team George Long Holiday Tournament at Wakefield High School.
This will be the 22nd year for the boys competition, hosted by the Wakefield Warriors with four games each day Dec. 26-28.
Five high-school basketball games were played Saturday (Dec. 14) in Arlington at the second annual Braylon Meade Basketball Classic.
The contests, two girls games and three boys, all were held at Washington-Liberty High School, beginning at 12:30 p.m. The event was expanded to include more games this season.
Under first-year head coach Kosa So, the Bishop O’Connell Knights are off to a 3-3 start in girls basketball this season.
The Catholic high-school team has played both private and public-school squads among its games. The Knights’ most recent victory was over public school Dunbar from D.C., 68-18.
