The pairings have been set for the 21st annual GreenBankLadies' Classic, which will be held the week after Christmas, Dec.28-31, at Hal Henard Gym in Greeneville.

Recognized as one of the top girls' tournaments in thecountry since its inception, the Ladies' Classic again will bring insome of the best teams in the state of Tennessee, plus two out-of-statesquads with very impressive credentials.

All five local girls' teams will participate, along withregional teams Cocke County and Kingsport Dobyns-Bennett, and perennialpower Oak Ridge will return this year after several years' absence.

Two-time defending champion Wilson Central is also back to try to make it a "three-peat."

The tourney begins on Monday, Dec. 28, at 10 a.m. when theChuckey-Doak Lady Knights take on Maryville High School. The 11:30 a.m.game has Cocke County meeting Livingston Academy, and the 1 p.m.contest features Dobyns-Bennett facing off against Mt. Juliet.

Action continues at 2:30 with the West Greene Lady Buffstaking on Wilson Central, followed at 4 p.m. by Oak Ridge vs.Cleveland. The 5:30 p.m. contest has South Greene going up againstSycamore. Greeneville's Lady Devils play at 7 p.m. against Cosby HighSchool from Midlothian, Va., and the 8:30 p.m. finale has the NorthGreene Lady Huskies taking on the Lady Mounties from Rogers High Schoolin Rogers, Ark.

Eight more games will be played Tuesday and again onWednesday, with the tourney semifinals Wednesday evening. The final dayof the tourney is Thursday, Dec. 31, with five games on tap starting at10 a.m., leading to the finals which will be played at 4 p.m.

Tournament tickets will go on sale soon at the Greene County Partnership and all GreenBank locations.

"We think we've assembled a great field of teams, and Ithink the basketball fans in Greene County will be pleased with thecaliber of competition," said first-year tournament director RonMetcalfe, who took over following last year's classic after Buddy Yonz,who had led the tournament since its inception, resigned.

"The mid-state teams are always very good, and we've gotsome good local teams as well," Metcalfe said. "It's always good tohave Oak Ridge back in the field. The team from Arkansas has theGatorade Player of the Year returning from last year who has committedto Oklahoma. And the team from Virginia has two Division 1 commitments."