With classes closed for the holiday break next week, high school basketball junkies can feast on a smorgasbord of showcase events wrapped around Thanksgiving Day.
The Earl Graham Memorial Metro vs. Florida Challenge, which has 27 games spread across four days, celebrates its 15th anniversary. In addition, the Sun Bash Orlando and Florida Get Down events are back, and Edgewater is launching yet another Thanksgiving treat with its Central Florida vs. South Florida Classic. That brings reigning Class 4A state champ Stranahan of Fort Lauderdale and three other strong South Florida programs to Orlando.
The depth of hoops happenings is a big change from when Apopka head coach Scott Williams first brainstormed The Metro vs. Florida concept.
“The (Thanksgiving week) window was empty when we started it,” Williams said. “Our thought process was to create something that would promote the sport and generate interest early in the season”.
His idea, born when he was coaching at Wekiva, was to match Metro Conference (Orange County Public Schools) teams against outsiders. It proved popular and was the area’s only multi-team November event for a number of years. That has obviously changed. But even with the proliferation of competing events in the area, 22 of the 23 Metro teams signed on to play at least one game in the Challenge this year. Dr. Phillips opted to play games at the Sun Bash and Get Down events.
Williams said he greatly appreciates the support Metro coaches have provided. But he said the exhausting process of piecing together 27 matchups along with all the organization it takes to set the stage is wearing on him.
“It takes a great deal of work for me and for my staff. My inner circle knows the reason I am still doing this is to honor coach Graham,” Williams said. “It’s a way for people to remember who he was and what he was about. That’s the motivation for me to find the energy to keep doing it.”
Graham’s name was added to the event in 2021 after he died at age 72. He was a 28-year Orlando firefighter who devoted nearly 50 years to coaching travel team and high school basketball.
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Central Florida vs. South Florida Classic
At Edgewater High School
Monday
Jones vs Norland, 4 p.m.
Martin County vs Oak Ridge, 5:30
Edgewater vs Coral Springs, 7
Stranahan vs Evans, 8:30
Tuesday
Stranahan vs Bartow, 4
Norland vs Eustis, 5:30
Martin County vs Edgewater, 7
Coral Springs vs Evans, 8:30
Admission: $20 per day; $35 for both days.
Sun Bash Orlando
At Central Florida Christian Academy
Monday
Lake Howell vs. South Lake, 11 a.m.
Evangelical Christian vs. Eustis, 12:30
Winthrop Charter vs. Sarasota, 2
Suncoast vs. North Tampa Christian, 3:30
Pine Ridge vs. CFCA, 5
IMG Blue vs. Prolific Prep, 6:30
Providence (Jacksonville) vs. Olympia, 8
Tuesday
Master’s Academy vs. Evangelical Christian, 11 a.m.
Sarasota vs. Legacy Charter, 12:30
Windermere vs. Suncoast, 2
Northside Christian vs. Prolific Prep, 3:30
CFCA vs. Lake Howell, 5
Santa Fe Catholic vs. TFA, 6:30
Dr. Phillips vs. Providence, 8
Admission: $15 adults; $10 students.
Earl Graham Memorial Metro vs. Florida Challenge
Tuesday, at Lake Highland Prep
Horizon vs. Orangewood, 11 a.m.
Wekiva vs. Seabreeze, 12:15
Lake Nona vs. Lake Wales, 1:45
Innovation vs. Viera, 3:30
Oak Ridge vs. Lake Highland Prep, 5:15 p.m.
Boone vs. Mount Dora, 6:45
Timber Creek vs. Lake Brantley, 7:30
Wednesday, at Apopka High
Colonial vs. Leesburg, 11:30 a.m.
Lake Buena Vista vs. East Ridge, 12:45
East River vs. Legacy Charter, 2:15
Apopka vs. South Lake, 4
Jones vs. Oviedo, 5:30
Ocoee vs. Mainland, 7
Friday, at Apopka High
Edgewater vs. CFCA, 11 a.m.
Windermere vs. Auburndale, 12:15
Olympia vs. Gateway, 1:45
Freedom vs. Discovery, 3:30
East River vs. Bartow, 5:15
University (Orlando) vs. Eustis, 6:45
West Orange vs. Foundation, 8:15
Saturday, at Apopka High
Cypress Creek vs. South Lake, 11 a.m.
Apopka vs. Mount Dora (girls), 12:15
Apopka vs. Davenport, 1:45
Evans vs. Viera, 3:30
Lake Buena Vista vs. St. Stephens, 5:15
Edgewater vs. Seminole, 6:45
Winter Park vs. Windermere Prep, 8:15
Admission: $12 daily; $20 for event pass.
Florida Get Down Holiday Basketball Showcase
At Grandview Center, Orlando
Friday
Timber Creek vs. FSU School, 11 a.m.
Luella (Ga.) vs. Suncoast, 12:30
Jones vs. Best Academy (Ga.), 2
Oviedo vs. Boca Ciega, 3:30
Winter Haven vs. TFA, 5
Evans vs. Northside Christian, 6:30
Dr. Phillips vs. Mainland, 8
Saturday
Best (Ga.) vs. FSU School, 10 a.m.
Suncoast vs. Victory Rock, 11:30
Lake Worth vs. Lake Nona, 1
Northside vs. Luella, 2:30
Mainland vs. Wildwood, 4
Boca Ciega vs. Leesburg, 5:30
CFCA vs. TFA, 7
Dr. Phillips vs. Winter Haven, 8:30
Metro basketball can make its mark as state’s best conference
Varsity content editor Buddy Collings can be contacted by email at bcollings@orlandosentinel.com.
