Bulldog Classic takes on different format
Published 8:03 pm Tuesday, November 28, 2017
- Hayden Hefner and Nederland beat Kelly 63-50 on Nov. 14. (I.C. Murrell/The News)
The Nederland Bulldog Classic is maintaining a tradition of showcasing Division I basketball recruits.
Two of them put on memorable performances last season. Now, Savion Flagg of Alvin is at Texas A&M and Jarred Vanderbilt of Victory Prep is a Kentucky Wildcat after committing in the spring.
Another resides on Nederland’s roster, now that the University of Houston has its eye on sophomore Hayden Hefner.
More importantly to Nederland coach Brian English, the Classic — now in its 48th year — is still bringing in good basketball teams.
“I think it’s very evenly matched,” he said. “Things are really competitive. Sometimes we’ll have one or two teams that are elite and then this year, I think there are more teams that are the same level.”
Kelly, who graduated current Lamar guard Cannon Broussard, will defend its tournament title with a chance it could meet Alvin in the semifinal round. First, Kelly will have to avenge a 63-50 loss to Nederland on Nov. 14, and Alvin will need to beat Vidor, one of three District 22-5A teams in this year’s Classic.
“I think they’re pretty competitive and athletic,” English said of Kelly. “You don’t want to play your district opponent in the first round.”
English added it’ll be hard to defeat Kelly a second time, especially considering that’s Nederland’s second opponent of the day.
This year’s Classic, which tips off Thursday, is taking on a slightly different format. Instead of the usual pool play that shapes bracket play, five “warm-up games” have been scheduled to go along with a bracket that’s already been set. Nederland’s “warm-up” against Ocean Springs (Miss.) Grace Baptist is one of four to be held in the Dome Gym before the bracket begins with Nederland vs. Kelly.
The format came about after West Brook and Victory Prep dropped out of this year’s event, according to English.
“It was the only way to guarantee each team four games,” English said. The bracket also includes consolation games.
Opposite the battle of the Bulldogs, Port Neches-Groves will take on neighboring Bridge City on Friday afternoon for the right to face Lufkin that evening. The Nederland-Kelly survivor will meet Louisiana Christian School.
Grace Baptist will meet Little Cypress-Mauriceville in the other first-round bracket game.
I.C. Murrell: 549-8541. Twitter: @ICMurrellPANews
About I.C. Murrell
I.C. Murrell was promoted to editor of The News, effective Oct. 14, 2019. He previously served as sports editor since August 2015 and has won or shared eight first-place awards from state newspaper associations and corporations. He was born in Memphis, Tennessee, grew up mostly in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and graduated from the University of Arkansas at Monticello.
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