LASKER – It has come to be known as the Greater Lasker Shootout.

And over the years, it has lived up to its name.

Northeast Academy has welcomed teams throughout eastern North Carolina and Virginia to their annual round-robin tournament.

This year is no exception, as Community Christian School will join three local schools as the marquee names for the tournament.

The tournament’s first game will begin at 4 p.m. Thursday afternoon when the Lady Rams of Ridgecroft School square off with Community Christian.

Ridgecroft is led by senior Sarah Beth Greene, last year’s Tarheel Independent Conference Player of the Year, along with classmate Stephanie Northcott.

Also key to the Lady Rams will be guard Jo Revelle Murray and sharpshooting sophomore Hayes Bryant.

Sophomores Victoria Brown and Jessica Bolton and juniors Lauren Lilley and April Piland will be equally important to the Rams as they face the two-night tournament.

Following that game, it will be the Ridgecroft boys who take the court. The Rams square off with Community Christian in a game scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m.

They are led by junior Chris Hill, one of the area’s top shooters, along with four seniors in William Alexander, Jeremy Courtright, Michael Edwards and Drew Jones.

Another important factor for the Rams is junior Bryan Britton, a 6′-4&uot; center who handles the ball well inside.

After those games, the host Northeast Academy teams will begin a two-game set.

The Lady Eagles will meet Halifax Academy at 7 p.m. in a matchup of former Carolina Academy Conference foes.

NEA is led by seniors Laura Boone and Lyndal Brown as well as junior sharpshooter Jeanie Hargrave. Twins Meredith and Rebecca Harrell will also have to be instrumental if the Eagles are to knock off their visiting foes.

In the varsity boys contest slated for an 8:30 p.m. start, the Eagles will also meet Halifax Academy.

Led by seniors Buddy Duke and Brian McLean, the Eagles are off to a solid 4-3 start with a 1-0 mark inside the Tarheel Independent Conference.

Early in the season, Northeast Academy has gotten key performances from Drew Pinnix, John Pope, Dustin Deloatch and Josh Jenkins. Jeremy Canady has been a solid defensive performer.

As the tournament enters its second day, the schedule will be reversed.

Ridgecroft still gets the two early games when they square off with Halifax Academy while Northeast meets Community Christian.

In addition to the solid basketball schedule laid out for the Greater Lasker Shootout, the Eagles will also have their famous home-style meals. Johnny and Julie Sykes’ will have beef barbecue and barbeque chicken available along with hot dogs, pizza, french fries and homemade desserts.

Admission will be $5 nightly for the tournament and $4 for students.