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AHOSKIE – It’s a great last gift to unwrap if you’re a high school basketball fan.

The 32^nd annual Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald Holiday Classic tips off Tuesday, Dec. 26 at the Hertford County High School gym with a dozen teams participating.

The tournament, founded in 1990 by the late Richard Murray, former HCHS athletic director, runs through Friday, Dec. 29.

This year’s event features six schools and a total of 11 teams (six varsity boys and five varsity girls squads). These teams will represent Edenton’s J.H. Holmes High School, Northeastern High School out of Elizabeth City, Greater Destiny Prep Academy, Gates County High School, Bertie High School, and Hertford County High School.

Over the years the Holiday Classic has seen some memorable games and memorable players.

Following the same format as in the past several years, Hertford County and Bertie will receive first-round byes in boys and girls games and won’t begin play until Wednesday, Dec. 27.

Four first-round games will open the tournament on Tuesday beginning with the 5 p.m. boy’s game between Greater Destiny Prep and Northeastern followed at 6:30 p.m. by the Gates County girls against Edenton-Holmes. The Gates County boys and Edenton-Holmes end Tuesday’s schedule with their game scheduled for an 8 p.m. tip-off.

On Wednesday, the Northeastern girls will play Bertie at 4 p.m. The Greater Destiny Prep/Northeastern boy’s winner will meet Bertie at 5:30 p.m.

Hertford County High will see their first tournament action later on Wednesday when the Lady Bears square off against the Gates County/Edenton-Holmes winner at 7 p.m. followed by the Bears meeting the Gates County/Edenton- Holmes boy’s winner at 8:30 p.m.

The consolation round games are scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 28 beginning at 5 p.m. with the 5^th place contest for the boys followed by the girls and boys 3^rd place games at 6:30 and 8 p.m. respectively.

Championship night is Friday, Dec. 29 starting with the girl’s title tilt at 6 p.m. followed at 7:30 p.m. by the boy’s game for the top trophy. Following the games, trophies will be awarded to the top two teams as well as the naming of the girls and boys All-Tournament teams.

Tickets can be purchased in advance ($10 per person, per night) at https://gofan.co/app/school/NC1032.

Tickets are the door are $15 each.