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AHOSKIE – On Thursday, Dec. 26, Santa will be back at the North Pole taking a well-deserved break.

But he did leave one final gift for local basketball fans to unwrap.

The 33^rd annual Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald Holiday Classic tips off Dec. 26 at the Hertford County High School gym where 12 teams (six girls; six boys) are hopeful for a gift of their own….a shiny championship trophy from the “granddaddy” of holiday basketball events in eastern North Carolina.

The tournament, founded in 1990 by the late Richard Murray, former HCHS athletic director, runs through Monday, Dec. 30.

This year’s event features six girls teams: J.H. Rose High School of Greenville, Northeastern High School of Elizabeth City, Roanoke Rapids High School, Gates County High School, Bertie High School, and Hertford County High School.

On the boys side of the Classic bracket, fans will see Greater Destiny Prep Academy of Grimesland, Northeastern High School, Roanoke Rapids High School, Gates County High School, Bertie High School, and Hertford County High School.

The Northeastern girls and the Bertie boys enter the 2024 event as the defending Holiday Classic champions.

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 Friday, Dec. 27.

Four first-round games will open the tournament on Thursday beginning with the 4 p.m. girl’s game between J.H. Rose and Northeastern followed at 5:30 p.m. by the Greater Destiny Prep boys against Northeastern. Roanoke Rapids and Gates County will clash in Thursday’s late games: the girls tipping off at 7 p.m. followed by the boys game at 8:30 p.m.

On Friday, the J.H. Rose/Northeastern winner meets the Bertie girls at 4 p.m. The Greater Destiny Prep/Northeastern boy’s winner will meet Bertie at 5:30 p.m.

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

The consolation round games are scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 28 beginning at 4 p.m. with the 5^th place contest for the girls followed by the 5^th place boys game at 5:30 p.m. Saturday’s nightcap will feature the girls and boys 3^rd place games at 7 and 8:30 p.m. respectively.

Championship night is Monday, Dec. 30 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.

Admission is $10 per person on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday; and $15 per person for the championship games on Monday.

Tickets can be purchased at the door (cash only) or in advance (per date) at https://gofan.co/app/school/NC1032