Riverside eyes region’s largest tournament
Published 12:02 am Wednesday, January 6, 2016
RESERVE — Half a dozen years ago, Timmy Byrd was still getting settled in his new digs at Riverside Academy after packing away his six state championship trophies and moving over from Reserve Christian School after it closed suddenly in 2009.
Timmy Byrd
After winning Riverside’s first title in 2010, Byrd was approached by longtime sportscaster Ed Daniels about starting up a big national basketball tournament in New Orleans. Riverside would serve as host.
It didn’t take Byrd long to say, “Let’s do it.” Then it wasn’t hard to get the Allstate Sugar Bowl to back it.
Now its 2016 and Byrd is getting set to host the sixth annual Allstate Sugar Bowl National Prep Classic, a four-day boys and girls basketball tournament that will see 46 high school teams compete for a prestigious championship title. All games will be played at the Alario Center in Westwego.
The boys action begins at 3 p.m. today with a game between Chalmette and Karr. Riverside opens play at 9 p.m. tonight against West Jefferson, the team that beat the Rebels, 49-58, in their season opener on Dec. 8.
Riverside’s boys have won the boys tournament twice, in 2013 and 2014. The Rebels advanced to last year’s final but lost to then top-rated senior/now LSU starter Ben Simmons and his Montverde, Fla., team, 92-75. The Rebels still went on to win the 2014-15 Class 2A state title.
Byrd said this year’s field will be just as tough, with defending state champions Riverside (2A), University (3A), Landry-Walker (4A) and Scotlandville (5A) competing. Lafayette Christian Academy is ranked No. 11 and Scotlandville is ranked No. 14 in the MaxPreps Top 25. In the state rankings, University High is No. 3, West Jefferson is No. 6, Riverside is No. 8 and Landry Walker is No. 9.
“It would be nice to win it,” Byrd said.
“We should be in our mid-season form by the end of this week.”
The girls field of 32 teams will compete in two brackets, beginning at 4 p.m. Thursday with Ursuline taking on Terrebonne. Riverside will play Sacred Heart at 7 p.m. on Thursday. Salmen won last year’s tournament title.
The finals will be played on Saturday. The girls Gold Bracket final is at 3:30 p.m. The girls Platinum Bracket final is at 6:30 p.m. The boys final is at 8 p.m.
Admission is $10 per day for adults, $5 for students 7 to 17 with school identification. Children 6 and under are free.
