MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Morgantown High’s annual holiday classic is becoming as big a tradition around Christmastime as eggnog and Bing Crosby.
The event is in its fifth-straight year, and this season, the G Force Lock and Safe Holiday Classic will have a local feel, featuring the MHS boys’ and girls’ basketball teams, as well at the University boys, each competing against highly-ranked in-state opponents.
UHS, ranked as the Class AAA No. 1 at 3-0, will tip off at 6 p.m. Friday against No. 10 Woodrow Wilson (1-1). The Mohigans boys, ranked No. 5 at 3-0, will follow against No. 8 Hurricane (1-1). Tip off is scheduled for 7:45 p.m.
On Saturday, the MHS girls (1-4) will open the day at 2:30 p.m. against No. 10 Martinsburg with a shot to bounce back from a slow start. The Bulldogs (1-1) will play at Fairmont Senior tonight before making the trip back to Morgantown.
After, the Hawks will be back in action against Hurricane at about 4:15 p.m., and the Mohigans boys will end the classic against Woodrow Wilson at about 6 p.m.
“A big thanks goes out to Mike Gallagher and G Force for sponsoring our great event,” MHS boys coach Dave Tallman said. “Our annual holiday classic has created excitement for high school hoops during the holiday season. We can’t wait to tip off another great one [Friday].”
Over the last five years, the event has seen several marquee players who went on to play in college, including WVU’s Oscar Tshiebwe, Ohio State’s Kyle Young, Missouri’s Kobe Brown and Fairmont State’s Kenzie Melko.
Miles Bridges played at MHS in 2015 with Huntington Prep before starring at Michigan State. He went on to be a first round pick in the 2018 NBA draft and plays for the Charlotte Hornets.
