Inaugural JUCO/MLK Basketball Classic

The MLK Basketball Classic planning committee is pleased to announce the inaugural JUCO/MLK Basketball Classic presented by Tribune VarsityXtra, which is scheduled for Saturday, January 19 at Theo Heap Gymnasium on the campus of Mesa Community College, which is at 1833 West Southern Avenue (southeast corner of Dobson Road and Southern Avenue).

Here is the game schedule:

1 pm - South Mountain CC vs. Chandler-Gilbert CC (women)
3 pm - South Mountain CC vs. Chandler-Gilbert CC (men)
530 pm - Cochise College vs. Mesa Community College (women)
730 pm - Cochise College vs. Mesa Community College (men)

Tickets for all four games are $5 adults, $3 students (college/high school), and free of charge for junior-high students and younger.

Included in the festivities are national anthem singers, performances by high school spiritlines, and a performance by a local dance studio. Also, each school has selected a community/school member to be recognized at halftime for their contribution and support of diversity on campus.

Event sponsors include the East Valley Tribune, P.S. Studios, AmeriCopy, Mesa Public Schools, Mesa Community College, Mesa Convention and Visitors Bureau, Recruiting Realities, Dr. Paul R. Sandstrom, Dr. David W. Edwards, Rancho de Tia Rosa's, Memories 4 Life, Tomek Sports, and REHAB Arizona. Presenting sponsor is the Tribune VarsityXtra. Special thanks to Chris Haines (South Mountain), John Mulhearn (MCC), Bo Hall (Cochise), and Jeff Mason (Chandler-Gilbert) for their assistance with the first-year event.