Preview: Karr looks to defend Country Day Classic title

A Christmas tradition continues this week with one of the better holiday tournaments in the area with the Country Day Classic, set for Tuesday through Friday.

This year’s tournament, once again featuring 16 teams, hosted by Country Day, will be played at two sites, including Archbishop Rummel and at Country Day.

Among the participants are defending champion Karr, who defeated Catholic of Baton Rouge 62-57 in the title game a year ago in a game seen live on CrescentCitySports.com. The Bears return as well.

REPLAY: Karr holds off Catholic to win Country Day Classic

This year, CrescentCitySports.com will feature the semifinals and championship game live on Thursday and Friday.

Other participants include Archbishop Rummel, Archbishop Shaw, St. Louis Catholic, Douglass, John Curtis Christian, Grace King, Northlake Christian, Sophie B. Wright, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Thomas More, White Castle and The Willow School.

Country Day head coach Mike McGuire feels it an excellent field of talented teams.

“We have a great field for the Classic this year which I am excited about,” McGuire said. “There are strong teams with strong traditions. Rummel offered to also host and it’s just a 10 minute drive between the two sites.”

While Karr is the defending champion and a definite contender again, McGuire cited other teams to watch this year.

“Most of our teams are tournament tested and I would watch St. Thomas More, John Curtis Christian, Archbishop Shaw and St. Louis Catholic but all the teams are good,” McGuire said. “We are one of the longest running tournaments in Metro New Orleans since 2000. I’m looking forward to four great days of basketball.”

The games begin at both playing sites Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. and conclude with the championship game Friday night at 8 p.m. at Country Day.

Tune in to streaming coverage on CCS this Thursday and Friday. Click here for details.

Team previews:

Country Day Site

Country Day

The Cajuns are 8-2 and have wins against Holy Cross, 54-36, and Bonnabel, 59-52, in the Sophie B Wright Tournament. The two losses for the Cajuns are to Booker T. Washington, 46-40, and Ponchatoula, 59-42, with the Ponchatoula loss coming in the Newman Invitational Tournament last week.

Grace King

The Fighting Irish are 1-11 and have faced some tough opposition including Holy Cross, Mandeville and Catholic-Baton Rouge.

St Martin’s Episcopal

The Saints are 6-2 and have a very good 60-59 win over Parkview Baptist.

John F. Kennedy

The Cougars are 7-5 on the season and have wins over Booker T. Washington, 62-56, and over West Jeff, 67-56. The Cougars lost to Karr.

Edna Karr

The Cougars are 5-3 and have wins vs St Paul’s 64-63, and Booker T. Washington, 67-40. Two significant losses are to know basketball powers St. Thomas More, 46-36, and to Sophie B. Wright, 56-52.

St. Thomas Aquinas

The Falcons are 4-5 on the season and have a huge win over defending Division II state champion Archbishop Hannan 54-48. STA has also beaten Slidell, 54-51, East St. John, 81-76, and Riverside Academy, 73-50. One of their losses was to unbeaten Holy Cross.

Archbishop Shaw

The Eagles are 9-1 and are recovering from the tornado that hit the its campus last week. The Eagles have defeated Slidell, 55-50, St Paul’s, 71-52, and Jesuit, 41-40. The Eagles’ lone loss is to defending Division III state champion Newman, 53-47.

Frederick Douglass

The Bobcats are 2-6 on the year and have played some tough competition including a 44-46 loss to Bonnabel and have also lost to Holy Cross, Hannan, and JOhn Ehret.

Archbishop Rummel Site

Archbishop Rummel

The Raiders are 8–3 on the season and have defeated West Jefferson, 68-54, East Jefferson, 65-58, and Teurlings Catholic, 55-45.

Northlake Christian

The Wolverines are 5-4 on the season and have defeated Springfield, 64-49, and have a loss to the Holden Rockets, 50-46.

The Willow School

The Willow School formerly known as Lusher Charter is 3-6 on the season but the Lions are improving. The Lions were impressive in a narrow 51-47 loss to John Curtis Christian.

White Castle

The Bulldogs reached the Class 1A state title game last season and are a contender again. White Castle is 6-5 on the year with a win over neighboring Assumption 53-48 and a 51-45 loss to 4A power Plaquemine in the White Castle Tournament Championship Game.

John Curtis Christian< The Patriots are very talented and unbeaten at 7-0 on the year, having routed all but one opponent, and as it always is this time of year, John Curtis will have its football players back, making the Patriots even more potent. St Louis Catholic

The Saints are 5-7 on the year and have played in some competitive tournaments this year including Sulphur, Hamilton Christian, Wossman, and DeRidder.

St. Thomas More

The always talented Cougars under Danny Broussard are 9-2 and will be hosting the Sunkist Shootout which will feature teams from Louisiana and elsewhere. The Cougars have defeated Bossier, 65-39, Dunham ,52-36, Warren Easton, 60-58, Karr, 46-36, and Hahnville, 68-62. The Cougars losses are to Madison Prep, 48-41, and LB Landry, 63-42.

Sophie B. Wright

The Warriors are 8-1 on the year and their only loss is to Brother Martin, 75-48, and the warriors have also defeated Chalmette, 56-54, and Karr, 56-52.

Brackets: