Forty high school basketball teams applied to be part of the Fifth Annual Wendy’s MVNUnited Holiday HOOPLA at Mount Vernon Nazarene University.
Twenty-four teams were selected to play in games scheduled for Dec. 21 and 22 at the MVNU facility. Among those, Utica men (vs. Worthington Christian) and Fredericktown men (vs. Lucas) play games on Dec. 21. Cardington-Lincoln vs. Centerburg (women) and Highland vs. Danville (men) are scheduled for Dec. 22.
An expected 450 student-athletes, plus parents and fans, will be on hand to watch high school men and women from programs all over Ohio, as well as from Michigan and West Virginia, play in this pre-holiday invitational.
Paul McNeal, MVNU’s coordinator of athletic development and former athletic director, had a vision to bring teams to showcase the campus and allow admissions access to student-athletes at no cost to the university.
“The desire was to create a quality event where all of Ohio would want to be a part,” McNeal said.
The event has a board that looks at the information given by the entrants, and they select the teams from there.
“Then, we do our best to place the teams with competition that would have the most level playing field for each team,” McNeal said.
A three-member board chooses a Wendy’s MVP from each team after each game. The winning team member is recognized at center court and receives a T-shirt and gift card.
The event brings business to the area, as teams and visiting fans use Mount Vernon hotels and restaurants and partake in local activities.
“The Mount Vernon Nazarene Athletic Department has tried to increase our footprint in Mount Vernon, and we are thankful for the support given,” McNeal said.
Daily admission is $10; a single admission is good for all day and night games. Concessions will be available, as well.
The game schedule is listed below:
Dec. 21
Bloom Carroll vs. Greenville (women), 12:30 p.m.
Grand Rover Academy vs. Linsley School (men), 2 p.m.
Worthington Christian vs. Canal Winchester (women), 3:30 p.m.
Worthington Christian vs. Utica (men), 5 p.m.
Fairland vs. Sheridan (men), 6:30 p.m.
Fredericktown vs. Lucas (men), 8 p.m.
Dec. 22
Columbus East vs. Thurgood Marshall (men), 11 a.m.
Greenville vs. Parkersburg (women), 12:30 P.m.
The Linsley School vs. Shelby (men), 2 p.m.
Aiken vs. Olentangy Berlin (men), 3:30 p.m.
Lucas vs. Fairland (men), 5 p.m.
Cardington-Lincoln vs. Centerburg (women), 6:30 p.m.
Highland vs. Danville (men), 8 p.m.
