MaxPreps.com, the online high school sports leader and a CBSSports.com site, will host the 11th Annual MaxPreps Holiday Classic in Palm Springs, Calif. from December 26-30, 2013. The tournament will feature 120 boys and girls teams competing in 11 divisions at multiple venues, and will include international teams from Australia and Canada for the first time joining top recruits from across the United States.
"The 2013 Holiday Classic will be the most competitive in the tournament’s 11-year history," said MaxPreps founder and President Andy Beal. "We’re very excited to be expanding our field to include international teams as we host one of the largest multi-level high school basketball tournaments in the U.S. this year."
Highlighting the event will be the 24-team Invitational Division, which boasts 15 programs that won 20 games or more in 2012-13. Championship contenders from Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Ohio, Oregon, Missouri, Texas, Utah and Washington will join a strong contingent of California squads, including dynasty
Westchester (Los Angeles), back to defend its title. Other in-state perennial powers in the field include
De La Salle (Concord),
Etiwanda,
Long Beach Poly and
Harvard-Westlake (Studio City) — which has reached the finals in Palm Springs on four occasions (2006, 2007, 2009, 2010).
Three-time defending Alabama state champ
Wenonah (Birmingham) headlines the list of out-of-state challengers. Washington 4A runner-up
Jackson (Mill Creek), Arizona Division II semifinalist
Sunnyslope (Phoenix),
American Fork (Utah),
Catalina Foothills (Tucson, Ariz.),
Christian Brothers (St. Louis),
St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio) and
Tampa Catholic (Fla.) are among the programs hoping to become the first non-California team to take home a title.
All games will be live scored by
Qwixcore, MaxPreps’ live scoring mobile technology platform, and available to follow for free on the team pages throughout MaxPreps.com. In addition, MaxPreps.com will be live streaming both semifinal games from Rancho Mirage High School on Saturday as well as the 3-point and dunk contests.
NFHS Network will offer streaming coverage of the Invitational Division winners brackets through subscription plans.
Find the full list of tournament teams, schedules, and participating gymnasium venues in the Palm Springs area here:
http://www.maxprepsholidayclassic.com/Media interested in covering the tournament can find the credential request form here:
http://www.maxprepsholidayclassic.com/home/media-credential-request-form.html
