DUBLIN — The fifth annual Woodmen Life Christmas Tournament will be held at West Bladen High School on Dec. 28-30 with eight teams competing for the 2016 title — Whiteville, Fairmont, Scotland, East Bladen, Dillon, North Brunswick, First Flight and host West Bladen.
“We are again happy to be hosting this event,” said Knights coach Travis Pait. “The seven teams that will be joining us are all well coached and will certainly be contenders in their respective leagues. The level of competition will certainly help prepare all of the participants for conference play.”
Woodmen of the World has sponsored the tournament in each of the five years.
“Woodmen Life is happy to continue our association with this wonderful event,” said Jack Yates, North Carolina manager for Woodmen. “We have always put a premium on young people and their maturation (and) this tournament allows us to highlight the many ways that Woodmen Life is making a difference in communities across the state and nation.”
Pait said he’s been appreciative of Woodmen’s dedication to the tournament, which allows the teams to compete without concern for an entry fee.
“We would like to thank Mr. Jack Yates and Woodmen Life for their participation as title sponsors of this event,” he said. “Woodmen is such a great organization who are always trying to give back to the community.”
All-day admission will be $6 per person with no passes out. Concessions will be available.
The tournament will open Dec. 28 with the following games: Dillon versus Scotland County at 2 p.m.; East Bladen versus Fairmont at 4 p.m.; Whiteville versus First Flight at 6 p.m.; and West Bladen versus North Brunswick at 8 p.m.
Games on Dec. 29 will also be at 2, 4, 6 and 8 p.m.; on Dec. 30, the seventh-place game will be at 2 p.m.; the fifth-place game will be at 4 p.m.; the third-place game at 6 p.m. and the championship at 8 p.m.