Broome County STOP-DWI Announces 2004 Holiday Classic Tournament Field

BINGHAMTON, NY - The Broome County STOP-DWI Program has announced the participants of the 2004 STOP-DWI Holiday Classic.

Challenging for 2004 National Division honors will be schools from Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and Virginia. Eight high schools will vie for the National Division honors while eight schools will compete in two regional divisions. Six first time tournament participants will join 1998 Tournament Champ, St. Raymond's High School and host Binghamton High School. Maine Endwell High School headlines the regional field as it returns to defend its 2003 Regional Championship crown.

The following is a summary of the national and regional high school teams competing in the 2004 STOP-DWI Holiday Classic.

National Division

Binghamton High School - Binghamton, New York
Host high school for Tournament.

Holy Cross High School - Flushing, New York
Players to watch: in the 2003-2004 season there were 4 juniors and 1 sophomore starting. The following were juniors, Gordon McKenzie 13 pts/game, Michael Johnson 13 pts/game, Kevin Ogletree 11 pts/game, Anthony Clarke 8 pts/game and sophomore Lauren Jolicoeur 7 pts/game.

Hopkinsville High School - Hopkinsville, Kentucky
Finished 2003-2004 season 23-8, losing in Regional semi-final playoffs. Players to watch: They will have 2 seniors, 4 juniors and 3 sophomores returning from last years team. Led by senior Curtis Pulley 23 pts/game, 67% field goal percentage and 16 rebounds/game.

Hugenot High School - Richmond, Virginia
Players to watch: Seniors Andre Morris (6'9") and Mike Puckett (6'2") and four veteran underclassmen that average (6'6").

Roger Bacon High School - Cincinnati, Ohio
The team has won 6 sectional, 5 districts, 1 regional and 1 state championship since 1997. Players to watch: juniors, Nick Duffy 12 pts and 6 rebounds/game, Ben Haarman 14 pts and 5 assists/game, and David Stevens 5 pts, 5 rebounds and 3 assists/game.

St. John Newman/St. Maria Gorretti High School - Philadelphia Pennsylvania
Record for last four years of 88-27. Played in the last three Philadelphia Catholic League championships winning in 2001 and 2002. Players to watch: team will be led by 5 seniors and 2 juniors. Seniors, David Burton, Phil Love, Marcqus Solcumb and Loranazo Byrd average height is (6'5"). Junior, Earl Pettis is ranked in the top 50 of the class of 2005.

St. Raymond's High School - Bronx, New York
The New York City Catholic League Champion of 2003-2004 with a record of 22-7. Players to watch: seniors, Ricky Torres 13pts/game and Chris Bethel 8 pts/game.

Villa Angela St. Joseph High School - Cleveland, Ohio
Players to watch: team will be led by junior, David Lighty who averaged 15 pts, 8 rebounds and 6 assists/game. Lighty has been on the All State teams starting as a freshman when he made the fifth All State team. Senior Ron Hollis averaged 10 pts and 6 assists/game.

2004 Regional Teams

Candor Central School - Candor, New York
Players to watch: All-Metro Team member Chris Davenport (6'5") senior. He averaged 18 pts, 10 rebounds and 3 assists/game. Brother Andy Davenport 4pts, 4 rebounds and 3 assists/game and sophomore Clint Foster 8 pts and 2 rebounds/game.

Chenango Valley High School - Binghamton, New York
Players to watch: All-Metro Team member Jason Stenta (6'4") senior. Averaged 14 pts, 8 rebounds and 5 assists/game. Returning starter senior, Chris Bruett (6'4") 10 pts and 10 rebounds/game.

Greene High School - Greene, New York
Players to watch: 3 starters returning from last year's team. Seniors Andrew Marshall 12pts, 5 rebounds and 6 assists/game. Nate Smith 14 pts and 4 rebounds/game.

Maine Endwell High School - Endwell, New York
2003 STOP-DWI Holiday Classic Regional Division II Champs and Southern Tier Athletic Conference Champions 2003-2004. Players to watch: All-Metro Team member Rob Krowiak senior. He averaged 20 pts, 4 steals and 4 assists/game. Senior DJ Szmyrko 7 pts/game and junior Bob Van Woert 8 pts and 4 rebounds/game.

Seton Catholic Central High School - Binghamton, New York
Players to watch: Returning starters from 2003-2004 are juniors Jim Torto, Jerome Gosney, Matt Cline and senior Sam Thomas.

Sidney High School - Sidney, New York
Players to watch: Starters Chas Ackley 12pts and 4 rebounds, Eric Dorsey 12 pts and 7 rebounds and Pat Simonds 5 pts and 5 rebounds/game.

Vestal High School - Vestal, New York
Players to watch: All-Metro Team member Stef Horbanczuk senior averaged 20 pts and 4 rebounds/game. Two other starters John Tigue 8 pts and 4 rebounds and Chris Baltz 15 pts and 6 rebounds/game. Between four returnees they had 58 blocked shots during the season.

Whitney Point High School - Whitney Point, New York
Players to watch: Four returning starters. Bill Lidell 9 pts and 5 assists, Colin Tripp 6 pts and 3 steals, Kurt Wittig 10 pts and 7 rebounds, and Corey Puckey 8 pts and 7 rebounds/game.

The STOP-DWI Holiday Classic is a project of the Broome County STOP-DWI Program. The tournament's mission is to educate and encourage high school athletes to become leaders in the effort to combat teenage drunk driving and substance abuse in their schools and communities. For more information about the STOP-DWI Holiday Classic or the Broome County STOP-DWI Program please visit www.bcstopdwi.com or call 607.778.2056.

CONTACT:
Jim May
office: 607.778.2056
email: bcstopdwi@co.broome.ny.us

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