Big Changes Set For Plano Classic

The 2011 Plano Christmas Classic will be an expanded one when the tournament tips off its’ 49th season in December of this year.

Plano athletic director Jim Schmidt will be expanding the varsity high school hoop extravaganza from 16 to 24 teams, making it the largest prep Christmas tourney in Illinois. Nineteen teams are from the NISB-area.

Add to that the continuation of the 16-team sophomore tournament contested at the same time in Plano’s auxiliary gym, there are now 40 squads that will compete in a grand total of 83 games over a five-day period in 2011. That’s up from the 32-team, 64-game, four-day grind that was played during the 2010 proceedings.

All teams will be guaranteed at least four games with some playing five during the five day mega tourney.

Nine schools decided to accept Schmidt’s offer to come to the Classic after only one withdrew. Hall opted out after many years at Plano and was replaced by Aurora Christian. After that, Schmidt received acceptance from Belvidere, Burlington Central, Dixon, Indian Creek, Lisle, Ottawa, Streator and Wilmington.

Dixon, Indian Creek and Streator are coming over from the Marseilles Tournament. Aurora Christian, Belvidere and Burlington Central are coming over from the Chuck Dayton Tournament in DeKalb.

“You can’t beat tradition and it’s never going to go away here. We’ve been through the ropes over the many years of running a very popular tournament,” Schmidt said. “I believe that many of the new schools entering will see the value in that. Hopefully they believe they’ll be able to establish their own tradition here while making great memories as they move on in what I hope will continue to be a tremendous high school basketball event.”

Class 1A schools (5): Forreston, Hinckley-Big Rock, Indian Creek, Newark and Somonauk

Class 2A schools (10): Aurora Christian, Coal City, Genoa-Kingston, Lisle, Mendota, Plano, Princeton, Rockford Christian, Seneca, Wilmington

Class 3A schools (9): Belvidere, Burlington Central, Dixon, Kaneland, Morris, Ottawa, Sandwich, Streator and Yorkville.

-Bill Lidinsky