Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

It’s time to start talking about The Classic.
The annual high school basketball event enters its 10th year and will bring some of the top teams from four different states.
With several classic matchups, one of the better games will have the host Ironton Fighting Tigers playing the Columbus Whitehall Rams at 8:15 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 22.
Whitehall is led by 6-foot-5 senior Reico Bagley who is drawing interest from Division I and II schools as well as 6-7 senior Tyjaun Childers.
The tournament begins with a 4:45 p.m. game on Friday as the defending Class 3A champion Huntington Highlanders face traditional power Cincinnati Taft.
Leading Huntington are 6-4 senior Mikael Dawson, 5-8 senior guard Jaden Hayes, 6-6 junior center Darnell Wright and 6-2 junior guard Tanner Stevens.
Greenup County will play Columbus Africentric in Saturday’s first game at 1:15 p.m.
The Musketeers — who were 22-10 last season — feature 6-foot-1 senior point guard Gage Hughes who is a five-year starter and has signed a scholarship to play baseball for the University of Cincinnati.
Hughes is the grandson of Mike Hughes who was an outstanding boys’ basketball coach at South Point, Wheelersburg and Green.
Gage Hughes is also the nephew of former Ironton girls’ coach Amy Hughes who guided the Lady Fighting Tigers to the state tournament in 2004-05.
Africentric is led by 6-foot senior point guard Trey Baumgardner who averages 18 points a game and has committed to Minnesota State along with 6-8 senior center Jah Bennett who has committed to Kentucky State.
Whitehall will also play at 4:45 on Saturday against the Huntington Prep Blue who features 6-9 center Emmauel Okpomo from Delta State, Nigeria.
Proceeds from The Classic will help remodel the Conley Sports Center, provide scholarships and other related projects.
The Classic is sponsored by Western & Southern Life Insurance.
Other sponsors include Ohio University Southern, St. Mary’s Hospital, Collins Career center, Buffalo Wild Wings and Giovanni’s Pizza in Coal Grove.
Bronze sponsors include Rax Restaurant, Bartram’s Grocery, Coco-Cola Bottling Company.

Ironton Classic Schedule
Friday, Dec. 22
4:45 p.m. — Huntington High vs. Cincinnati Taft
6:30 p.m. — Greenfield vs. Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers
8:15 p.m. — Ironton vs. Columbus Whitehall
Saturday, Dec. 23
1:15 p.m. — Greenup County, Ky. vs. Columbus Africentric
3:00 p.m. — Portsmouth Notre Dame vs. St. Joseph Flyers
4:45 p.m. — Columbus Whitehall vs. Huntington Prep Blue
6:30 p.m. — Greenfield McClain vs. Ironton
8:15 p.m. — M.A.C.K. Prep, N.C. vs. Columbus Northland
All games played at the Conley Sports Center.
The Classic is sponsored by Western & Southern Life Insurance.
Other sponsors include Ohio University Southern, St. Mary’s Hospital, Collins Career center, Buffalo Wild Wings and Giovanni’s Pizza in Coal Grove.
Bronze sponsors include Rax Restaurant, Bartram’s Grocery, Coco-Cola Bottling Company.