AHOSKIE n The seeding for the first Lt. Nick Brantley Scholarship Tournament have been announced.

Last week, the coaches and athletic directors of the five schools met to discuss tournament rules and regulations and received the pairings for the event.

Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald Sports Editor Thadd White and United Country Joe Murray Realty owner Joe Murray made the announcement at the meeting. Those two organizations are sponsoring the event.

On the girl’s side of the event, Northeast Academy was chosen as the tournament’s number one seed. Joella Brown’s Lady Eagles, who finished second in the Tarheel Independent Conference a season ago, have one of the area’s top returning players in Jeanie Hargrave.

Seeded second in the five-team tournament will be host Ridgecroft School. Doug Cobbs’ team returns three starters from a season ago led by offensive threat Hayes Bryant and point guard Jo Revelle Murray.

As the third seed, Bethel Christian Academy comes into the tournament with five returning starters from last year. That group is headlined by guards Mindy Miller and Kayla Overton.

Garnering the fourth seed is Lawrence Academy, who will be the higher seeded team in playing game slated for Tuesday, November 14.

Charlie Harden’s club will be anchored by sophomore Kendall Street in the paint.

The fifth seed is Ahoskie Christian School, who is led by youngsters Tori Conn and Amanda Hall.

On the boy’s side of the draw, host Ridgecroft School will be the number one seed. Tim Boone’s club returns All-Roanoke-Chowan performer Chris Hill and three others starters on last year’s second place TIC team.

In the number two slot is John Brown’s Northeast Academy club which will be led by senior Drew Pinnix. The Eagles also have outside shooters Josh Jenkins and John Pope.

Larry Caldwell and Stephen Miller will highlight coach Joe Mizelle’s Bethel Christian Academy club. The veteran skipper won his 700th career game last season and will return three starters.

Seeded fourth among the boys will be first-year coach Tommy Tripp’s Lawrence Academy Warriors. The squad returns offensive firepower in the form of forward Judd Whitehead.

The fifth-seeded Ahoskie Christian School team is expected to be much improved in Bill Mitchell’s second season at the helm.

“Any team in the tournament certainly has a chance to win it,” White said. “The seedings are based on last year’s record mixed in with the number of players returning. It’s a starting point.”

For his part, Murray said he believed all the games would be exciting.

“I think this will be three days of good basketball,” he said. “These coaches and players will bring their best to the floor and we’re excited to be starting the season with such a great event.”

The Lt. Nick Brantley Scholarship Tournament will begin Tuesday, November 14 at Ridgecroft School. The first play-in game will feature the Ahoskie Christian girls against Lawrence. That matchup will start at 4 p.m.

The second contest between Ahoskie’s boys and Lawrence will follow immediately afterwards.