Hospitality rules at Classic in the Country high school girls basketball tournament
BERLIN - Part of the pleasure of participating in Classic in the Country is enjoying the hospitality which has made the event so popular during its 19-year run.
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One of the countless community volunteers who help make the Classic in the Country happen said she couldn't wait to visit with friends and partake in the noodles.
"I came right from work and purposely didn't eat because I knew I was going to have some noodles when I got here," she said.
The participating teams got to enjoy Naomi Troyer's homemade noodles as well.
"Not only do we get to play against top-notch competition, we get treated like royalty," GlenOak post player Jordan Weir said with a smile. "But the noodles are the best part."
The Classic in the Country turned 19 this year. The 25-game basketball fest held over the Martin Luther King weekend featured Ohio's best players, like reigning Miss Basketball K.K. Bransford of Mount Notre Dame and Ohio State recruit Mari Russell of Reynoldsburg as well as some of the top players in the country, such as South Bend Washington's Mila Reynolds.
COVID keeps Canadian team from competing in the tournament
Teams from Colorado and Indiana joined the fun, but international star-studded powerhouse Southwest Academy from Ontario, Canada was a late scratch, when Canada was locked down on Thursday.
Fortunately, Reynoldsburg was willing to step in and pinch hit for Southwest Academy at the last minute. The girls from the Columbus area pummeled Regis Jesuit, the team from Colorado on Saturday night.
Coach Jack Purtell's Raiders used the Saturday night game as a warm-up for their Monday clash with nationally ranked South Bend Washington.
Marlington replaced Southwest Academy on the Sunday schedule.
Recruiting tool
All that talent gathered for an event brings college coaches from across the country to see some of the blue chip athletes up close.
Coaches come to see players they have on their radar, but sometimes find hidden treasures, when teammates or opponents of the stars shine.
Krista Beechy, an assistant coach at Canisius College in Buffalo, said she loves coming to the Classic in the Country, where she played as a member of the Hawks during her stellar high school career at Hiland.
"This is a great event. I love coming here, because I get to see my family while I'm back here," Beechy said. "I also get to see a lot of talented players."
New Philadelphia All-Ohioan Ajia Schreffler said it's an honor and a privilege to get to play in the Classic in the Country.
"We appreciate being invited to play here," she said. "It's a great opportunity and it helps get us ready for the tournament."
Schreffler and her teammates also appreciated the hospitality.
Catered meals
One of the featured parts of the hospitality is the catered meals provided by Der Dutchman Restaurant. Der Dutchman doesn't cater many events, but has been involved with the Classic in the Country since the beginning.
General Manager Tracy House and Assistant GM Jay Hart enjoy providing meals to the hundreds of college coaches, media from across the state, event sponsors and staff.
Rich Harland of website Hall of Fame Huddle in Canton, has been to many Classics in the Country to help promote high school girls basketball.
He uses the Classic as a model for events he holds in the Canton area.
And while Harland enjoys the hospitality he receives while in Berlin, he admits that it is hard to replicate that kind of treatment at home.
"Especially since I have to come here to get fry pies," he said with a laugh.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Classic in the Country high school girls basketball hospitality rules
