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Buckeye 8 Challenge is Saturday

T-L Photo/RICK THORP ST. CLAIRSVILLE’S Brett Vike (5) drives around Union Local’s Ty Kildow during action from Tuesday’s night’s contest. Both teams are involved in Saturday’s Buckeye 8 Challenge.

Christmas is coming a few days early for Ohio Valley basketball fans.

The fifth annual Buckeye 8 Challenge, which is being sponsored by Unified Bank, Milleson Insurance and Pike 40, is set for Saturday at Ohio University Eastern. A four-game lineup is on tap with the action slated to get under way at 2 p.m.

“We like how this event has come together and grown,” event director Justin Clifford said. “The goal, when we started, was to see the best teams playing each other. Teams just want to play in these kinds of events to challenge themselves and see where they are in the early portion of the season in a tournament-like atmosphere.”

Clifford, who also serves as the head coach at Harrison Central, stressed that the Buckeye 8 Challenge and most events like it are to “benefit the kids.”

“We’re always looking for new ideas and ways to get better and improve,” Clifford said. “Whether it’s our team (at Harrison) or this event, we just want to be better. It’s become an event that I think the kids — and coaches — look forward to.”

The growth of the event is further proven by the number of schools that reach out to Clifford to attempt to get an invitation to the field.

“We’ve formed a pretty decent reputation,” Clifford said. “It’s really gotten a head of steam and lining up the games has gotten easier.”

The first game on the card is Union Local taking on Steubenville. The Jets feature all-Ohioan Cal Kildow, while James Roundtree is the Big Red leader.

“Union Local won the Buckeye 8 last year and has some guys back and Steubenville is Steubenville,” Clifford said.

The second game on the card, which is slated to begin at 3:45, pits the Huskies against Linsly. Harrison Central features impressive sophomore Kobe Mitchell. The Cadets are a balanced attack. Trevin Tush and Marshall Taylor are coming off strong performances on Friday.

“I think our game with Linsly will be a good matchup,” Clifford said. “It was a late addition and Coach (James) Wallace was more than happy to play. They’re athletic and off to a good start, so we’ll have our hands full.”

St. Clairsville, which like Harrison, has been involved in all five of the challenges. Coach Ryan Clifford’s Red Devils will take on Philo, which is coached by former Buckeye Local head coach Greg Haberfield. That game is scheduled for a 5:30 tip. On the court, the Red Devils are balanced, high-scoring attack with Craig Bober, Matthew Busby and sharpshooter Brett Vike leading the way.

“Coach Haberfield being from here was excited to bring his team back and play around here,” Clifford said. “They have some big kids, so it’ll be an interesting matchup for St. Clairsville.”

The final game of the event, which is slated for a 7:15 p.m. tip, is defending West Virginia Class A champion Wheeling Central against Meadowbrook, which advanced to the Division II State Tournament in Ohio.

Though the Maroon Knights lost some key pieces to graduation, they bring back a solid nucleus and began their season with a lop-sided win against Magnolia on Friday. Meadowbrook features Davis Black, who is 6-5 and can play both on the interior and on the perimeter.

“This should be a really good game since both teams are coming off great years and their cupboards aren’t bare,” Clifford said. “Both teams are looking at highly successful seasons.”

Clifford noted that games will not begin earlier than their listed tip time and one ticket is good for the entire day.

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