Southern Arizona high school teams to showcase talents at annual MLK Basketball Classic

The annual MLK Basketball Classic returns to McKale Center on Monday for its 22nd year.

The event, which originated in Phoenix and expanded to Tucson in 2004, honors the legacy of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., while encouraging fun, community and good sportsmanship among Southern Arizona high school athletes.

The annual basketball tournament is sponsored by Coaches For Charities, a Tucson nonprofit that raises money through local sporting events that “support young people and encourage healthy, active lifestyles,” according to the organization’s website.

In addition to honoring King, the event also highlights high school staff members and awards scholarships to teen athletes who have “demonstrated the values expressed by Dr. King,” according to the Coaches For Charities’ website.

This year, 14 Southern Arizona high school basketball teams will compete in the event.

The MLK Basketball Classic kicks off with an elementary school exhibition game at 8 a.m., followed by the first boys game of the day when Willcox takes on Santa Rita at 9.

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Following the first high school game of the day, the Pusch Ridge Christian Academy and Sabino girls will go head-to-head at 10:45 a.m.

At 12:30 p.m., the Catalina Foothills and Mountain View Marana boys will face off, followed by the Douglas and Amphitheater girls at 2:15.

Battle-tested boys teams Sahuaro and Cholla will duke it out on the court at 4 p.m.

To wrap up the event, the Nogales and Sunnyside girls compete at 5:45 p.m., and the Cienega and Buena boys hit the court at 7.

Tickets can be purchased on site on the day of the event.

For more information about the annual MLK Basketball Classic, visit coachesforcharity.org.