Two high school boys' teams match up during the 27th Southwestern Adventist University Annual Hoop Classic tournament this past January. Photo by Southwestern Adventist University
Southwestern Adventist University (SWAU) again hosted the largest basketball tournament in the North American Division with more than a thousand in attendance. Twenty-five Seventh-day Adventist academies and Christian high schools brought 48 teams* from all across the U.S. to Keene, Texas, to play in the 27th Southwestern Adventist University Annual Hoops Classic tournament. Games started Wednesday evening January 25, 2023. Championship series games began early Saturday night, January 28, 2023, and ended around 2 a.m. Sunday morning when the final game’s winning team pulled ahead in overtime!
Congratulations to this year’s winners:
Large School Women’s Champions: North Tampa Christian Academy
Large School Men’s Champions: Takoma Academy
Mid-school Men’s Champions: South Lancaster Academy
Maroon Series Men’s Champions: North Dallas Adventist Academy
Small School Women’s Champions: South Lancaster Academy
Small School Men’s Champions: South Texas Christian Academy
Two high school girls' teams play a game at the SWAU basketball tournament in January 2023. Photo by Southwestern Adventist University
While on campus, students got a taste of what it is like to be a student at SWAU, including a spiritual experience. Players and fans took time out on Friday night and Sabbath at the Keene Seventh-day Adventist Church to worship together at SWAU’s Reset vespers and the Keene Church’s Elevate service. Some high schoolers even attended an on-campus Sabbath school class with university students.
This year, in addition to all the SWAU Most Outstanding Player scholarships awarded at the games on Saturday night, Ana Patterson, SWAU president, offered a scholarship to any participating senior at Hoops Classic who chooses to attend Southwestern.
James The, vice president for student services and Hoops Classic coordinator, said, “I want as many high schoolers as possible to enjoy the activities and one another’s company and to experience the authentic hospitality that our students and visitors enjoy each and every day. Hoops Classic is not only about basketball, but it’s also about making lifelong friends. Our goal is that each visitor will perhaps one day experience Southwestern Adventist University as a valued student.”
Fans including parents and students enjoy the fun at the 2023 SWAU basketball tournament held in January 2023. Photo by Southwestern Adventist University
Watch tournament games and the championship games played in the Leiske-Pultar Gym at youtube.com/SouthwesternAU. View all event highlights on Facebook and Instagram at SouthwesternAU and photos at flickr.com/photos/southwesternadventist.
Next year's Hoops Classic will be Jan. 24-27, 2024. Contact Tina Bottsford, coordinator of guest relations and communication, at 817-202-6408 or by email at tinabot@swau.edu for more information.
*Teams included:
Advent Ridge Academy
Burton Adventist Academy
Chisolm Trail Academy
Forest Lake Academy
Fresno Adventist Academy
Greater Atlanta Adventist Academy
Houston Adventist Academy
Jefferson Christian Academy
Macedonian Christian Academy
Newman International Academy
North Dallas Adventist Academy
North Tampa Christian Academy
Ozark Adventist Academy
Parkview Adventist Academy
Pine Tree Academy
Sandia View Academy
San Gabriel Academy
Scenic Hills Christian Academy
South Lancaster Academy
South Texas Christian Academy
Spencerville Adventist Academy
Takoma Academy
Tulsa Adventist Academy
Walker Memorial Academy
Westlake Academy