AREA HOOP TEAMS IN RIVERBEND CLASSIC

NEW MADRID -- Some of Southeast Missouri's top basketball teams will square off with top teams from St. Louis and Texas when the fourth annual Riverbend Classic is held today and Saturday.

New Madrid County Central High School serves as host for the event.

"We're looking forward to a great two days of basketball," said New Madrid coach Lennies McFerren. "We've got some super teams coming in and some excellent teams from our own area."

Local squads competing from Missouri will be New Madrid, Charleston, Notre Dame and Portageville while Cairo and Meridian will make the trip from Illinois.

Adding to the flavor will be St. Louis powerhouses Vashon and Cardinal Ritter and Dallas-area powerhouse Seagoville.

There will be four games both days.

Today's schedule features Charleston vs. Seagoville at 3 p.m.; New Madrid vs. Vashon at 4:30; Cairo vs. Cardinal Ritter at 7; and Notre Dame vs. Meridian at 8:30.

Saturday, it will be Meridian vs. Vashon at 3 p.m.; Portageville vs. Cardinal Ritter at 4:30; New Madrid vs. Seagoville at 7; and Charleston vs. Cairo at 8:30.

Notre Dame coach Chris Janet is looking forward to seeing his team play its first game of the season in the Riverbend Classic.

"It's a great event and it'll be a good experience for our guys," said Janet. "We're young, but we've got some guys with varsity experience. I'm looking forward to seeing us play."