MAC set to host first Summer Shootout

Several local basketball teams will have a chance to showcase their talents against stout opponents during the Summer Shootout hosted by Mineral Area College on Saturday.

The tournament is a one-day event starting at 10:00 a.m. General admission will be $2, and games will continue with the seventh-place contest concluding the action.

Each first-round pairing will consist of a local squad playing a St. Louis area team.

Central, North County, and Farmington will be pitted against Lutheran North, Chaminade, Riverview Gardens, and St. Mary’s, respectively.

Festus was originally scheduled as the fourth local team, but recently withdrew and was replaced by Fredericktown. The Blackcats will face Chaminade.

The championship game is scheduled for 4:40 p.m. and will be followed by the consolation brackets.

“It is just going to be a great day of basketball. All of our local teams will face some new teams,” Mineral Area coach Luke Strege said. “It will be a great experience.”

“The teams from St. Louis will be bringing some Division I prospects down, but if our teams play well and get a couple upsets, we could have two local teams in the championship,” he added. “That would be great for our fans.”

Strege will also host a MAC daytime basketball camp from July 17-21 for boys and girls. He is excited to return basketball to the area for a brief stint during an otherwise slow summer.

“It’s a good day to bring basketball back, and it’s a good preview to see what the teams will look like next year as well.”

This is the first year Mineral Area College has held the Summer Shootout. An exceptional turnout could result in the event becoming a tradition.

“The goal is to get bigger,” Strege said. “Our four local coaches want to play good teams and see what they have.” 

Eight teams, including four from the MAAA conference, will compete in the inaugural MAC Summer Shootout basketball tournament on Saturday at Bob Sechrest Fieldhouse.