The Red Level Tigers are looking for a steady performance as they prepare for the 20th Annual Red Level Christmas Tournament beginning on Thursday at Red Level High School.

There will be eight boys’ and eight girls’ teams competing in the three-day event.

“These tournaments present a lot of good opportunities for our teams,” Red Level head coach Allen Catrett said. “We can only play 20 regular-season games, so this gives you a chance to get some extra games in your schedule. It also helps you build stamina because you have to play three days in a row. We also get a chance to play teams that we wouldn’t normally. Win or lose, you have to turn right back around and play the next day. This gives us a chance to see how we respond to that quick turnaround.”

Catrett said that he expects the tournament to be filled with good games.

“We get to bring in a lot of good teams in the this tournament,” Catrett said. “A lot of the teams that have played in this tournament over the past few years, have made trips to the Final Four in their classification. There should be a lot of good basketball games all day long.”

Getting the tournament prepared requires a lot of time and effort from Catrett and volunteers.

“There is a lot that goes into getting these tournaments ready,” Catrett said. “First, you have to start early to fill both brackets with eight teams. Sometimes that can be hard to do. Second, you are up there all day for three days. There is so much that goes on behind the scenes that most people aren’t even aware of. We have a lot of people that volunteer their time during the holidays to help us work the concession stand, keep the gate and help clean up each night.”

Admission to the tournament will be $7 each day.

The tournament begins Thursday at 9 a.m., with last game of the evening slated for a 7:30 p.m., start.

T.R. Miller and McKenzie’s girls are the opening game Thursday morning at 9 a.m., with the both school’s boys teams squaring off at 10:30 a.m.

Georgiana and Pike County tip off at noon on the girls’ side of the tournament.

Georgiana and Samson then match up at 1:30 p.m., on the boys’ side.

The first Covington County teams take the court at 3 p.m., with Andalusia and Pleasant Home battling on in the girls’ bracket.

Pleasant Home will then take on Pike Road in boys’ action at 4:30 p.m.

The Red Level Lady Tigers will take on Carroll at 6 p.m.

Red Level’s boys’ close out the evening when they square off with Luverne at 7:30 p.m.

Games will begin at 9 a.m., each day.