The Andalusia High School Bulldog basketball team is preparing for its 48th annual invitational tournament to be held Thursday through Saturday at the high school gymnasium.

AHS head basketball coach Richard Robertson said this is the longest continuous running tournament in the entire state of Alabama. The tourney was originated in 1967 by then-coach Clayton Bryant.

Four teams entered the first year, but the tournament has grown to as many as eight ot 12 teams at different times. This year’s filed will include eight teams from Athletic District No. 2.

Four or five athletes playing this year are major college prospects in football or basketball. They represent Enterprise and Luverne, both teams that have been previous tournament champions. Luverne has won the tournament for the past three years.

Elba and Luverne played for the championship last year, and the same two teams played for the Alabama State 2-A Championship, with Elba finishing as state champs.

Four games will be played each day, and Coach Rob said, “We are looking for good fan support.”

The tournament begins at 4 p.m. Thursday, when Enterprise meets Dale County. Opp will play Luverne in game two at 5:30 p.m. Elba faces Brantley in the 7 p.m. game, and Andalusia plays Red Level at 8:30 p.m.

There will be games at 4 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on Friday, and on Saturday.

The tournament bracket is available on The Star-News website.