DEMOPOLIS &8212; About this time every year, Demopolis High School hosts an invitational basketball event &8212; the Demopolis Classic.

This year the classic, which won&8217;t be in a tournament format, will play host to eight teams over two days with five games. The event kicks off at the high school gym at 5:30 this afternoon when 1A John Essex High School takes on 3A Choctaw County High School.

The opening game is a preview of the event&8217;s format, which pairs teams that normally wouldn&8217;t have a chance to face one another.

For example, hosting Demopolis, a 5a team, will play 4A Livingston High School today and 3A Choctaw County High School on Saturday. Also today, 3A Francis Marion High School will test 1A A.L. Johnson, while Saturday will wrap up with Francis Marion match up with 2A Southern Choctaw high School.

Of course there is a down side to this year&8217;s event, Bell said. He noted that the girls&8217; team, which usually hosts a girls&8217; tournament, won&8217;t be competing in Demopolis for this year&8217;s event because enough schools couldn&8217;t be found to play.

Instead the girls&8217; group will head to Selma High School &8212; the only school to beat the 5-1 Lady Tigers &8212; to play in its tournament today and tomorrow.

After the classic wraps up neither Demopolis team will play again until a road match to Dallas County High School on Jan. 4. The school&8217;s next home game is Jan. 5 against Keith.