NEWPORT-Always a tough event, the 21st annual GreenBank Ladies Classic features 14 of the top teams from the state of Tennessee and a pair of nationally known programs for the 2009 version of the event.

The tournament is a 16-team event, featuring the best in girls basketball regionally as well as nationally. Each year, eight local teams are invited to the tournament, along with eight regional and national teams.

Cocke County High School will mark their second consecutive appearance in the event and will open their tournament run by opening against last season's Class AA runner-up Livingston Academy.

"We are proud and honored to be invited to such a great tournament," Cocke County coach Wade Wester. "The tournament organizers do a great job with hosting this tournament and putting it together.

"It will be a very tough challenge for us, but this is a great stage for girls high school basketball and a great way to showcase our team," Wester said.

All four of the Greene County High Schools (North Greene, South Greene, Chuckey Doak and West Greene) and Greeneville High School represent five of the area schools, Dobyns-Bennett, Maryville and Cocke County round out the remaining three positions for local teams.

Two-time defending champion and 2007-08 Class AAA state champion Wilson Central will be back to defend their crown as one of six top teams from across the state of Tennessee.

2006 tournament champion Mt. Juliet returns to the event after a one-year absence and they also appear with perennial powers Oak Ridge, Cleveland and Livingston Academy. Sycamore High School will also make their second consecutive appearance in the event.

The two national teams in the event are Cosby High School (Midlothian, Va.) and Rogers High School (Rogers, Ar,). Cosby advanced to the Virginia semifinals last year and sport a pair of Division 1-A commitments and Rogers sports a commitment to the University of Oklahoma.

Opening round tip-times and pairings were announced this week. The event kicks off on December 28 and runs through December 31 and will be played at Hal Henard Gymnasium in Greeneville.

Opening round matchups

Monday, December 28

10 AM - Chuckey-Doak vs Maryville

11:30 AM - Cocke County vs. Livingston Academy

1 PM - Dobyns-Bennett vs. Mt. Juliet

2:30 PM - West Greene vs. Wilson Central

4 PM - Oak Ridge vs. Cleveland

5:30 PM - South Greene vs. Sycamore

7 PM - Greeneville vs. Cosby High School

8:30 PM - North Greene vs. Rogers High School