The second annual Provident Pride of Maryland Tournament will be about bragging rights when the Division III men?s basketball event takes place in late November.
The tournament took eight years to plan, said Villa Julie College sports information director Brett Adams. Finally, the three-day playoff tipped off last year, and Villa Julie took home the title.
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“This tournament is great, because sometimes Division III falls under the radar,” said Adams, a co-founder of the event. “But everyone at these schools loved it. We hung our championship banner in the gym, and people talked about it all year.”
Eight of the state?s nine Division III schools participate, and Adams said he draws straws to see which team will sit out. Last year, St. Mary?s College did not participate, and Washington College will not play this fall.
Though scheduling isn?t finalized, Adams said Salisbury University will host Villa Julie, St. Mary?s College will host Johns Hopkins University, McDaniel College will host Hood College, and Frostburg State University will host Goucher College in the first round. The semifinals and finals will be played at Goucher.
“The players all know each other from playing every year and living in the area,” Adams said. “It?s great for them to get the chance to compete like this.”
The tournament?s other co-founder, Bill Nelson, enters his 21st year as Johns Hopkins head coach. Nelson coached in Rochester, N.Y., before coming to Hopkins and said the colleges in that area have a similar annual tournament that?s been played for about 40 years.
After kicking the idea around for several years, Nelson and Adams decided to go for it. All nine Division III teams quickly jumped onboard.
“It?s going to take a while to build the tradition, but I think this tournament is great not only for the players but also for the state and even the alumni from these nine colleges,” Nelson said.
ProvidentBank sponsors the tournament, and this year it will give a $1,000 academic scholarship to each participating school, Adams said.
DIVISION III SHOWCASE
What: Provident Pride of Maryland Tournament
Dates: Nov. 21, 25 and 26
Schools: Salisbury University, Goucher College, John?s Hopkins University, McDaniel College, St. Mary?s College, Villa Julie College, Frostburg State University and Hood College
Did you know? In last year?s tournament final, Villa Julie defeated John?s Hopkins, 81-78, in overtime.
