LARRY CHAPMAN TOURNEY: Defending 3A champ Montgomery Academy debut is scheduled

Coach Jeremy Arant may have his full compliment of players for the Larry Chapman tourney but he is not sure how much action the “football players” will see. (File Photo)

By TIM GAYLE

The highlight of the annual Coach Larry Chapman Foundation Tip-Off Classic would be the 2025-26 debut of defending 3A state champion Montgomery Aacdemy.

But not even head coach Jeremy Arant is sure how he will approach Monday’s tournament opener with Marbury after several of his players were involved in a physical quarterfinal playoff game on Friday night with Bayside Academy and have yet to practice basketball this season.

“We’re just going to roll in there and do it (with no practice),” Arant said. “I haven’t completely decided yet, but we may even hold our guys out on Monday just to give them another day of rest. It’s going to be a long season and we probably have the toughest schedule we’ve ever had so it’s not worth rushing them out there.

“Both (Braden Gordon and Jarrett Friendly), we will ease them into it. If they play, whatever day it is, they will not play 32 minutes. They’ll be on some kind of minute restriction.”

Without Montgomery Academy at full strength, the path to the finals on Wednesday could be filled by several teams.

“I think it is (wide open),” Arant said. “As we were putting it together, that’s one of the things that was intriguing. On the boys’ side, it does feel pretty wide open. Lee-Scott’s a good team, Pike Road’s a good team, Handley’s a good team. Brew Tech has played really well early in the season, PCA looks like they’re playing well. You feel like the boys’ side is pretty wide open. I don’t know as much about the girls’ (bracket), but it also seems pretty wide open.”

The tournament opens on Monday, both boys and girls bracket. All games will be played at Montgomery Academy.

COACH LARRY CHAPMAN FOUNDATION TIP-OFF TOURNAMENT

Monday-Wednesday at Montgomery Academy

BOYS

Monday

Game 1 -- Handley vs. Lee-Scott Academy, 4 p.m.

Game 2 -- Brewbaker Tech vs. Prattville Christian, 4 p.m.

Game 3 -- Pike Road vs. St. James, 1 p.m.

Game 4 -- Marbury vs. Montgomery Academy, 1 p.m.

Tuesday

Game 5 -- Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 4 -- 1 p.m.

Game 6 -- Loser Game 2 vs. Loser Gaem 4 -- 1 p.m.

Game 7 -- Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 3 -- 4 p.m.

Game 8 -- Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 3 -- 4 p.m.

Wednesday

Game 9 -- Loser Game 6 vs. Loser Game 8 -- 10:30 a.m.

Game 10 -- Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 8 -- 10:30 a.m.

Game 11 -- Loser Game 7 vs. Loser Game 5 -- noon

Game 12 -- Championship Game, Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 7 -- 3 p.m.

GIRLS

Monday

Game 1 -- Lee-Scott Academy vs. Stanhope Elmore -- 11:30 a.m.

Game 2 -- Pike Road vs. Prattville Christian -- 11:30 a.m.

Game 3 -- Catholic vs. Brewbaker Tech -- 2:30 p.m.

Game 4 -- Montgomery Academy vs. JAG -- 2:30 p.m.

Tuesday

Game 5 -- Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 3 -- 11:30 a.m.

Game 6 -- Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 3 -- 11:30 a.m.

Game 7 -- Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 4 -- 2:30 p.m.

Game 8 -- Loser Game 2 vs. Loser Game 4 -- 2:30 p.m.

Wednesday

Game 9 -- Loser Game 6 vs. Loser Game 8 -- 9 a.m.

Game 10 -- Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 8 -- 9 a.m.

Game 11 -- Loser Game 7 vs. Loser Game 5 -- noon

Game 12 -- Championship Game, Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 7 -- 1:30 p.m.