Hundreds of high school athletes, coaches and family members will converge on Trenton this Friday and Saturday, many for the first time, and Trentonian’s are encouraged to roll out the welcome mat to the visitors.
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The 2011 Lions All-Star Basketball Classic will be held on the campus of North Central Missouri College this week-end with visitors looking for lodging, dining, shopping, and other services.
“The event is huge for Trenton and the NCMC campus,” Director of the NCMC Foundation Steve Maxey said. “Businesses are encouraged to place welcome signs on store marquees and spruce up store fronts as we welcome these visitors to our town and our college campus.”
Students will come from as far away as Unionville to the east, Tarkio to the west, Platte County to the southwest and Salisbury to the southeast. A total of 47 high schools will be represented by the most outstanding senior basketball players from a 22-county participating area.
“All student athletes have recently graduated from high school and are either playing the final basketball game of their high school career or moving on to play collegiate ball. Many of the athletes are all-state and all-district selections,” Maxey said.
Maxey is encouraging local businesses to greet the students, their families and friends to Trenton by placing welcome messages on their marquees.
“This is a fantastic marketing opportunity for our college and as students arrive on campus on Friday morning, they will be looking at the entire community as a possible college home.”
Business marquees should read “Welcome Lions All-Stars and Fans.”
NCMC will host the third annual event with students staying in the college dorms on Friday night. After spending the day in team practices, an awards banquet will be held that evening featuring former Milwaukee Brewer Bill Severns as the keynote speaker. Tickets are available at $15 for the banquet and may be purchased on the NCMC campus. The evening will conclude with a swim party at the Trenton Aquatic Center.
Saturday will feature eight ballgames and all will be played at the Ketcham Community Center. General admission for one or eight ball games is only $5 per person. All proceeds will be placed ina District scholarship fund administered by the Lions Clubs of District 26-M4.