Recent ActivityFort Payne's girls won the first five editions of the Wills Valley Shootout before settling for second place in the high school basketball competition each of the last five years.
And while breaking the string of runner-up finishes and reclaiming the championship trophy would be nice, head coach Steve Sparks said that's not his team's main objective this week.
"We'd like to use this tournament as a chance to improve," he said. "This is an opportunity for our team to get better and play competition we don't usually play in the regular season. To win two games and get to the championship game would be an emotional boost."
The 11th edition of the Shootout tips off Wednesday at Fort Payne. The annaul Christmas week tournament features eight teams in both the boys and girls divisions.
The girls field includes a pair of traditionally strong Class 6A squads in two-time defending champion Sparkman and Gadsden City. Sumter Central, a new school that was a consolidation of Sumter County and Livingston, also looks formidable. Sumter County went 25-8 last year and made the 3A Final Four, while Livingston reached the 4A Central Regional final. Sumter Central is a 4A school.
Three schools - Pope John Paul II Catholic, Russellville and Sparkman - will join Fort Payne with teams in both divisions.
"Anytime you've got Gadsden City, Sparkman, some of the traditional 6A powerhouses, it's a good tournament," said Sparks, whose team will face Catholic in the opening round Wednesday night at 7. "This year's tournament, as an overall field, I think it's a very balanced tournament."
Fort Payne (6-5) has won two striaght after rallying from 11 points down in the second half to defeat Madison County in area play Friday.
Sparks thinks Sparkman is the favorite to make it three straight titles. The Senators are ranked No. 7 in 6A.
"They're a young team but very talented," he said.
