Ninth Clarence Sutton high school basketball tourney tips off Thursday

The ninth annual Clarence Sutton high school basketball tournament begins Thursday at St. Kevin’s High School in Goulds, where six metro area girls teams will compete in two divisions.

The host and defending champion St. Kevin’s Mavericks are grouped with the O’Donel Patriots and Mobile Monarchs, while the other division features the Holy Heart Highlanders, Waterford Valley Warriors and Gonzaga Vikings.

Proceeds of the tourney go to support the Clarence Sutton Memorial Scholarship fund set up in memory of the former player, high-level coach and St. Kevin’s teacher who died of cancer in 2009.

All six teams will participate in the playoff round, beginning Saturday. The second- third-place finishers from preliminary play meet in cross-over games, with the winners advancing to face the top finishers in the semifinals.

The championship game is 11 a.m. Sunday at the St. Kevin’s gym.