The Pioneer Valley Tip-off Classic, a multi-day high school basketball showcase held annually at the Mullins Center, unveiled its 2025 schedule and several Hampshire County squads will be competing.
This year’s showcase kicks off with a marquee matchup as the Belchertown and South Hadley girls’ teams will play each other on Friday, Dec. 12 at 5:15 p.m.
The Tigers (19-4) and the Orioles (11-10) combined for 30 wins during the 2024-25 season.
No other area teams will play again until Saturday, Dec. 13, starting with the PVCICS boys at 9 a.m. The Dragons will take on PVCA in a Tri-County cross-over contest.
Next up, the Frontier girls will meet up with SICS at 11 a.m. This’ll count as new head coach Dave Hastings’ second game as the Redhawks open the season versus Northampton on Thursday, Dec. 11.
The Frontier boys will take to the court after the conclusion of that one and will battle Wahconah at 12:45 p.m. The Redhawks totaled 12 wins a year ago.
At approximately 6 p.m., the Amherst and Smith Academy girls will square off in another Hampshire County tilt. The Falcons will look to build off a 12-win campaign from last season, while the Hurricanes and new head coach Billy Galipeau will hope to snag their first win since the 2023-24 season.
Lastly, the Amherst boys will round out the weekend’s slate of games as the ‘Canes will clash with Minnechaug at 7:45 p.m. The Hurricanes lost their first five games last year and never recovered (5-15), so a win over the Falcons would put the hometown team in the driver’s seat.
The Pioneer Valley Tip-off Classic is entirely run by UMass students and has been a staple of the local high school basketball scene since its inception in 2011.
The showcase was held at the Curry Hicks Cage for the first 10 years of its existence, before moving to the Mullins Center, starting in 2021.