The first annual Greenville Tip-Off Tournament brought many visitors to Greenville last week from Nov. 22 to Nov. 24.

Greenville Academy hosted the two four-team round-robin tournament at their gymnasium.

The schools that participated in the tournament were the Tornados, Lowndes Academy, Pike Liberal Arts and Hooper Academy.

After all the 12 season opening games were played from last Monday to Wednesday, the Greenville Tip-Off All Tournament was announced.

GA had two players on the team. GA's Ashley May was named to the girls team while Tornado senior Josh Beverly was named to the boys all tournament team.

May led the Tornados in points scored in the first game against Pike while Beverly poured in 17 against the Colts in their season opener.

GA girls' coach Gary Wayne Bowen said that May played well during the tournament.

"I thought she had a good tournament," Bowen said. "Overall, I feel that our team improved over the course of the tournament."

However, the Tornado teams began the season with an 0-3 record.

In the tournament, the Lowndes Academy Rebels stole the show as both the girls' and boys' teams left town with 3-0 marks.

"They were, by far, the strongest team in the tournament," Bowen said. "Playing these teams early on will help us get better."

Bowen said the fans came out for the tournament.

"I was glad to see our fans supporting us as they always do," Bowen said. "They'll see both of our varsity teams get better through the course of the season."

GA boys' varsity coach Steve Whittington said the team played hard in the tournament.

"Everyone hustled out there and played hard," Whittington said. "We'll get better as the year goes on."

Whittington said Beverly played a good tournament.

"He's one of the leaders on the team," Whittington said. "I feel that Josh had a good tournament."

Whittington said that the team will benefit from the tournament.

"Playing in a tournament such as this one here helps us to recognize what we need to do in practice in order to get better before our area games," Whittington said.

The Tornados will be in action on Dec. 4 against Cottage Hill in Mobile starting at 1 p.m.

The next home game will be on Dec. 7 as the Tornados tangle with the Rebels.

Along with the varsity teams, the junior high teams will open up their home schedule. The first game starts at 4 p.m.