PHOENIX, Ariz. – The St. Francis basketball team will open the Nike Tournament of Champions in Phoenix against Chandler High School at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 19 at Perry High School.

“We are certainly expecting them to be a very athletic school,” said Head Coach Vic Pitton. “They are a very large school. We have played them before in the Nike event and took them to overtime in their gym. We will see what happens this year.”

The Troubadours (5-3) are appearing in the Nike Tournament of Champions for the eighth time in school history. They are in Black Division Bracket with Chandler (Ariz.), Williams Field (Ariz.), Warren, South Mountain (Ariz.), Lake Oswego (Ore.) and Marin Catholic (Calif.).

The winner of the St. Francis-Chandler game will meet on Friday, Dec. 19 at 1 p.m. at Perry. The loser’s will meet at 10 a.m. The third round championship games will take place on Saturday.

“There are three goals for the tournament. One, we get to experience competition that we cannot get in our area. Two, we see teams that are at the upper echelon of girls basketball in the country and what they look like. The third and most important goal is for them to come together as a team. It gives them an opportunity to get away from campus and be in an environment together for three days. It really helps them bond.”

The Nike Tournament of Champions is the third tournament of the season for the Troubadours, who won the Lodi Christmas Tournament last weekend with victories over Rocklin, Lodi and Elk Grove.

“We are all really excited,” said senior Abby Dow, who is making her second appearance at the Nike T.O.C. “It is a really good bonding experience against some good competition.”

St. Francis came back from an eight-point deficit to win the Lodi Tournament, entering the week with a three-game winning streak.

“We have had some problems believing in ourselves individually,” said Dow. “We believe in each other but now our individual confidence is going up. It is good for the team.”

Established in 1997, the Nike Tournament of Champions is universally considered the greatest high school basketball event in the world. Since its inception it has hosted nearly 20,000 athletes from 41 States and every Canadian province; it has produced 144 State Champions and 13 of the past 16 consensus National Champions. Throughout its history, the event has showcased literally hundreds of high school All-Americans and future collegiate and professional stars; its alumni include 8 Olympians and more than two dozen WNBA athletes, including five #1 draft picks.

Competition is held at high schools within the Chandler Unified School District, which has hosted the event since 2001. Fans may attend the competition for just $10 per day or $25 for all three days. Children and seniors pay just $5 per day or $15 for three days.