The King Coal Classic staff and the participating teams have all been working hard to prepare for what is shaping up to be another exciting two nights of basketball at Willie Akers Arena on Jan. 25-26.

This year’s King Coal Classic basketball tournament will feature three games on Friday night.

The action tips off at 6 p.m. with the Logan High School girls’ basketball team taking on Greenbrier East High School at 7:30 p.m.

The Logan boys then follow with a game against Belfry, Ky., at 7:30 p.m.

The 9 p.m. nightcap on Jan. 25 pits Tug Valley against Greenbrier East.

There are four games scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 26.

The action gets under way at 12 p.m. with the Logan JV boys taking on Chapmanville’s JV team.

Then at 2 p.m., Capital faces Tolsia in boys’ action. Then at 6 p.m. on Jan. 26, the Logan boys are scheduled to take on Greenbrier East.

Also on Jan. 26 at 4 p.m., there will be a college game as Fairmont State University plays Davis & Elkins College. Former Logan High School all-state player Stevie Browning is a freshman guard for Fairmont State.

Having a college game at the King Coal Classic has turned into a recent tradition and this year is no exception.

In addition to the games, several other events are planned in conjunction with the tournament.

A portion of the tournament proceeds will go to the Ronald McDonald House, the Logan Animal Shelter and the American Cancer Society.

All Logan Buddy League basketball players will get in free on Saturday (with a paying adult). There will be lots of contests and prizes for all ages.

Finally, at the end of the third quarter of the Logan-Greenbrier East game on Saturday, Jan. 26, some lucky fan will have one chance to make a half court shot (sponsored by Stollings Trucking Co.) to win $10,000.

This year’s Gold Sponsors include: Baisden Brothers, C&W Discount, Dan & Dave’s Sporting Goods, Fireball Trucking Co., Hatfield-McCoy CVB, James River Coal, Jeff McCoy, Jim & Melissa Frye, McDonald Land Company, Natural Resource Partners, Pepsi-Cola, Radio Shack, Southern Amusement, Stollings Trucking Company, and WVOW radio.

Some big names and big-time teams, such as Huntington Prep, have played in the King Coal Classic in the past and have made the tournament one of the best in the state.