Red Bank Regional To Host Basketball Classic Beginning Tomorrow

LITTLE SILVER, NJ - Red Bank Regional High School will host its 35th Annual BUC Classic at the high school , beginning tomorrow. The three-day event is one of the longest running holiday tournaments in the Shore Conference and can trace its roots back to the old Asbury Round Ball Tournament, as well as the Casey Tournament, according to the high school.

The first of four games each day begins at 12:30 p.m. and the last convenes at 5 p.m. Entrance fee is $5 for adults and $3 for students. The games are played at the high school, 101 Ridge Road in Little Silver.

Participants include seven New Jersey high school basketball teams and one from Pittsburgh, PA.

Tomorrow's schedule includes a 12;30 p.m. match between #3-rated Colts Neck Cougars and #6 Shore Regional Blue Devils; at 2 p.m., #2 Lakewood Piners take on #7 Red Bank Buccaneers, the hosts of the tournament; at 3:30 p.m., #1 Middletown North Lions will play #8 Freehold Boro Colonials and the final game of the day will begin at 5 p.m. and will feature the #4 Sayreville Bombers against #5 Seton LaSalle Rebels.

Red Bank Regional BUCS has captured the title 12 times in the tournament’s 35-year history. The event was named after Albert Martin, the beloved former Buccaneers captain. Martin died suddenly during the basketball season of 2012-2013.

“Albert was a beloved son, brother, friend, teammate and classmate (who) exemplified leadership, courage, strength and friendship to our entire school and basketball program," said Del Dal Pra, the school athletic director in a release. "The renaming of our annual basketball tournament in Albert’s name has helped our school community and the coaching staff through the healing process and serves as a fitting tribute for a young man who had such a positive impact to the RBR basketball program. Albert will always be a Buc.”

A view of a boys' state basketball championship in Wisconsin. Photograph by Andy Manis/Associated Press.