NEW MADISON — Tri-Village will open the 2026-27 girls basketball season by hosting the largest girls basketball event in Darke County history, bringing 20 teams to the Patriot Activity Center over Thanksgiving weekend.
The Dabbelt Report Lady Patriots Tip-Off Classic will feature 10 games Nov. 28-29, including appearances by four Darke County teams. The Lady Patriots and longtime girls basketball media personality Jim Dabbelt collaborated on the event.
For several years, Tri-Village High School hosted the annual Bill Burkett Tournament during the opening weekend of the girls basketball season. Most years, the tournament featured four county schools, with Ansonia, Arcanum and Franklin Monroe joining the Patriots.
This season officially begins Nov. 23. Following Thanksgiving, the Patriot Activity Center will welcome college prospects and area teams during the season’s first full weekend.
“We feel very fortunate to get to host a multi-day event in our beautiful gymnasium, the Patriot Activity Center,” said Tri-Village head coach Brad Gray. “We will do our best to provide each of the 19 other teams coming to the event a first-class experience. Our community is a huge supporter of our basketball programs so we certainly hope that they will show up to not only support our team, but the event as a whole.”
Gray said the field offers fans several compelling matchups.
“I think with the outstanding teams and outstanding players that we have coming, that there will be a lot of interest in the games that will be taking place,” he said. “There are a lot of very intriguing matchups that you typically would not get to see most years.”
Dabbelt is beginning his 42nd season covering girls basketball in Ohio, the longest tenure in state history. He also lived in Pitsburg for several years during the 1990s.
“I am really excited to work with Brad to host such a prestigious event for the basketball fans of Darke County,” Dabbelt said. “Two years ago, I was honored to host a very similar event at Vandalia Butler to celebrate 40 years in girls basketball, and this event will be very similar with two full days of games through the weekend.”
Six games are scheduled for Saturday, beginning at 11 a.m. with New Bremen facing Newton, which is coming off an 18-win season.
Mississinawa Valley will face Valley View at 12:45 p.m., followed by Ansonia against Franklin Furnace Green at 2:30 p.m. Oxford Talawanda will meet Milton-Union at 4:15 p.m., and Brookville will face Minster at 6 p.m.
The Saturday nightcap at 7:45 p.m. will feature Division III state champion Chaminade Julienne against Division VII state runner-up Russia.
Sunday’s schedule begins at 1 p.m. with Bethel facing Northwestern. Greenon will meet Greenville at 2:45 p.m., followed by Miami East against Middletown Fenwick at 4:30 p.m.
Host Tri-Village will face Vandalia Butler in the weekend finale at 6:15 p.m.
“Although we do not typically play Butler during the regular season, we have faced them quite a bit during the off-season in recent years, so there is some familiarity there,” Gray said. “Coach Bardonaro does such a great job with her team year in and year out. They are a very well-coached group, especially on the defensive end of the floor. They keep you off balance because they are constantly changing defenses from possession to possession and sometimes even during the middle of a possession.”
Gray said the matchup will provide an early test for his young team.
“It will be a great challenge for our young group to start the season,” he said. “I think starting the season with tough matchups helps to get your kids really locked in and focused right away. It also allows us to face a challenge that will expose our areas of weakness and gives us an opportunity to try and get some of those things fixed sooner rather than later.”
Along with the competitive matchups, the event will showcase several college prospects.
“We have several college prospects who will be involved in this event, so I am hoping to draw some coaches in to see the talent in person,” Dabbelt said.
He said the event will also give county basketball fans a chance to see local teams begin their seasons.
“The one thing I can say about the four teams from Darke County, the effort those kids give on the court is stellar,” Dabbelt said. “Three of the county teams (Mississinawa Valley, Tri Village, Ansonia) went to the district finals last year, and Greenville continues to show improvement, finishing third in their division of the MVL behind the buzzsaw from Tipp and a very good Butler team.”
Gray said the event will highlight Darke County’s basketball tradition while bringing local fans together.
“Our hope is that having some of the other local teams in the event will help to draw some interest from the local avid basketball fans,” he said. “It is a great opportunity for people around the county to come and watch local teams all in one gym. We know that Darke County basketball fans are itching to get the winter season started and this is a great way to bring a lot of teams under one roof so you can see a variety of teams at one time.”
Ticket prices have not been announced. Fans can purchase daily tickets to attend multiple games each day.
