Tigers Basketball Announces Field for Inaugural Ray Furney Classic

The 12-team tournament happens December 29-30.

Ray Furney being honored at the final game at Bud Bateman Gymnasium. File photo.

(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) – Lawrenceburg High School will play host to a new boys varsity basketball holiday tournament.

Tigers head coach Brad Cutter released details about the inaugural Ray Furney Classic on Thursday. Pool play will take place on Friday, December 29, followed by bracket play on Saturday, December 30. 

Ray Furney passed away in October of 2017 at the age of 74. He spent 36 years with Lawrenceburg Community Schools, where he served as a teacher, coach, and athletic trainer. Known by many as “Furn”, he was inducted into LHS’ second-ever Athletic Hall of Fame class in 2020.

The inaugural Ray Furney Classic will feature 12 teams. Seven of the teams ended the 2022-23 season ranked in the state of Indiana, including Class 2A State Champions Fort Wayne Blackhawk.

Pool A

1. Bethesda Christian (#6 in 1A last season)
2. Lawrenceburg
3. Guerin Catholic (#12 in 3A last season, 3A Runner-Up)

Pool B

1. Jennings County (#9 in 4A last season)
2. Newport (KY) (33-8, District 36 Champs last season)
3. New Palestine (#10 in 4A last season)

Pool C

1. Connersville (#4 in 3A last season)
2. West Morgan (AL)
3. Whiteland

Pool D

1. Beech Grove (#14 in 3A)
2. Pike Central
3. Fort Wayne Blackhawk (#3 in 2A last season, state champs)

Pool Play Tie-Breaker Scenarios

• If 2 teams tie in pool play, head-to-head competition results will be used to determine seeding.
• If 3 teams tie in pool play, point differentials from pool play competition will be used.
• The point differentials of the teams involved in the tie are totaled. Teams are ranked according to the sum of the point differentials, with 1st in the pool being the team with the largest point differential, 2nd being the 2nd highest, and 3rd being the team with the lowest differential.
• 15 points will be the maximum differential of a contest (ex: If a team beats another team by 27, the 15 point maximum will be used for the contest)