Area teams set for third annual Rib City Shootout at BEC

In just it's third year of existence, the Rib City Shootout has expanded nearly four times its original size adding countless teams to it's summer basketball camp lineup.

Starting Friday, the first of three girls weekends kicks off the summer with the boys beginning June 8-9.

"It's been on a steady growth," Shootout director and Dexter girls basketball coach Chad Allen said. "We've never really had a big shootout in our area."

The girls have two more weekends scheduled at the camp, June 15-16 and July 20-21.

The boys will go again on July 13-14.

In it's inaugural year, the camp featured just 35 girls teams and 29 boys teams. This year Allen and camp officials are expecting over 250 teams.

"On the boys side, it's definitely a hot-bed as far as the competition," Allen said. "On the girls side, it's been more about getting better and developing, but I think we're starting to get there with the girls too.

"I know there's a lot of teams that have never played during the summer on the girls side who are playing now."

This year, the camp will bring in teams from five different states -- Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky and Illinois.

"It's really growing outside our region as well," said Allen. "It just seems like it's getting further and further every year."

The camp offers a setting for varsity basketball squads all the way down to sixth grade teams.

According to ribcityshootout.com, each team will play a minimum of six game with eight games possible.

With the addition of the Bearcat Event Center three years ago, Allen is able to provide teams with a possible seven different basketball courts to host the overflowing bill.

"The facilities that we have are a big part to why it's been successful," Allen said. "We have the BEC, the high school, the middle school, Southwest elementary and even the Dexter Parks and Recreation gym that we can utilize all in one centralized area."

The Rib City Shootout has always kept their emphasis as providing each team that chooses to attend with a competitive environment against teams of their similar skill level.

Before the teams take the court, Ryan Goodson, Basketball Director for the Stephen Curry and Brendan Haywood Skills Academies, will conduct a pro skills academy at the Bearcat Event Center on Thursday.

Goodson is also a pro skill development coach, consultant, clinician and motivational speaker.

For more information about the camp or the pro skills academy, visit www.ribcityshootout.com.

NOTE: For a complete list of the teams attending see page 7 of today's print edition of the Daily Statesman under the Scoreboard.