GAC/Suburban Challenge returns to Family Arena

For high school basketball enthusiasts the time is quickly approaching for you to make plans to attend the Annual GAC SUBURBAN SOUTH/WEST BASKETBALL CHALLENGE where you can enjoy your love of the game and watch the amazing athletic talents of young basketball players from across the St. Louis metropolitan area all under one roof - The St. Charles Family Arena.

The BASKETBALL CHALLENGE, which is in its third year of showcasing the area's athletes, will be held Thursday, December 13; Friday, December 14; and Saturday, December 15, 2012 at the St. Charles Family Arena in St. Charles, Missouri. Thirty-four area high school teams - 17 teams from the west side of the Missouri River representing the Gateway Athletic Conference and 17 teams from the east side of the Missouri River representing both the Suburban and South & West Conferences, will team against each other to see who has what it takes to score the highest and bring their school's name to the ultimate victory. The schedule of games is:

Thursday, December 13, 2012

4:00 p.m. Lindbergh vs. Francis Howell North

5:30 p.m. Fox vs. Holt

7:00 p.m. Parkway Central vs. St. Charles West

8:30 p.m. Webster Groves vs. St. Charles

Friday, December 14, 2012

4:00 p.m. University City vs. Ft. Zumwalt West

5:30 p.m. Parkway West vs. Christian O'Fallon

7:00 p.m. Marquette vs. Ft. Zumwalt North

8:30 p.m. Kirkwood vs. Troy Saturday,

December 15, 2012

9:00 a.m. Northwest vs. Warrenton

10:30 a.m. Seckman vs. Ft. Zumwalt East

12:00 p.m. Mehlville vs. Timberland

1:30 p.m. Parkway North vs. Winfield

3:00 p.m. Parkway South vs. Francis Howell

4:30 p.m. Rockwood Summit vs.

Francis Howell Central

6:00 p.m. Lafayette vs. Washington

7:30 p.m. Oakville vs. St. Dominic

9:00 p.m. Eureka vs. Ft. Zumwalt South

This exciting and very competitive event came about at the request of the athletic directors from the Suburban Conference to play against the GAC Conference. St. Charles County Executive, Steve Ehlmann, who is a former player and avid fan of the game, felt it was a great idea and suggested the event be held at the St. Charles Family Arena. Through the organizational efforts of Sports St. Charles County, the area's local sports commission, the first event was held in 2010. It didn't take long for corporate sponsors to see the value they would gain by being a part of this fun community-wide event. They quickly lent their financial support to help the event progress from the planning stage to the reality of watching the games courtside and have remained loyal since the beginning. This year's sponsors are: The Dilly Agency, Excel Sports and Physical Therapy, Pepsico, St. Charles Orthopaedic Surgery Associates, Lang Insurance Service, First Bank, Cuivre River Electric Cooperative, ProRehab, Pundmann Ford and The Missouri National Guard.

Tickets are $5.00 per person per day and can only be purchased through the Family Arena Box Office. Tickets are on sale now at the Family Arena Box Office. One ticket will allow access to all the games being played on the same date of purchase. For security and safety reasons, the ticket becomes void upon departing the arena. To re-enter the venue, a new ticket will need to be purchased. Concessions will be available throughout the games. For further information contact Teri Seiler, Executive Director, Sports St. Charles County at 314-610-2315.