THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Wednesday, December 7, 1994            TAG: 9412070577
SECTION: SPORTS                   PAGE: C6   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY CHARLIE DENN, CORRESPONDENT 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   45 lines

ANNUAL TIDEWATER TOURNEY SETS HIGH GOALS NOT JUST GAMES, IT'S GOSPEL MUSIC, A JOB FAIR AND SCHOLARSHIPS

The annual Tidewater Basketball Classic, which tips off Thursday afternoon, is more than a showcase for athletics.

The tournament's credo, ``Investing in the Three R's: Recognition, Reinforcement and Reward in Academics and Athletics,'' defines what the classic is about. In addition to 16 basketball games in three days, the classic includes a gospel concert; a college, military and job fair day; a youth day - and 17 scholarships for deserving students.

``We're going pretty much non-stop as we get closer to the tournament,'' said Booker T. Washington basketball coach Barry Hamler, the event's executive director. ``There's so many last-minute details to work out.''

Hamler's duties include helping arrange for lodging and meals for the out-of-town teams, lining up sponsors, setting up television and radio interviews, and discussing ideas with sponsors to make the event's impact more wide-ranging.

``It started four years ago because we were trying to fill out our basketball schedule,'' Hamler said. ``We had four local teams, and the event has grown steadily from there. Now we're able to bring in some of the top high school teams in the country. Sometimes I can't believe how quickly, and how far, we've come.''

The event kicks off tonight with a celebrity banquet and social that includes James Madison coach Lefty Driesell, Virginia Commonwealth coach Sonny Smith and former Chicago Bulls star Bob Love.

The basketball starts Thursday at 4:30 at Booker T., when Atlantic Shores meets Lake Taylor. Games run pretty much non-stop until late Saturday.

Then there are the job fair, the youth day and the scholarships. Those are rewards that probably couldn't have been foreseen in 1990, when the event began.

``That's the amazing thing, to me,'' Hamler said. ``When you consider the way the sponsors give of themselves, their time and their money, it's really heartwarming. It shows me people want to get involved in helping the community.'' by CNB