FAYETTEVILLE IS NEW HOST FOR NCHSAA EASTERN REGIONAL BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

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Davis Whitfield, executive director of the NCHSAA, made the official announcement today.

"We are truly excited about the tournament moving to Fayetteville and the interest the community has already demonstrated for this event," said Whitfield. "Greenville has been a great host location for many years and we are grateful for the support and involvement we received there. But Fayetteville is poised and ready to enhance the student-athlete experience of this event, and the level of excitement there is impressive."

Fayetteville has been an Eastern Regional host city earlier, with the tournament calling Cumberland County home from 1987 through '90 after it began in Wilson but outgrew the facilities there. The regionals have been in Greenville since 1990.

The agreement is for a four-year period and the tournaments will be held at the Crown Coliseum complex, with games to be played at both the Crown Arena and Crown Coliseum.

Sectional winners in the NCHSAA playoffs advance to regional play, with four men's teams and four women's teams from each classification qualifying. The winners from the regionals advance to state championship games in Raleigh or in Chapel Hill.

Officials from the Crown Coliseum complex, Cumberland County Schools, and the Fayetteville Convention and Visitors' Bureau have been involved with Fayetteville's effort for the tournament.