The Junior Orange Bowl Basketball Classic will begin Friday. These teams will be playing

The Orange Bowl game between Florida and Virginia on Dec. 30 will be a big event but there will plenty of other Orange Bowl activities leading up to the game as well. One of those will be the 25th Annual Junior Orange Bowl Basketball Classic that is set for Friday, Dec. 27 through Monday, Dec. 30 at Palmetto High School, 7460 SW 118th Street, Pine Crest.

For the boys, four local teams will be participating, Palmetto, North Miami, Schoolhouse Prep and Mater Academy while four out of town teams will be in the field, Bullitt East (Kentucky), Centerville (Ohio), Mount St. Joseph (Maryland) and Mt. Lebanon (Pennsylvania).

On the girls side, leading the way will be two-time defending state runner-up Miami High along with four other South Florida teams, Norland, Keys Gate Charter, Nova and Palm Beach Lakes. Out of town teams will be Tampa Chamberlain, Vance (North Carolina) and Cornerstrone Christian from Ohio.

The two championship games are scheduled for Monday, Dec. 30 at 6:30 p.m. (girls) and 8 p.m. (boys).

“We’re extremely proud of the tradition of community service that our teams have shared over the years in all of these events,” said Junior Basketball Committee Chairman Chuck Little. “We’re once again looking forward to some great activities.”

For more information, contact Little at 786-546-3386 or basketball@jrorangebowl.com.

SCHEDULE: Friday, Dec. 27

GIRLS: Vance (N.C) vs. Keys Gate Charter. 9 a.m.; Tampa Chamberlain vs. Norland, 10:30 a.m.; Palm Beach Lakes vs. Nova, 3:30 p.m.; Cornerstone Christian (OH) vs. Miami High, 5 p.m.

BOYS: Bullitt East (Ky.) vs. Schoolhouse Prep., Noon; Centerville (OH) vs. Mater Academy, 1:30 p.m.; Mount St. Joseph (Md.) vs. North Miami, 6:30 p.m.; Mount Lebanon (Pa.) vs. Palmetto, 8 p.m.