'Rumble on the River' set to return to New Madrid

NEW MADRID -- The 14th Annual NMCC Riverbend Classic is scheduled to begin on Friday afternoon in New Madrid and the teams attending this year's 'Rumble by the River' tourney include premiere in-and out-of-state squads. Byhalia, Miss., Pine Bluff, Ark., West Memphis, Ark. and Memphis Central, Tenn. headline the out-of-state teams while NMCC, Charleston and Scott County Central are the three returning in-state teams back in 2008. Making their debut in the tourney are Poplar Bluff and Pacific.

"I think it's going to be a well-run tournament this year," said NMCC head coach Travis Day. "West Memphis has a 7-footer that has either signed or committed to play at (the University of) Arkansas. Memphis Central will be loaded. They come in here 6-6 and better. It's one of those things for the fans, it's going to be a great tournament for them to watch."

Day's Eagle squad, including several members fresh off of a solid football season, will square-off with Pine Bluff, Ark. in the first day of games.

"Most of the time they're going to be long and athletic," said Day. "They attack the basket and they're very athletic and well-coached. I think highly of their coach and he works them hard. They're one of the better teams that come up here."

Pine Bluff has been ranked in the top 10 in the state of Arkansas for the past 10 years.

Day said that the tournament is always good to play to kick the season off so he and his coaching staff can compile game footage to show their players what they need to work on for the rest of the season.

Charleston head coach Danny Farmer said that his squad uses the tournament to dust the cobwebs off and brush up on things that they need to do better for the rest of the season.

"We see it as a good measuring tool for games to come," Farmer said. "We kind of look at it as a practice session trying to improve on the things we need to for the season. We're not nearly as ready as we should be, this year especially."

"This tournament is exactly that (measuring tool) this year," he added. "We need to play those games and see what we need to improve on."

Farmer said that the Bluejays have been in the tournament for as long as he can remember and that this year they face West Memphis and Pine Bluff as well.

"Both of those teams are good year-in and year-out," said Farmer. "They've got a lot of talent. When we leave the Riverbend we will know how well we can size up in southeast Missouri."

Scott Central will face Byhalia on Friday and Memphis Central on Saturday while Poplar Bluff has Memphis Central on Friday.