High School Basketball

2. The 35th Annual Myrtle Beach
Ball Classic
• The Beach Ball Classic was created in 1981 by Marshall University
head coach, Dan D'Antoni.
• It started out as an eight-team affair and has evolved into the
most acclaimed 16-team national competition.
• The Beach Ball Classic is widely recognized for its academic
contribution. Since 1984, the Beach Ball Classic Scholarship Fund
has awarded over $500,000 in college scholarships to more than
300 deserving high school students.
• The tournament is held at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center
every year at Christmas and attracts thousands of spectators.

3. Poca on the Prowl
• Last year Poca High School
became the first unbeaten boys
champ in 28 years. They will
be making their first
appearance at the 2015 Beach
Ball Classic on Dec. 26th at
5pm.
• The Dots went 27-0 in 2014
and took the Class AA
Championship over Fairmont
Senior, 57-53.
• Poca is poised for another great
season!

4. Dan D'Antoni
• After D'Antoni graduated from Marshall
University, he joined the Herd's coaching staff as
the head coach of the freshman basketball team
before becoming an assistant coach of the
varsity squad.
• He left Marshall and coached for 30 years at
Socastee High School in Myrtle Beach, SC
where he accumulated over 500 wins.
• D'Antoni founded the Beach Ball Classic, which is
now one of the most prestigious high school
basketball tournaments in the country
• Currently he is back on his home turf as the
head coach for the Marshall Thundering Herd
men's basketball team.

5. Mark Martin Special
• In honor of this Beach Ball Classic tournament,
Mark Martin will locally produce a thirty minute
special that will air Dec. 26, 2015 at 2pm on
WVAH. The program will highlight the historic
2014 season of the Poca Dots and expectations
of how they will perform in the tournament.
• Mark Martin has been Sports Director at
Eyewitness News since 2000. He has also earned
many honors including Emmy Awards and the
Lifetime Achievement Award from the AP. Mark
has been recognized as the West Virginia
Sportscaster of the Year.
• Mark just finished his fifth year as color analyst for Marshall
football radio. After spending 20 years as a TV sideline reporter
and is also host of Doc Holliday and Dan D’Antoni Coaches Shows
on WCHS/FOX11.