Coupeville Sports

Virgil Roehl, son of the tournament founder, and a beast on the hardwood in his day (the early ’90s) rests up for the big day.

The ol’ ball coach.

Saturday, Dec. 22 will be an all-day smorgasbord of basketball.

A person could camp out at the Coupeville High School gym that day and watch hoops being shot and balls dribbled until their eyes contract and become the size of B-B’s.

The day finishes off with a doubleheader in which the Wolf boys’ and girls’ squads face off with visiting Orcas Island, but true basketball enthusiasts — and community-minded folk — will want to be on hand at 9:30 AM for the Tom Roehl Round-ball Classic.

The annual tournament, named in honor of the longtime local coach, brings together players from on and off the Island, while mixing young bucks with old legends looking to reclaim a bit of the magic they once brought to the CHS gym. Originally started by the ol’ ball coach himself, it has been revived by his family in recent years, with proceeds going to the Tom Roehl Memorial Scholarship.

Registration is currently open online at http://www.sports4e.com/seasons/2012-tom-roehl-round-ball-classic.

Cost is $125 per team (can be co-ed), while individual players who would like to be put on a team can contact tourney boss Noah Roehl at nroehl@tjroehl.com.

The tournament has drawn eight teams each of the past two years, and game lengths will depend on how many teams sign-up.

Both the Round-Ball Classic and the Tom Roehl Turkey Bowl, which raised $500 at Thanksgiving, have benefited from local sponsorship.

Former Wolf football stud Jason Joiner and Windermere Property Management, Schisel Construction, Harada Physical Therapy, DCG Engineering, Sherman Farms, Ashley’s Designs and R&R Tree Service have all stepped up, while two sponsorship spaces are still open.