By Justin McGill
Tribune-Courier Managing Editor
jmcgill@tribunecourier.com

ESPN’s Showcase Game hosted by Marshall County High School garnered the highest-ever television rating for a high school basketball game on the network.

MCHS athletic director Steve Woodward said ESPN informed him that the rating of the Dec. 13 game between Oak Hill Academy (Va.) and St. Benedict’s (NJ) was .59, better than the network’s .49 average for high school contests.

The rating, combined with the atmosphere fans provided at Reed Conder Gymnasium, makes a return visit by ESPN possible, Woodward said. Currently, the hope is that ESPN will broadcast a game between Oak Hill and Montross Christian of Rockville, Md., on Dec. 4, the first night of Hoop Fest.

Woodward said plans are not final, but the idea might be to schedule another Marshal/Lady Marshal doubleheader on the same night to ensure another large crowd.

***
In other 2007 Hoop Fest news, Woodward said the partnership with WazooSports.com has been a success. Video of Hoop Fest games have been available on the site for several weeks and drawn approximately 20,000 viewers so far.

***
In other 2008 Hoop Fest news, another new high-level team should be making an appearance. Woodward said he is finalizing contract details with Duncanville, Texas, currently ranked fourth in the nation.