The Durant Lion Classic tips off for it’s 20th annual run on Thursday with another strong field of teams converging on the Durant High School Gymnasium for the three-day event.

Defending champions are back in both the girls and boys brackets with Fayetteville, Arkansas girls looking to repeat along with the Denison boys. First round action will begin at 11 a.m. on Thursday with games all day.

In the girls’ bracket opener, the Putnam North Lady Panthers, who are the only team in the girls field to play in all 20 classics, face off against first-time entrant El Reno at 11 a.m.

Putnam North returned a solid cast from last year’s 15-win squad but has not had it easy thus far with opening games against Top 5 squads from Edmond North and Edmond Santa Fe. They have outstanding size with six-foot senior Arianne Hunter and 5-10 junior Alexis Watson back in the middle after each averaged more than eight points and seven boards a game a season ago.

The Lady Panthers are also bolstered by the addition of talented Millwood move-in Joh’Vonna Mitchell, who was the Lion Classic MVP as a freshman.

El Reno has gotten off to a late start due to a lengthy football campaign and will be playing its first game of the year on Thursday.

The Lady Indians have some key holes to fill with the top returning scorer being senior guard Charissa Jones, who averaged just over five points a contest.

The second girls game will be at 1:40 p.m. between Westmoore, which makes its second straight tournament appearance, squaring off against newcomer Coweta.

It’s been a tough start for Westmoore with a host of underclassmen forced into big roles as the Lady Jaguars have opened 0-2, including a big loss to top-ranked Midwest City on Friday.

Coweta meanwhile counters with one of the top teams in Class 5A this season, led by one of the state’s premier players in senior Jenni Bryan. The third-ranked Lady Tigers were 1-1 going into the week with a win over Pryor and loss to 6A Bixby. Bryan, who signed last month with Oklahoma State, averaged more than 21 points and 11 rebounds a game as a junior. She’s got an outside compliment as well in 5-6 Katy Harsen, an off-season move-in that scorched the nets for 27 points in the season opener.

Defending champ Fayetteville should ride in with a monster winning streak that was 36 straight heading into this week’s action and will face off with Paris, Texas at 4:20.

Fayetteville began this season at 4-0, which included wins over Oklahoma 6A foes Jenks and Ponca City. The Lady Bulldogs went a perfect 32-0 en route to the Arkansas 7A state title a season ago and have another outstanding cast led by senior Sierra Shipley and Tenille Brinley as well as junior Calli Berna. Defense is still the focus for the Arkansas squad, allowing just under 37 points an outing.

Paris meanwhile has gotten off to a good start with a 6-5 record late last week.

The Lady Wildcats are extremely athletic overall and have a pair of consistent double-figure contributors in senior Sha’Taylor Moore and junior Ariole Jenkins.

Rounding out the girls first round contests will be host Durant battling Denison at 7 p.m.

Durant was surprised by Hugo on the road in the season opener as several new, young faces filled into bigger roles. Sophomores Taylor Richards and Kaylie Baxter contributed 10 points apiece to lead the way for the Lady Lions.

Denison has already matched its win total of a year ago with a 5-5 record heading into a tournament last weekend. The Lady Jackets have a talented guard and Grayson County College signee in senior Clarissa Moore, who is averaging just under 20 points a game.

As usual, the boys’ bracket is loaded with a cast of athletic squads, most of which have played in the event for a number of years.

Class 3A state contender and fifth-ranked Hugo tips things off in the 12:20 contest against Princeton, Texas.

Hugo is off to a normal flying start with wins against Haworth and Durant and has a terrific inside-outside punch with Carlos Henderson and D.J. Shanklin leading the way. Henderson was held to five points in the Durant contest, but Shanklin responded with a team-high 14. Patrick Smith also pumped in a dozen points for the Buffaloes in that contest.

Princeton has struggled a bit early this year with a new coach and new system. They also are looking to replace high-scoring James Erger, who was an all-tournament selection in the Classic a year ago. Senior Matt Wingo and junior K.J. Satchell both average just over 12 points a contest.

The second boys’ game of the day between Dallas Madison and Hebron, Texas could be the most evenly matched of the first round as they tip off at 3 p.m.

Madison is loaded with athleticism and already has a 69-42 win over defending tournament champ Denison to its credit this year. The Trojans have a trio of double-figure scorers with seniors Desmond Flentroy and Timothy Flentroy along with Tevin Harris, who checks in at 6-7.

Hebron makes its initial appearance in the Classic and already has a solid tournament showing under its belt this season, claiming third place in the prestigious Fantasy of Lights Tournament in Burkburnett.

The Hawks had a 6-3 mark going into this week and will bring a balanced attack keyed by the 6-6 post combination of Alec Heffler and Tyler Rundus. Guards Cameron Curl and Jeff Williams have also been regulars in double figures.

Host Durant will challenge Dallas Skyline at 5:40 in the third boys’ contest of the day.

The Lions showed some positives despite an opening loss to Hugo last Friday. Tray Williams and Spuds Cook each hit double figures with 14 and 10 points respectively while Josh Barrett contributed eight.

Skyline is fresh off a tournament championship in the prestigious McKinney Invitational last weekend, winning four straight contests, including a 65-64 triumph over host McKinney Boyd in the title tilt. The Raiders are 7-1 on the season as 6-2 senior Mike Davis and 6-0 senior Eric Robinson average right at 13 points a game. Senior point guard Bryan Thomas chips in 10 points an outing.

In the final boys’ first round contest, Denison will face off against the Dallas Home School Blue Angels at 8:20.

Denison has struggled a bit early with a shorthanded lineup thanks to a football state semifinal run, but had a dynamic one-two punch that will lead the charge. Senior T.J. Taylor has signed with OU and is pouring in more than 20 points per game while fellow senior Coleman Furst adds right at 17 a contest.

The Dallas Home School is 8-5 on the season after a tournament championship in the Houston Christian Invitational last weekend. The Blue Angels have a strong core of returning experience from a season ago, including seniors Carter Davis, Ollie Day and Ryan Threadgill.