FORT SMITH (KFSM)- After playing back-to-back tournament games the Northside Grizzlies ended their final game of the year on a high-note, winning the 37th Annual Coca-Cola Christmas Classic championship title.
In the final round of the tournament Northside faced North Little Rock, the Grizzlies lead the Charging Wildcats throughout the game and came away with the win 61-42. Thanks in part to Northside Junior Tevin Brewer who had 16 points and was named tournament MVP following the win.
For Grizzlies head coach Eric Burnett the game came as a sigh of relief, and an encouraging sign of what's to come for the rest of the season.
"It was big," Burnett said. "Because we have a young team and for us to start out like we did, we played some really tough tournaments. For us to finish the non-conference season winning the Coke Classic, that's pretty big for us. It gives us confidence going into conference play."
Burnett and the Grizzlies hammered their way through the Coca-Cola Christmas Classic beating Arkadelphia the first night, and then blasted through Hall and North Little Rock.
Northside will have a short break before starting conference play January 8th against Fayetteville away.