The Downtown Dothan Hoops Classic brings 16 of the area's top high school basketball teams to the Civic Center every year. For five days after Christmas, teams battle for the Hoops Classic title.

They're also fighting for some extra cash. Winning means more than advancing at this tournament; it also means a larger payday when money is distributed to the schools.

This year, the City of Dothan gave back $44,000 to participating programs, up $4,000 from last year's event. Coaches say that money plays a vital role for their programs.

"This check, this money, it goes back to the kids," Dothan Head Coach Emanuel Brown said. "It helps the kids with things such as uniforms, shoes warm-ups, travel gear and food.

This is the seventh year for the tournament, which started after the long-standing Holiday Prep Classic left the Civic Center. Through it's first seven years, the Downtown Dothan Hoops classic has dispersed $216,380 to local schools.

Northview's Janasky Fleming adds, "It's huge, because when you look at our travel and how much we owe officials, our basketball budge is somewhere above $10,000 for Northview, for a school our size.

"I'm telling you, to knock almost $3,000 out of that is huge."

The annual tournament packs the Dothan Civic Center for five days, and helps prepare teams for the post-season. The venue, the tradition and the money keeps teams coming back every year.

"It's always a privilege to play in this tournament, but also it's even more of a privilege to win it," Brown said.

Schools Receiving $1,375

Ashford
Geneva
Houston County
Malone
Providence Christian
Rehobeth
Slocomb
Wicksburg

Schools Receiving $2,750

Dale County
Headland
Houston Academy
Northview

Schools Receiving $5,500

Barbour County
Eufaula
Abbeville
Dothan