By Will Norris

ANACOCO — The annual Vernon Parish Basketball Tournament has returned.

After a one-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the parish tournament takes place Nov. 22-23 at Anacoco and Leesville high schools.

All nine public high schools will be represented at the event, which will feature seven games on Monday at both Anacoco and Leesville, with the remaining six games on Tuesday to all be contested at Anacoco.

The Hicks Lady Pirates, the three-time defending state champions, drew the top seed in the girls’ bracket, while the Simpson Broncos, the reigning Class C state champions, took the top seed in the boys’ draw.

Action gets underway each day at 10 a.m., with the finals at Anacoco being played at 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

Here is the schedule for the annual Vernon Parish Tournament:

Girls Tournament

Monday, Nov. 22

Game 1: Leesville vs. Simpson (at LHS), 10 a.m.

Game 2: Rosepine vs. Pickering (at AHS), 11:30 a.m.

Game 3: Anacoco vs. Pitkin (at AHS), 2:30 p.m.

Game 4: Hornbeck vs. Evans (at LHS), 2:30 p.m.

Game 5: Hicks vs. Game 1 winner (at LHS), 4 p.m.

Game 6: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser (at AHS), 5:30 p.m.

Game 7: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser (at LHS), 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 23

(all games at AHS)

Game 8: Game 5 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 10 a.m.

Game 9: Game 3 winner vs. Gamer 2 winner, 11:30 a.m.

Game 10: Game 8 winner vs. Game 9 winner (championship), 4 p.m.

Boys Tournament

Monday, Nov. 22

Game 1: Rosepine vs. Pickering (at AHS), 10 a.m.

Game 2: Leesville vs. Pitkin (at LHS), 11:30 a.m.

Game 3: Anacoco vs. Hicks (at AHS), 1 p.m.

Game 4: Hornbeck vs. Evans (at LHS), 1 p.m.

Game 5: Simpson vs. Game 1 winner (at AHS), 4 p.m.

Game 6: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser (at AHS), 7 p.m.

Game 7: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser (at LHS), 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 23

(all games at AHS)

Game 8: Game 5 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 1 p.m.

Game 9: Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner, 2:30 p.m.

Game 10: Game 8 winner vs. Game 9 winner (championship), 5:30 p.m.