Archrivals and other teams from the area will gather at Southside High School Tuesday for the school’s annual basketball playdate.

Throughout the day, Panther head coach Cedric Brown said, Southside High School, Selma High School, Keith High School, Wilcox Central High School, Linden High School and Lafayette High School will play in a jamboree type format with each team hitting the court for three 18-minute halves.

The games, Brown said, allow the teams to get some extra work in when they would normally not have the opportunity to work out.

“It lets a lot of players in the area get  a good look at where they are going to be next year,” Brown said. “It gives the players and the coaches a chance to see what they will need to work on.”

The variety of teams, Brown said, will let everyone get a lot of different looks and compete against teams with different styles.

“Everyone will play everyone,” he said. “It’s a good chance to scout some of the other teams and a great chance to scout yourself. Every team can see their strengths and weaknesses.”

The most important part of the games, Brown said, is for the players to have fun. The contests are designed to be played in a relaxed, pressure-free environment.

“It’s really relaxed,” he said. “It gives the players a chance to just go out and play with no stress. They can just go out and try to get better.”

Another positive of the camp, Brown said, is simply the opportunity for talented players to get a few more minutes on the court.

“There are a lot of players out there that are pretty good that might not be able to afford camps, so this gives them a chance to keep working and get instruction,” he said. “I’m a strong believer in order and hard work. Plus, the games keep them off the streets and gives them something to do.”

The games will begin at 10 a.m. with Selma and Linden hitting the court, followed at 11 a.m. with Southside and Wilcox Central. Keith and Lafayette will hit the court at noon, followed by Linden and Wilcox Central at 1 p.m. Southside and Selma will bring their rivalry to the court at 2 p.m., followed by Lafayette and Linden at 3 p.m. Keith will take on Wilcox Central at 4 p.m., followed by Selma and Lafayette at 5 p.m. Southside and Keith will end the day at 6 p.m. Admission  is $2.