HERMANSVILLE — The 83rd Gold Medal Classic independent basketball tournament continues with Class A and junior high games this weekend.

A total of 57 teams are entered into this year’s tournament field, which is up from recent years, said tournament director Bryan Maule.

“Keys to the growth have been the rising interest in the woman’s division. Plus, the resurrection of our junior high divisions,” said Maule, who runs the tournament with his father, Bob Maule, of Hermansville.

“Having Bay College restart their athletic program has put a lot of talent close to the tournament,” Maule added. “Classes A-D will be highly competitive. All in all, this year’s tournament is shaping up to be a great event.”

The tournament kicked off Thursday night with four games, with another four scheduled for tonight.

Class A has a five-team field, with a double elimination format. Games tip off at 11 a.m. Central time on Saturday, concluding on Sunday evening with a winner-take-all championship at 5 p.m.

The girls junior high division round-robin tourney will be played Saturday. It will have teams from North Central; Carney-Nadeau, sponsored by Shelby’s Quick Mart; Sault Ste. Marie and Newberry..

The boys junior high games will be held on Sunday with teams from North Central, sponsored by Brad’s Auto of Spalding; McNeil Oilers of Crystal Falls; Sault Ste. Marie and Newberry.

Three-time defending Class A champions Dexters Bar of Menominee will open up Class A versus U.P.’s Finest of Hancock. The Menominee team features former Michigan Tech standouts Austin Argma and Kyle Monroe.

U.P.’s Finest is a group of former Finlandia University players.

At 2 p.m., Class A will continue with Bimbo’s Wine Press of Iron Mountain taking on Juice Promotions of Carney. The Carney squad will have former Carney-Nadeau and Northern Michigan University standout Jared Benson at center. Juice will feature the return of former tournament MVP and professional player overseas, Jason Boucher of Menominee. Boucher hasn’t played in the tournament since 2019, said Maule.

Bimbo’s roster features former Iron Mountain standout Marcus Johnson, as well as a pair of his former Bay College teammates, Matt Wagner, and Ishpeming’s Dondre Yohe. Current Olivet College player Ryan Robinette will also play for Bimbo’s.

Tournament mainstays the McNeil Oilers of Crystal Falls will play the winner of Saturday’s 11 a.m. game at 6 p.m. The long-awaited return to the Gold Medals of North Central and Michigan Tech basketball standout Dawson Bilski is expected for the Oilers.

Bilski played for the Oilers with former NC teammate Jason Whitens in the 2017 tournament. Bilski went on to become a 1,000-point scorer at MTU after breaking the same mark during North Central’s three consecutive MHSAA Class D boys basketball state championships from 2015-2017.

Joining Bilski on McNeil’s roster is his older brother and fellow North Central alumnus and 1,000-point scorer, Bryce Bilski. Former Forest Park and Michigan Tech football standout Bryan LaChapelle Jr. of Crystal Falls will also play for McNeil’s as well as sharp- shooting Adam Nolde from Menominee.