The city of Brookhaven will be filled with basketball players,coaches and fans the next few days as 15 teams compete inBrookhaven Academy’s holiday tournament.

While the tournament will provide plenty of entertainment forbasketball enthusiasts, it will also benefit local businesses.

Some of the teams traveling long distances will stay at localhotels, and all of the teams will more than likely eat at least onemeal in Brookhaven during the four-day event. Gas stations may alsobenefit from the influx of people in the area this week.

“A few of the teams have already made hotel reservations, andothers might stay depending on if they win,” said BrookhavenAcademy Headmaster John Gray about the single-eliminationtournament.

At least one team in the tournament may have to stay inBrookhaven a few days, whether they win or lose, because of theinclement weather conditions forecast farther north.

“The team from Arkansas will probably be here for two or threedays,” said Gray. “We’re still watching the weather up thatway.”

The team from Arkansas and a few other teams from northMississippi made their way into town Tuesday in order to avoid theicy weather, added Gray.

He was excited about the tournament bringing so many benefits tothe surrounding community. He believes the holiday season helpsmake the tournament a success every year.

“It apparently is the ideal time of year to have a tournament,”said Gray. “Every year more teams want to participate, and thetournament just keeps getting bigger.”

He hopes local residents will also support the event, and becourteous to the visitors in the area.

“We certainly invite everyone out to watch all these teamsplay,” he said.