Lackawanna County will sponsor the first William J. Gerrity basketball tournament for 7^th- and 8^th-grade boys and girls. Teams from eight schools will compete Thursday, Dec. 26, and Saturday, Dec. 28, at Scranton High School. Admission is free and there are no entry fees for the teams. Volunteers from the William J. Gerrity Scholarship Committee will staff the event.

Gerrity, who died in 2016 at 89, was a longtime teacher and administrator in the Scranton School District and the legendary coach of a lengthy basketball dynasty at North Scranton Junior High School, when it was configured to comprise grades seven through 10. In his 21 years as head coach, beginning in the 1950s, his teams compiled a record of 369-9. He also coached baseball and was a longtime game official for football, basketball, track and swimming, and commissioner of officials for the former Big Eleven football conference. In 1973, Gerrity was appointed supervisor of health, safety and physical education for the Scranton School District. In that role, he expanded physical education opportunities for special needs children and became an ardent advocate for the Special Olympics.

Gerrity also was a three-term member of Scranton City Council, including as president from 1984 through 1987.

Boys and girls teams from Northeast, South and West intermediate schools in Scranton, Riverside, Forest City, Old Forge, Dunmore and Mid Valley will participate in the tournament. Each team is assured of playing two games.

The schedule follows:

Thursday 12-26
9 a.m. -- Boys NE vs. Riverside
10 a.m. -- Girls NE vs. Riverside
11 a.m. -- Boys South vs. Forest City
Noon -- Girls South vs. Forest City
1 p.m. -- Boys West vs. Old Forge
2 p.m. -- Girls West vs. Old Forge
3 p.m. -- Boys Mid Valley vs. Dunmore
4 p.m. -- Girls Mid Valley vs. Dunmore

Saturday 12-28
9a.m. -- Boys South vs. Mid Valley
10 a.m. -- Girls South vs. Mid Valley
11 a.m. -- Boys Dunmore vs. Forest City
noon -- Girls Dunmore vs. Forest City
1 p.m. -- Boys West vs. Riverside
2 p.m. -- Girls West vs. Riverside
3 p.m. -- Boys Northeast vs. Old Forge
4 p.m. -- Girls Northeast vs. Old Forge