The Government of Liberia (GOL) through the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MYS) in collaboration with the Liberia Basket Federation (LBF) will today, Thursday, November 8, 2012 kick off the 'Up-Country' basketball tournament.

The 'Up-Country' basketball competition is a sporting festival initiated in the 1970s to help promote the game among high school students in the central region, which at the time comprised of Bong, Lofa and Nimba Counties.

According to a dispatch from the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the tournament will feature high schools from Bong, Lofa and Nimba Counties. The re-launch of the tournament, the ministry said, is aimed at revamping basketball as part of its (MYS) overall national sports revitalization agenda.

The tournament, the MYS said, will be renamed: "The McGowan Basketball Tournament". Mr. McGowan is a former American Peace Corp, who dedicated 20 years of voluntary services to the development of basketball in the country.

Participants of the tournament include: Lutheran Training Institute, Zorzor and Voinjama High Schools in Lofa County; W.V.S. Tubman-Gray, St. Martin and Gboveh High Schools of Bong County; and ArcelorMittal, J.W. Pearson, Ganta United Methodist and Lamco High Schools in Nimba County.

The tournament will be played at the William V.S. Tubman-Gray High School Basketball gym situated in Sinkor, Monrovia.