By: Garrett Mitchell, Staff Writer
The start of high school basketball season is quickly approaching, and at Woodruff, head girls coach Jon Jansen is making final preparations for one of the hallmark events on the Lady Wolverines’ schedule.
For the third consecutive season, Woodruff will host the Coach Varner Tip-off Classic. For Jansen, it is his way of memorializing the legacy of Willie Varner, who won four state championships as girls’ basketball coach in the 1960’s in addition to his legend on the football field.
“It was important to me that we bring an identity to our tip-off tournament,” said Jansen. “When I researched the coaching history of Coach Varner beyond his football success, it seemed right to bring his name to our tournament, and (Coach Varner’s daughter) Toni Sloan gave us the blessing to proceed forward with the idea.”
During its first two seasons, the Coach Varner Tip-off was a two-day event with a field of four teams. Jansen wanted to expand the field to eight teams and make the event a three-day tournament, but those plans were temporarily put on hold due to the pandemic.
This season, however, the field will feature eight basketball teams from all over Upstate South Carolina and be played at Woodruff High School starting on Saturday, Nov. 19, and ending on Tuesday, Nov. 22.
“Our idea was to expand two years ago, but the pandemic forced us to be patient,” Jansen explained. “The eight-team field brings quality women’s basketball to Woodruff before Thanksgiving. Every year we will look to improve the quality of the field. Our field this year includes 5A, 4A, 3A, and 2A teams.”
For Toni, seeing her father’s legacy at Woodruff High School carried forward by this tournament is something that makes her extremely happy. Sloan works tirelessly in Woodruff to keep Varner’s memory alive, and the tournament is another opportunity to do just that.
“Dad loved coaching girls’ basketball, and he was my hero,” said Toni. “To have a tournament named after him serves to keep that memory alive. Many players today, unless they have parents or grandparents that played for him, have no idea who he was. This tournament serves to keep that memory alive and make students aware of the influence he had at WHS, not just in football.”
Even more special is the fact that both of Varner’s great-granddaughters are key players on the Lady Wolverines’ team. Senior Alli Burnette and sophomore Sadie have been a part of Woodruff’s record-breaking program for years, and seeing them play under the banner of their great-grandfather’s name is something Sloan is very proud of. She knows her dad would be extremely proud of Alli and Sadie as well.
“The extra is that I have two granddaughters, Alli and Sadie, who will be playing on the WHS team in this tournament named for Dad,” she added. “Dad would be so proud of the girls for continuing to play while honoring his legacy as he would for all WHS participants. He believed that to wear maroon and gold meant you valued, respected, and took pride in your school. I am sure he would love seeing his great-granddaughters strive for the same standards he did so many years ago.”
Jansen agrees, adding, “Alli and Sadie will contribute to the success of this year’s team, and I’m sure Coach Varner would be very pleased with the work ethic they both bring to our team. The winning will take care of itself because of the work ethic.”
Aside from the host, Woodruff, the field for this season’s Coach Varner Tip-off Classic includes Powdersville, Broome, Laurens, Landrum, Greer Middle College Charter, Belton-Honea Path, and Chapin.
The Lady Wolverines open play on Nov. 19 at 7:30 p.m. against Greer Middle College Charter and will meet either Belton-Honea Path or Chapin in game two.
Author: Tracy Sanders
