The 24th annual version of the Landair Ladies' Classic is scheduled to begin Wednesday at Hal Henard Gym and continue through Saturday.

Considered one of the top girls' prep basketball tournaments in the Southeast, the event brings 16 teams together for an exciting week of post-Christmas hoops action.

Tournament Director Ron Metcalfe said that this year's lineup of teams should appeal to Greene County and East Tennessee fans, who annually flock to Greeneville to take in the action, which consists of eight games the first three days and five games on the final day for a grand total of 29 ball games in four consecutive days.

"I think our lineup of teams this year ranks right up there with some of the best we've had," Metcalfe said. "Once again the mid-state area of Tennessee will send some of their best squads, plus we have out-of-state teams from North Carolina, Kentucky and Ohio."

The Landair Ladies' Classic will have eight local and area teams serving as home teams for the opening round of play on Wednesday, Dec. 26: South Greene, Greeneville, North Greene, West Greene and Chuckey-Doak from Greene County, and Cocke County, Morristown East and Morristown West from the surrounding area.

A newcomer this year to the Ladies' Classic is Holy Name High School of Parma Heights, Ohio. Oakland High School of Murfreesboro makes its first appearance here since 1990, the second year the tournament was held.

Last season's runnerup, Mt. Juliet, returns to the field. The 2011 tournament champion, Science Hill of Johnson City, chose to play in another locale this holiday season.

Other mid-state teams, in addition to Oakland and Mt. Juliet, are Wilson Central of Lebanon and Shelbyville Central of Shelbyville.

Christian Academy of Knoxville (CAK), expected to be one of the top Class AA programs in the state, is back in the field for the second straight season.

Out of state teams back for another go at it in 2012 are Rockcastle County of Mt. Vernon, Ky., and Charlotte Christian School of Charlotte, N.C.