By WAYNE PHILLIPS

Sports Editor Emeritus

Only twice in the 23 year history of the Landair Ladies' Classic has a team from outside the boundaries of the state of Tennessee won the tournament.

Science Hill High of Johnson City, who won last year's event but chose to attend another holiday event this season so they won't be back to defend their title, became the 11th different team in 23 years to claim the championship.

Oak Ridge, not in the field this year, has won five titles, more than any other team, while South Greene has claimed four championships. Two-time winners are Mt. Juliet, Wilson Central -- both among the 2012 entrants -- Knox Webb, Sevier County and Bradley Central.

Mt. Juliet of the mid-state area has been in the championship game three straight years and four out of the past five. Their titles came in 2009 and 2004.

Regina (Ohio), in 1999, and Hoover (Ala.), in 2010, are the only two teams from outside Tennessee that have claimed a championship.

The tournament began in 1989 as the Burger Chef Ladies' Classic. It became the Burger Chef/Parkway Motel Ladies' Classic in 1991. NationsBank took over as primary sponsor in 1993. Greene County Bank became the sponsor in 1996 and remained as sponsor until 2011, when Landair took over.

Here are the tournament champions each year, with the score of the championship game:

1989 (1st annual) -- South Greene 87, Chuckey-Doak 46

1990 (2nd annual) -- South Greene 61, Sevier County 55

1991 (3rd annual) -- South Greene 77, Oak Ridge 64

1992 (4th annual) -- South Greene 69, Oak Ridge 60

1993 (5th annual) -- Bradley Central 76, Chicago (Ill.) Marshall 71

1994 (6th annual) -- Bradley Central 70, James Madison (Va.) 64

1995 (7th annual) -- Sevier County 53, Memphis Harding 26

1996 (8th annual) -- Oak Ridge 86, Miami Edison (Fla.) 57

1997 (9th annual) -- Oak Ridge 60, Gallatin 55

1998 (10th annual) -- Oak Ridge 59, North Allegheny (Pa.) 49

1999 (11th annual) -- Regina (Ohio) 57, Memphis Briarcrest 48

2000 (12th annual) -- Memphis Briarcrest 73, Archbishop Carroll (Pa.) 57

2001 (13th annual) -- Oak Ridge 70, Winter Springs (Fla.) 51

2002 (14th annual) -- Oak Ridge 58, Prairie (Wash.) 42

2003 (15th annual) -- Sevier County 62, Bradley Central 55

2004 (16th annual) -- Mt. Juliet 57, Knox Powell 42

2005 (17th annual) -- Knox Webb 48, Maryville 38

2006 (18th annual) -- Knox Webb 67, Lexington Catholic (Ky.) 64

2007 (19th annual) -- Wilson Central 57, Mt. Juliet 52

2008 (20th annual) -- Wilson Central 71, South Greene 69 (OT)

2009 (21st annual) -- Mt. Juliet 72, Cocke County 45

2010 (22nd annual) -- Hoover (Ala.)57, Mt. Juliet 45

2011 (23rd annual) -- Science Hill 55, Mt. Juliet 45