The Danville girls basketball team huddles during a timeout at the AHSAA Final Four in Birmingham this March. | Special to the Enquirer

This week, the high school basketball season gets underway in Morgan County.

As the local teams get their seasons started, 2011 Class 3A runner-up Danville has put the finishing touches on its fourth annual Lady Hawks Thanksgiving Classic.

Danville girls basketball coach Paul Wilson said they will have 16 teams playing 31 games on Nov. 23 and 25.

The tournament is more than just a showcase of girls basketball, but it’s also a big fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.

“Last year, we were able to donate $5,000 to the American Cancer Society for cancer research,” Wilson said. “We hope to be able to do that again this year.”

In addition to the Lady Hawks, teams competing in this tournament include Priceville, Good Hope, Clements, Austin, Northridge, Pleasant Grove, Lee-Huntsville, Cold Springs, Lexington, East Lawrence, Holly Pond, Oneonta, Lawrence County, Cullman and West Morgan, which features Purdue University commitment Hayden Hamby.

All 16 girls teams begin in the winners bracket with the first games tipping off at 10 a.m. on Nov. 23. Danville will face Pleasant Grove at 12:40 a.m. in the high school gymnasium while Priceville and Clements will play at the same time on the middle school gymnasium floor. Other first round games of note include Cullman vs. West Morgan at 11:20 a.m. and Austin vs. Northridge at 2 p.m., both in the middle school gymnasium.

The next set of games will begin at 3:30 p.m. The winners’ bracket will play in the high school gym while the losers’ bracket will be played in the middle school gymnasium.

Teams will play two games again on Friday. Games will be staggered throughout the day beginning at 9:30 a.m. and continuing all day with the finals being held at 7:30 p.m., which will be the only game scheduled for that time.