Summer-league basketball is coming back to the Denton area as the Denton Summer Shootout tips off today.

With roughly 200 teams set to play over the weekend at Ryan, Argyle and Ponder high schools, the tournament will allow area players to get some quality playing time and give the host high schools a financial boost.

“All of the facilities are operated by the coaches and the booster clubs at that particular school,” said tournament organizer Stephen Martin. “It’s [the tournament] actually a fundraiser for the local clubs and their programs.”

The tournament comes a week after the Great American Shootout, which also played at area high schools. But while the GAS is primarily a showcase for boys and top recruits, the Denton Summer Shootout includes girls teams and players of all ages.

“We’re different types of tournaments,” Martin said. “That’s a high school boys tournament. We have grades from third grade all the way up through high school, including graduating seniors.”

Play tips off at 6 p.m. at the three host high schools and play is divided into age groups – 11^th and 12^th grade boys and girls, and ninth and 10^th grade boys and girls. The 11^th and 12^th grade girls have a Blue Division and a Red Division.

The Liberty Warriors will play in the 11^th and 12^th grade boys division and will face stiff competition from the Arkansas Suns and the NTX Select in their pool. Liberty opens play at 7 p.m. at Argyle High School against North Lamar.

Fresh off their District 5-4A title, the Ryan Lady Raiders will play in the 11^th and 12^th grade Red Division. They start play at 6 p.m. at Ryan against TX Midway Bullerz.

The ninth and 10^th grade boys side features three area teams – Liberty, Argyle and Ponder. They are in separate pools and won’t play each other in pool play. All three teams will play at Ponder High School.

Liberty tips off at 6 p.m. against NM Elite. Ponder will play at 6 p.m. against Texarkana Bulls. Argyle plays at 7 p.m. against TX 377 Elite.

JEFF ANDREWS can be reached at 940-566-6873. His e-mail address is jandrews@dentonrc.com.