The Denton Summer Shootout usually has an NCAA-certified event to showcase area talent to Division I coaches, but this year the Shootout fell in a closed period for coaches.

Out of that conundrum was born the North Texas Classic — a high school basketball tournament for girls teams that begins play on Saturday at Argyle High School.

Since coaches couldn’t attend the Shootout, tournament organizer Stephen Martin created the eight-team tournament that will feature teams from as far off as Miami.

“Normally this thing falls during the Denton Summer Shootout, but the NCAA coaches couldn’t attend,” he said. “We’ll give it a shot and see how it goes. I think it’ll be really good.”

The tournament serves as a fundraiser for Argyle’s booster club and includes the Lady Ballers — TX, the Lady Knights — Ayala, the Miami FL Lady Express, the North TX Wildcats, the Texas Express Yates, H.E.A.T., the Oklahoma Sixers and the San Antonio Ballers.

Bracket play for the inaugural tournament will be on Sunday, but it’s possible this will be the first and last North Texas Classic, depending on NCAA scheduling for next year.

“A lot of it will depend on the schedule and how the NCAA schedule falls,” Martin said. “If the NCAA schedule falls during the Denton Summer Shootout, we’ll just conduct it then.”

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