Oregon State women’s basketball coach Scott Rueck (left) and Maui resident Ben Prangnell have forged a relationship that has helped to create the Maui Classic. The tournament takes place on Dec. 19-20 at Seabury Hall. Photo courtesy Vertical Sports Maui

Maui resident Ben Prangnell recalled he was organizing a girls basketball camp on Maui in 2010 when he enlisted the talents of Scott Rueck, who was in the process of becoming the head women’s basketball coach at Oregon State.

Prangnell said he and Rueck kept in touch, and Rueck liked the idea of coming back to Maui to conduct more basketball camps on the Valley Isle, which eventually evolved into the Maui Classic women’s basketball tournament.

“We’ve also been able to ride the wave of growing interest in women’s basketball,” he added.

On Dec. 19-20, in addition to Oregon State, the classic will feature Liberty, Montana State and Hawaii at Seabury Hall. Tickets are available at verticalsportsmaui.com.

On Dec. 19, Montana State will play Oregon State at 5 p.m., and Hawaii will face Liberty at 7:30 p.m.

On Dec. 20, the games will start at 3:30 p.m. with Hawaii vs. Montana State before Liberty takes on Oregon State at 6 p.m.

Prangnell, founder of the nonprofit Vertical Sports Maui, which organizes the classic, said they schedule the games after school hours to allow the community to attend them and the teams to visit local schools to promote youth literacy and postsecondary education.

This year, the visits include Seabury Hall, Lokelani Intermediate School, Kulanihakoʻi High School and Kalama Intermediate School.

Prangnell, who is also lead pastor of Hope Chapel in Kihei, said the nonprofit’s mission is to inspire and equip youth through sports, and it relies on donations to run its clinics.

Tickets are $10 per day for ages 15 and older, while ages 14 and younger get in free. Each day’s ticket includes two games, as well as entertainment, an online silent auction, merchandise and food trucks. Donations can be made at verticalsportsmaui.com.