The NHS Bulldog Classic tips off for the 38th time with today's 1:30 p.m. matchup between West Orange-Stark and Vidor. There are eight teams in the tournament and each team is promised at least three games.

Nederland will play the late game, which is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. against Milburn Academy. The other four teams include Baytown Sterling, Port Neches-Groves, Ozen and Kelly.

Ozen will be playing for its sixth Bulldog Classic Championship while Nederland, which is 3-2 this season, is still searching for its first in school history. The Panthers, who meet Kelly at 3 p.m. today, beat the Dogs in the 2007 title game.

Nederland head coach Brian English said he wants his team to get back to that title game and would like to win it as well.

"I think our chances are good. If we play like we are capable, I think we should get to the championship but I think everyone figures Ozen to be the favorites coming in," English said.

He added that the tournament should be very competitive across the board.

If the Dogs can win their first round matchup with Milburn, they will see the winner of PN-G and Baytown Sterling in the second round on Friday. PN-G, which is 2-2 so far this season, and Sterling play at 4:30 p.m. today.

The tournament will continue through Saturday. The championship game is set for 6 p.m. Saturday while consolation games will be at 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Regardless of wins and losses in the tournament, English said he hopes his team will improve its offensive execution. Aside from knocking off then No. 1 ranked in Class 3A Hardin-Jefferson 79-63 nearly two weeks ago, in a game that saw Francis Torres score 41 points, English said the offensive production has been shaky so far this season.

Among those offensive woes was Nederland's 23 turnovers in a 43-34 loss to Memorial on Nov. 24.

In other weekend prep basketball action, Memorial (4-1) travels to Houston to square off with Yates at 6 p.m. in Butler Stadium on Saturday. On Friday, the Memorial Lady Titans (2-7) face off with the Lady Bulldogs (4-6) in Nederland. That game is set to start at 7:30 p.m.

Bulldog Classic Thursday pairings

1:30 p.m. — Vidor vs West Orange-Stark

3 p.m. — Kelly vs Ozen