The annual Herald Cup boys soccer tournament will feature an all-Johnston County lineup for the first time since 2004 when the event's ninth go around begins on Aug. 25.

Clayton is returning to the field after a three-year absence and joins defending event champion West Johnston, South Johnston, North Johnston, Smithfield-Selma and Johnston Christian Academy for the three-day, six-team tournament, which will be held at North Johnston High.

Opening round matches will feature Clayton against JCA on Monday, Aug. 25, at 5 p.m. and Smithfield-Selma taking on North Johnston at 7. As finalists in 2008, West and South receive byes into the semifinal round. The Wildcats meet the winner between Clayton and JCA on Wednesday, Aug. 27, at 5, while South takes on either SSS or North at 7.

All six teams will be in action on the final day of the event, Thursday, Aug. 28. Monday's losers will meet at 3:30, followed by the third place match (between Wednesday's losers) at 5:30. The championship match is set for 7:30.

Clayton's girls team will return to the 2009 Four Oaks Bank Cup tournament as well. Playing dates for that event have not been determined.

CLAYTON WILL NOT HOLD HOLIDAY BASKETBALL TOURNEY

Clayton will not hold its annual holiday basketball tournament this coming December. The event will return in 2009, according to Clayton High athletics director Gary Fowler.

"We looked at it every way we could but with Christmas falling on a Thursday, it's just not a situation where you can hold a three-day tournament," Fowler said. "And we didn't want to break it up over two weeks, so we're just taking a year off."

With Christmas and New Year's Day on Thursday, that leaves Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve naturally falling on Wednesdays, preventing the tournament from being played on a Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday schedule.

South Johnston will host an eight-team holiday basketball tournament (four boys, four girls) Dec. 29-30. The field will also include North Johnston and two teams to be determined.

SSS SETS SPRING ATHLETIC BANQUET

Smithfield-Selma will hold its spring athletic banquet on Monday, May 19, in the school cafeteria at 6 p.m. For more info, call the school at 934-5191.