ABOUT THE PVTO
The Pioneer Valley Tip-Off Classic Presented by Oak View Group is an entirely student-run high school basketball showcase featuring some of the best talent in the Pioneer Valley. Starting in 2011 and continuing through today, the PVTO continues to be one of the premier events run by the McCormack Student Leaders Club (MSL). MSL is an experiential learning-based student club in the Mark H. McCormack Department of Sport Management at the University of Massachusetts and runs several events yearly in addition to the PVTO.
​
Our History​
​
The PVTO was started in 2011 by Scott Moses '15 and Pat Sallet '15, both students at the University of Massachusetts. For the first ten years, it was held in the Curry Hicks Cage. The Cage was built in 1931 by University of Massachusetts Amherst alum, Clinton Goodwin. It was named ten years later after Curry Hicks, who had been the athletic director of UMass since 1911. In addition to annually hosting the Western Massachusetts MIAA high school basketball championship games, it was the home for both UMass Men's and Women's basketball for over 60 years. It has seen UMass legends under its roof such as Julius "Dr. J" Erving, Harper Williams, and Lou Roe.
The Curry Hicks Cage was replaced by the more modern and much larger Mullins Center in 1993. The Cage continues to be used as the practice facility for the UMass Track & Field teams, but is no longer equipped to host basketball events. Beginning in 2021, the PVTO was relocated to the Mullins Center to truly encapsulate the UMass basketball experience and allow players to play on the same court as today's teams.
​
The Pioneer Valley​
​
The Pioneer Valley is comprised of Western and Central Massachusetts, and is home to rich natural habitats and breathtaking views. Aside from nature, the area is home to a rich Pioneer community - something that the PVTO hopes to embody through its showcase. We are the premier high school basketball showcase for girls and boys basketball, showcasing Pioneer Valley talent from high schools across the region.