Local hoop teams prep for Garden

Playing basketball on the parquet at TD Garden is a treat only a few high school teams, specifically those who go deep in the MIAA state tournament, will ever get to experience.This Saturday, Classical, Bishop Fenwick and St. John?s Prep will join 11 other high school boys basketball teams in playing a regular season game at The Garden in the first Good Sports TD Garden Invitational tournament. The event was put together by Steve Gibbs, head coach at Pingree and the founder of Hoop Mountain (known for its basketball camps and clinics for high school players since 1986).Basketball junkies can park themselves in the stands for the day and take in seven games beginning at 10 a.m. and ending with the final game at 7 p.m. Those who just want to see their own team play can do that as well. Bishop Fenwick kicks things off against Triton at 10 a.m., followed by St. John?s Prep vs. Wellesley at 11:30 a.m.; Classical vs. Malden, 1 p.m.; Lexington vs. Acton-Boxborough, 2:30 p.m.; Brookline vs. Andover, 4 p.m.; Franklin vs. Mansfield, 5:30 p.m. and Newton South vs. Newton North at 7 p.m.Classical coach Tom Grassa said the day of high school basketball at The Garden harkens back to the 1960s and 1970s when all the state tournament games, including the first couple of rounds, were played at the old Boston Garden over the span of several days. He said games would start around noon, even on school days, and players (and fans) would take the day off and head into Boston for a day of basketball.That system ended as a result of some unruly fans leaving the Garden and causing problems. These days, the Garden is only used in the later rounds and the state finals are played in Worcester.Although some of the teams playing this Saturday may find themselves back at The Garden in a few weeks if they go deep in the tournament, most won?t, but those players and coaches will have had the experience of playing where so many great Celtics players and NBA greats have worked their magic.Each team that plays this weekend agrees to sell 400 tickets. The cost is $12 each if purchased in advance at the schools or $15 at the door. Fans can stay all day.Grassa said those who want to save a little money can stop by the high school Thursday or Friday to buy tickets. Tickets can also be obtained through Ticketmaster. Grassa said his players are very excited about getting a chance to play at The Garden.?It?s going to be a nice event,” he said. “Everyone?s really excited about it.”The Rams head into the game against Malden with a 6-5 record.?It?s a good matchup for us. We?re kind of carbon copies in terms of size. We have similar style teams in terms of what we both like to do. Our strengths are very similar. I?m hoping for a close, exciting game,” he said.Grassa said many of the students who are coming plan to take the commuter rail to the game because it takes them right to The Garden and the price is discounted with a student ID.During halftime of the game, the Breed Middle School boys basketball team will play a team comprised of Malden middle school players in a shortened game. The middle schoolers were allowed to play if the high school teams didn?t mind forgoing their halftime warmups. Each school was also encouraged to create a 30-second video about their school to be played at The Garden.Bishop Fenwick coach John Preziosa is also looking forward to the experience.?I think it?s a tremendous opportunity for the kids,” he said. “Our whole school community is pretty excited. There?s a lot of buildup for the game … it brings the whole school together.”Fenwick heads into its game against Triton with a 6-5 record (6-6 if the loss to St. John?s Prep is counted).Gibbs said he and his Hoop Mountain partner Dave Latimer were approached in Oct. 2012 about running a college basketball event at The Garden, but since he?s more involved in high school basketball, he asked about the feasibility of running a high school event with MIAA teams.?It gives the student body and the