Hodges Fieldhouse in Fort Dodge is the place to be for high school basketball enthusiasts on Saturday.

The inaugural Hardwood Classic at Iowa Central will bring a steady diet of prep action to the home of the Tritons for over 10 consecutive hours the next two weekends. Weather permitting, the invitational — created and organized by Algona’s Trevor Arnold — will feature 12 total boys and girls matchups between 10 a.m. and 6:45 p.m. both today and next Saturday.

“The inspiration for creating this event was my time spent with Scot Moenck, who runs ‘Rivalry Saturday’ in Eastern Iowa (a 20-year high school hoops invitational most recently hosted by Kirkwood Community College and Anamosa) with (long-time Cedar Rapids Gazette sports writer) Jeff Linder,” said Arnold, a teacher and coach in the Algona school district. “I wanted to bring that same ‘big event’ experience to our part of the state.”

Arnold moved back to the area three years ago after previously serving as the athletic and activities director at Maquoketa Valley. He’s been planning and coordinating to make this event happen ever since, finally solidifying the location and schools involved last spring for a 2025 tip-off.

“I enjoyed my prior time as an AD, planning and executing events, so I wanted to do that here on a bigger scale,” Arnold said. “I did most of the legwork, but having (Iowa Central president) Dr. Jesse Ulrich, (ICCC athletic director) Guy Horn and the staff at Iowa Central show their support and excitement has helped to eliminate all obstacles and get this done. They’ve been instrumental in getting us to this point.”

The St. Edmond girls are a late addition and will fill the 1:30 p.m. time slot on Saturday against ninth-ranked (Class 2A) Sioux Central. The Bishop Garrigan girls and boys get the action started with a twinbill versus Coon Rapids-Bayard at 10 and 11:45 a.m., respectively.

The matchups conclude with the seventh-ranked (3A) Forest City girls vs. No. 4 (3A) Des Moines Christian (3:15 p.m.), the fifth-rated (5A) West Des Moines Valley girls vs. No. 9 (3A) Spirit Lake (5 p.m.), and the Clear Lake boys vs. Carroll Kuemper (6:45 p.m.).

Next Saturday, the top-ranked (Class 1A) St. Edmond boys play Madrid at 10 a.m. in a rematch of last year’s state semifinals. Upon conclusion of that game, the No. 9 (2A) Emmetsburg girls face Clarinda at 11:30 a.m.

At 1:30 p.m., the 11th-ranked (2A) Pocahontas Area girls square off with Council Bluffs St. Albert. No. 4 (1A) Springville meets Westwood at 3:15 p.m., and the ranked West Lyon boys then play Center Point-Urbana at 5 p.m.

Next Saturday’s action concludes with a girls showdown between No. 5 (4A) Carlisle and Carroll Kuemper at 6:45.

“The biggest thing I’m personally looking forward to and helping ensure happens is that we provide a great atmosphere for high school basketball,” said Arnold, who originally has family roots with his wife in the Titonka area. “Nearly every team on the schedule is ranked (or has been this season). These kids deserve a great venue at Hodges Fieldhouse, and I also want to provide a space to meet on a neutral court to showcase high-level basketball and provide fans that as well.”

Arnold is planning for this to be an annual event.

“We’ve already begun talks for 2026, and the expectation is for this to stay at Hodges Fieldhouse,” Arnold said. “One of the main goals is to get people here and see for themselves what a great campus, facilities and people Iowa Central offers.

“I also want to thank, in advance, the dozens of people who will be a part of this. From scorer’s table workers to state level officials and Iowa Central staff members through my own family, no event would be successful without the many people who have their hands in it to bring it all together.”

Elite Sports apparel out of Williamsburg is the title sponsor for both weekends.

“They’ve been a tremendous supporter, with Jason (Becker) and the crew as well as Elie Sports Awards providing our game and MVP honors. Brian (O’Neil) does a fantastic job.”

Billy Offerman State Farm Insurance in Algona is also serving as a sponsor for the event.

“Hodges Fieldhouse will be plenty warm — come on in and enjoy great basketball,” Arnold said.