The pairings are set for the 2009 State Farm Holiday Classic, which will be held at four different venues in the Bloomington-Normal area Dec. 28-31. The field will feature three defending IHSA state champions along with numerous state-ranked teams.

Minonk Fieldcrest boys and the Bloomington Central Catholic girls teams earned two of the top seeds – both in the 1A-2A division – while the top seeds in the 3A-4A divisions are defending Class 3A girls state champ Peoria Richwoods and the defending Class 3A boys state champ Champaign Centennial.

For the Fieldcrest Knights (currently 6-0), they will be seeking their first ever tournament title. Fieldcrest faces a field that features four other state-ranked teams, along with the Class 1A defending state champ, Macon Meridian (the No. 4 seed). Rock Falls earned the second seed, and tourney newcomer Chicago Providence St. Mel is No 3.

Centennial, which features two Division I recruits, is currently undefeated and makes its first appearance in the Holiday Classic. The field is stacked with 13 teams with a .500 record or better. Other top seeds include Rockton Hononegah (currently 7-0), newcomer North Chicago (4-2) and defending tourney champ Normal Community (6-1).

The girls 1A-2A field includes 12 teams that won regional titles last year. The top five seeds are currently 37-3, including unbeaten and defending State Farm Holiday Classic champion Central Catholic (8-0), Brimfield (the No. 2 seed at 9-1) and third-seed Champaign St. Thomas More (10-1). No. 4 seed Tolono Unity comes in at 10-1.

Peoria Richwoods (7-2), which owns an overall 28-4 tournament record since 2001, earned the top seed in the 3A-4A girls bracket. The Knights face a field that features newcomer Springfield (9-1) as the No. 2 seed, Park Ridge Maine South (8-4) as the No. 3 seed, and fourth-seeded Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin (9-1).

“We pride ourselves as the best basketball this side of March,” tournament vice-president Dave Oloffson says. “Every year the seeding process is difficult, but this year, up and down many of the brackets, it was a greater challenge because of the incredible quality of the teams. We know every team will get four great games and tournament hardware will definitely be earned.”

Throughout the tournament, live game updates, box scores and tidbits will be posted on the official tournament Web site, www.theclassic.org, and on both Facebook and Twitter. For a complete schedule of games, ticket and hotel information, visit www.theclassic.org.

All-tournament passes may be purchased through the State Farm Employees Activities Association or through a participating team.