For the last couple years more than a few of you asked how Westchester County and its parks department could sponsor a tournament that treated girls teams like second citizens. I cannot validate whether your voices were heard or not. But what I can report is that your wish has, to a degree, been granted.

The 2009 Slam Dunk tournament at the County Center will play host to four more girls teams and four more girls games, thanks, in part, to a schedule expanded from three days to four. The girls — and now the boys — will be divided into two four-team tournaments with semifinals, finals and consolation rounds. The event will still include one non-tournament challenge game as well.

The Slam Dunk will not include the Class AA (Mount Vernon) or A winners (Albertus Magnus). However, it will feature several of the area’s top teams. One of the tournaments has an entirely local flavor. The other will include Section 9 power Kingston and Section 5’s Greece Athena.

One bracket hosts semifinals between Lourdes and Dobbs Ferry as well as Class B champ Nanuet and New Rochelle. The other draw will include Ursuline against Kingston in one semi and Greece Athena vs. Irvington in the other.

Good Counsel will meet Kennedy in the challenge game.

Here is the complete schedule:

Saturday, Dec. 26 —
Challenge game: Kennedy vs. Good Counsel, 12 p.m.
Semifinal 1: Lourdes vs. Dobbs Ferry, 2 p.m.
Semifinal 2: New Rochelle vs. Nanuet, 4 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 27 —
Consolation game: the semifinal losers, 2 p.m.
Championship game: the semifinal winners, 4 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 28 —
Semifinal 1: Ursuline vs. Kingston, 2 p.m.
Semifinal 2: Irvington vs. Greece-Athena, 4 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 29 —
Consolation game: the semifinal losers, 2 p.m.
Championship game: the semifinal winners, 4 p.m.

I have a few things to report, but first up is this: The sixth annual Metro Classic will be played on Sunday at 2 at Christ the King in Queens.

Five Section 1 players were selected for The Burbs, which take on The Boros, a team that consists of players from New York’s five boroughs. Felicia DaCruz (Albertus Magnus), Brittany Horne (Carmel), Tori Jarosz (Lakeland), Lillian McCabe (Rye) and Taneka Whittaker (Lourdes) will compete for The Burbs, which has won the last three meetings.

That group of locals will be joined by two of this region’s top seniors: Stefanie Dolson of Minisink (UConn) and Bria Hartley of North Babylon (uncommitted). One thing of particular note: Of the local players who made the team, only Jarosz is a senior.

If you’re interested in checking out the game (the boys follow at 4), you can log on to the Metro Classic website here. Tickets are available for $10.