CAPE GIRARDEAU -- A holiday tradition returns to Southeast Missouri with the unveiling of the 60th annual seMissourian (formerly University High) Christmas Tournament on Monday at the Show Me Center.
The long-running tourney showcases 16 prep teams and is, in a sense, the area championship. The winner owns year-long bragging rights over 15 other teams in about a 30-mile radius of Cape Girardeau.
Bell City coach David Heeb said, "When you play well in that tournament, it gives you a legitimacy. We've won the (Class 1) state tournament twice, but sometimes people from Jackson or Cape Central may say, 'well, they're just good for a small school,' but if you go up there and you beat the big boys, it kind of gives you a legitimacy. So, to win the whole thing really says a lot about the strength of your program."
Any school, large or small, would consider receiving the Christmas Tournament championship trophy a season highlight.
It has been an medium-sized school, Charleston, which has garnered the most championships with 15, including back-to-back titles in 2001-02.
Charleston's run at a three-peat was derailed by defending champion Jackson, coached by Mike Kiehne, in a semifinal round last season.
Jackson's new head coach Darrin Scott, formerly at Notre Dame, has the top-seeded Indians rolling at 8-0 and ranked eighth in the Missouri Sportswriters and Sportscasters latest Class 5 poll.
"We're honored to have the No. 1 seed and coming in undefeated is nice to start the season," said Scott, "but we still have a lot of things that we need to work on and improve on. If we don't play well, we could be out in the second or third round…easy.
"There are probably six or seven teams that can all compete and have a chance to win it."
Jackson's depth, on-court energy and scoring balance should give them a legitimate shot at repeating. Currently with a lackluster 4-6 record, Charleston, which finished third in 2003, still demands respect as the No. 2 seed.
The Class 3 Bluejays, led by one of the area's premier big men, Ashton Farmer, have played a grueling early-season schedule against programs like nationally-ranked Vashon, Arkansas powers Blytheville and Pine Bluff, state-ranked Dexter and talented Caruthersville.
"We're going to find out how much our schedule has helped us," said Charleston coach Danny Farmer. "We're looking forward to going into the tournament and playing some of the area teams that we haven't played or seen yet. We want to know what caliber we are.
"That's what the whole season is about, trying to make yourself better for the end of the season when it really counts. That's what our project was at the beginning of the season, playing these tough teams to see how much we can improve. I have young players, so I wanted to get their feet wet quick, so, by this time, we would be prepared for this tournament."
On the effect of the relatively rough start on his young players, with three sophomore starters, Farmer said, "They're playing through it, because they know what they're up against. They have a great understanding of what this is all about. It's not hurting their psyche. They're thinking the same way I am. We're getting ready for something."
Scott City, a fourth-place finisher in 2003, comes in as the No. 3 seed with a so-so .500 record thus far at 3-3. Indicative of the parity in this year's tournament, the Rams recently suffered a 12-point homecourt loss to No. 6-seed Advance (5-1), yet narrowly lost to No. 1 Jackson.
Scott City, with all-stater Mark Dannenmueller leading the offense, is a squad to be reckoned with.
No. 4 Cape Central, which holds the second-most tournament crowns with 10, was the 2003 runner-up. The Tigers (3-4) have shown steady improvement after a sluggish start with three wins in their last four starts.
The middle seeds of the bracket, No. 5 Bell City, No. 6 Advance, No. 7 Kelly and No. 9 Scott Central, in particular, probably pose the most serious threats for upsets and a genuine chance to make some noise.
Said Bell City coach Heeb, "Jackson and Charleston are awfully good this year, but after those two, it's anybody's ballgame as evidenced by what Advance did to Scott City last week.
"I think that, on a given night, there is not one team in the tournament that just can't be beat like maybe there has been with some of the great teams that have played up there in the past. There are probably about 10 teams that can beat anybody."
Bell City, the defending Class 1 state champion, is 5-2 and on a four-game win streak.
"Our young kids are starting to get better," said Heeb. "I think that, after a few games, we are starting to adjust to life without Dom."
Dom is Dominitrix Johnson, Bell City's high scoring all-state guard, who led the Cubs to its state title in 2003. Johnson is currently a freshman starter at Three Rivers Community College.
Kelly (4-3) is a longshot who has also raised its level of play in recent contests. Coached by former Southeast Missouri State standout Cory Johnson, the Hawks have dangerous shooters, run the offense effectively and defend.
Another darkhorse, not to be taken lightly, is Scott County Central. The Braves (6-1) can create problems with their relentless, up-tempo style and aggressive pressure defense.
Rounding out the field are struggling No. 8 Notre Dame (3-5), No. 10 Meadow Heights, No. 11 Delta, No. 12 Woodland (3-5), No. 13 Leopold, No. 14 Oran (0-5), No. 15 Oak Ridge and No. 16 Chaffee (2-4), which has already doubled its 2003 win total.