All About the Fans

Tyler Graef, Ben Matthews and Jacob Wiegand

Friday, January 3, 2020

In those groggy days between Christmas and New Year’s, while some hit the movie theatre and others hit the snooze button, many area hoops fans turn to a local tradition for a thrill to cap off the holiday season: the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament. Cheerleaders, ugly sweaters and custom outfits all contribute to a quintessential winter season fan experience.

Advance fans Molly Thompson, center, and Ava Sherman, left, show off their Hornets cheer outfits to Advance cheerleader Alyssa Miles, right, during the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019, at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)
Bell City senior Itzel Hernandez claps her hands at the front of a line of cheerleaders during the first day of the 75th annual Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019, at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
Cape Central senior Olivia Hukel makes a face toward the court during the Notre Dame Bulldogs' 70-54 win over the Cape Central Tigers in the semifinals of the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Former Jackson basketball players Payton Salyer, left, and Chase Robinson cheer a Jackson basket during the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)

Jackson students put up their fingers while cheerleaders put up their pom-poms for a free throw during the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)
Jackson players Austin Lafave, Jake Smith and Ty Moran cheer a Jackson basket during the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)
Savannah Sides, left, pokes a bow design on a festive blazer worn by Ben Honza in the Cape Central student section during the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)
Cape Central student Stasis Williams cheers as the Tigers' starting lineup is called during the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)
Notre Dame student Blake Morris cheers during the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)

Lindsey Bauwens cheers from the Notre Dame student section during the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)
A fan keeps an eye on the Ohio State - Clemson game on his smartphone while watching Notre Dame take on Cape Central during the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)
Notre Dame student Cristian Evans calls for a cheer during the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)
Notre Dame junior Chase Logel (22) high fives a fan following the Bulldogs' 70-54 win over Cape Central Tigers in the semifinals of the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Notre Dame senior Tanner Peters watches during Charleston's 64-41 win over Notre Dame in the championship game of the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament on Monday, Dec. 30, 2019, at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Notre Dame fans cheer during Charleston's 64-41 win over Notre Dame in the championship game of the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament on Monday, Dec. 30, 2019, at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Charleston fans including Tyler Meeks, in "350" sweatshirt, cheer during Charleston's 64-41 win over Notre Dame in the championship game of the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament on Monday, Dec. 30, 2019, at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Charleston fans cheer during Charleston's 64-41 win over Notre Dame in the championship game of the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament on Monday, Dec. 30, 2019, at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Shalonda Thompson wears a pin depicting her daughter, Jimmyia Hudson, a Charleston cheerleader during the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament Monday, Dec. 30, 2019, at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)