Making a case for baskets after Christmas

Sometimes the love of the game can force high school hoops fans to make a tough choice. For instance: Sleep in the day after Christmas or get up early and go to the Show Me Center to watch the opening games of the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament.

The most die-hard fans were there for Friday's 9 a.m. tip-off -- top-seeded Charleston against 16th-seed Chaffee. Like many of the other early games, it was anything but a nail-biter. Thousands of empty red seats severely outnumbered the fans in attendance.

But matching up the best team with the worst one for a virtually assured blowout is a litmus test for being a true fan of the game. As Charleston cruised to a 65-21 victory over Chaffee, Jeremy Ellis of Bollinger County sat riveted. The teams he really came to see -- Woodland and Meadow Heights -- wouldn't go on until 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m., respectively.

"We come annually and stay all day," Ellis said. "We enjoy the games."

Jeff Curnell said he took off work to watch the first day's action. "It's an annual tradition. I never miss the first day."

Tournament director Tom Allen, who has been associated with the post-Christmas event for 20 years, acknowledged that the early rounds aren't as competitive, but that's how tournaments are run.

"We hold a meeting in early December and the coaches discuss how their season has gone so far," Allen said. Votes on seeds are tabulated on Dec. 15.

The 16-team format is similar to the one used for college basketball's annual March Madness, with an added twist -- the consolation bracket. This allows some of the teams who played a disappointing first game the opportunity to finish up strong and take home the ninth-place consolation trophy.