NO CHRISTMAS TOURNAMENT FOR CAIRO BALL FANS

CAIRO, Ill. -- The Cairo High School basketball team received some bad news Tuesday. It has been replaced in the Carbondale Holiday Tournament. It is the second tournament it has missed because of the teachers strike.

Boys Basketball Coach Larry Baldwin received the word Tuesday.

The Pilots had hoped the Cairo teachers strike would end this week to allow them to play in the prestigious tournament, Dec. 26 to 28.

"Tournament officials waited as long as they could before replacing us," Baldwin said.

The tournament isn't the only problem. The Pilots have yet to play this season.

"We've been practicing five days a week," Baldwin said.

Basketball players, -- boys and girls -- are the only students who have been inside Cairo Public Schools the past 1 1/2 months.

Twenty-three school days have passed since the Cairo Association of Teachers went on strike Nov. 16. More than 1,000 students have been on "vacation" since.

"That's a long time," senior basketball player Carlos Barber said. The team had to cancel its tournament appearance during the Thanksgiving weekend at Paducah, Ky.

Ditto, the girls

The girls are practicing three times a week, girls Coach Ed Tolbert said.

Illinois State High School Athletic Association rules say students must be in school to play a game, but has given the school permission to practice.

Senior basketball player Tiffany Meeks said she's eager to get to school.

"I love basketball," she said, "but it's not everything. I want to prepare for college, but I have to graduate first."

All the practice without a game is wearing on the players.

"The guys are tired of practicing against each other," Baldwin added. "They're down and out; they're getting the feeling that there is no hope."

"I'm tired of sitting around home," Barber said. "I'm leaning toward joining the military next summer, but I have to have a diploma to do that."

Senior Corey Gross wants a strike settlement soon.

"I've been talking to a couple of universities," he said. "It's crucial we get back into school."

Sophomore John Crossland agrees.

"I can hardly wait," he said. "I've been staying at home and watching a lot of news, hoping to see some good news here."

Baldwin and his team members held a special meeting Monday night.

"We talked about the teachers strike," Baldwin said. "The players want to issue an appeal to the school board, the superintendent of schools and the teachers to sit down and work things out."

The strike has forced some students to consider transferring, but it isn't that easy.

"Some of the nearby schools are full," one senior said.

Then there are residency requirements or out-of-district tuition that can range from $1,500 to $2,000 a semester.

Egyptian and Meridian school officials have received inquiries about transferring.

In Meridian's case, space could be a problem.

Meridian Superintendent Ron Gray said last week Meridian's elementary schools already are packed. But, he added, there may be room for a few high school seniors looking to take some classes to graduate.

Meanwhile, teachers and board representatives met Monday night. Nothing was settled.

The Cairo School Board meets tonight with the strike a primary topic.

Robin Huff said she wanted to play basketball in college, adding that she worked hard first quarter to make the honor roll.

"I'm ready to get back to academic studies," she said.

Crossland pleaded to the two parties: "We want a Christmas present. We want to get back in school."