Teams get ready for holiday games

Leopold High School's basketball team ran up and down its home court Monday, preparing in a small place for a big tournament -- the seMissourian Christmas Tournament.

"Just playing in the Show Me Center, at a big arena, in front of a big crowd, I look forward to it," senior Josh Van de Ven said.

During Leopold's home games, the crowd may be only a couple hundred people, but the tight quarters make the place about as loud as any gymnasium in the area. Van de Ven said sometimes it gets so loud, he can't think.

But it's not that Leopold's basketball playersâ like many other players from the area's small schools, don't like playing at home. It's just nice to have a little breathing room sometimes.

And the seMissourian basketball tournament gives them that opportunity.

The after-Christmas rush

Players from all over Southeast Missouri -- from as far south as Charleston, Mo., and as far north as Oak Ridge -- have looked forward to this day, the first round of the four-day, 16-team event. It begins at 9 a.m. today and runs through Monday, with Sunday off.

They get to play on the area's biggest basketball stage, the Show Me Center. The tournament brings more fans and better competition than usual, and it gives players a little more adrenaline. Call it the after-Christmas rush.

"It's like you've stepped up a level," Leopold junior Lucas Horrell said.

The tourney, formerly called the University High Christmas Tournament, is the largest local high school sports showcase of the year.

And while many of the teams will only play two games, and only one team will win all four, many players simply appreciate the opportunity.

"Getting to play on the college floor is exciting for most players, I would think," said Delta senior Joey Keys. "And a lot of people from all around come to watch everybody play, where they wouldn't come to a smaller gym to watch."

The bigger arena not only gives players something to look forward to, but it gives coaches something to think about.

The Show Me Center court is approximately 10 feet longer than a high school court. Ten feet may not sound like much, but for teams who make it to the fourth day, fatigue becomes an issue. It also changes strategy.

Conditioning strategies

Leopold coach Carlton Thoma, whose team is seeded 13th, said it's easier to handle a full-court press at the Show Me Center because there is more room to spread the defense. He also said he conditions his players a little harder heading into the tournament to prepare them for the extra length of the court.

Bell City coach David Heeb said he backs off the conditioning of his players the two days before the tournament.

"We run a lot every day," said Heeb, whose Cubs are seeded sixth and the defending Class 1 state champs. "But my first year here, the kids' legs were dead and we got blown out because we couldn't run up and down the court. If you play four nights in a row, it's really hard on your legs."

The size of the Show Me Center can also alter depth perception. Most high school gyms do not have seating behind each goal.

"You have to adjust," Leopold junior Brandon Bueter said. "It throws off your shooting ability at first. After your first couple warmup shots you feel like it's going to be a long day, but you get used to it."

Playing is only half the fun.

"I like being able to see everybody else play," said Leopold's big man, 6-foot-4 Kevin Holzum. "It's nice to see teams that you don't get to play like Charleston and Scott City play against each other."

But Holzum, like some 150 other players in the field, hopes everyone is watching him on Monday night.

bmiller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127