Basketball feast

Every year the week after Christmas 16 of the region's high school basketball teams and their followers converge on the Show Me Center for the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament. This is the largest arena many of the players will ever play in, and these are the biggest crowds most will ever play before during their high school careers.

For many basketball fans the tourney is an opportunity to overdose on basketball and to renew acquaintanceships with fans from other towns. By the way, fans who can't get enough can replay the games by viewing highlights at www.semoball.com.

In the early going the best teams sometimes feast on the lower-seeded ones, but now the most competitive squads are about to be pitted against each other.

The week of basketball concludes today with games deciding the consolation championship, the fifth place, third place and the championship. Eight teams will be involved, ensuring widespread interest in the tournament down to the last buzzer.