LETTERS: HEALTH SOUTH TOURNEY A BIG SUCCESS

To the editor:

Recently, 136 girls and coaches converged on the courts of the Show Me Center to participate in the Health South Holiday Classic Basketball Tournament. Health South provided the financial support for this showcase of areas girls basketball. In addition, David Ross and the Show Me Center staff produced a tournament that allowed fans and athletes to experience exciting basketball in a magnificent arena.

Thanks also to the media, particularly the Southeast Missourian and KFVS12, for the outstanding coverage of the tournament. The reporters who covered the event did a tremendous job focusing on the talent and dedication of these high school athletes. The Missourian's game-by-game wrapups and the follow-up article provided insight into the tournament and the girls who played in the games. The ad page in the paper and published as the games began gave the tournament publicity and notoriety. The sports department at KFVS12 covered the event and showed video highlights of each game. The coaches, athletes and parents were thrilled.

Of course, it took numerous other fans of girls basketball to make the tournament a success. These include but are not limited to Steve Lukens, Ron Cook, Central High School's National Honor Society and pompon squad. Thanks for sharing your talents.

Most importantly, I appreciate the eight teams that played exciting games, thus creating an outstanding tournament for fans. Attendance and enthusiasm set the stage for remarkable basketball moments.

It is our hope that the Health South Holiday Classic will continue to give area athletes and fans the best of girls basketball for many years to come. With the support enjoyed this year, we look forward to bringing to the area another tournament next December.

MARK J. RUARK, Assistant Principal and Tournament Director

Central High School

Cape Girardeau