The big game Sports fans need to mark their calendars for these games

By Heather Collier

One thing's for sure: Sports are big in Southeast Missouri. During the fall and winter, no matter the weather, fans turn out to support their favorite teams as they take the football field or basketball court. Here, some of the sports highlights of the year:

Oct. 5: Cape Central faces perennial powerhouse Sikeston in the Tigers' final home game of the regular football season.

Oct. 19: Jackson's football team hits the field for the Indians' final home game against Francis Howell Central.

Oct. 20: Southeast Missouri State's Homecoming festivities culminate with the football game against UT Martin at 1 p.m. at Houck Stadium.

Oct. 24: Cross-town rivals Notre Dame and Central battle in the final regular season game of boys soccer. Catch the action at Central's field.

Nov. 2-3: The state volleyball tournament comes to the Show Me Center for a second consecutive year. Keep an eye on local teams as they battle for a chance to play for a title close to home.

Nov. 12: The Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team opens its home schedule against Lyon College. The Redhawks are hoping to improve on last season's 15-16 record in their fourth year under coach Dickey Nutt.

Nov. 29: The Redhawk women take on the University of Missouri in Columbia.

Dec. 4: The SEMO men's basketball team heads to Columbia to take on the University of Missouri Tigers.

Dec. 5-9: The SEMO Conference Tournament at the Field House in Sikeston features some of the toughest boys basketball competition in Southeast Missouri, with Central, Notre Dame, Sikeston, Charleston, Dexter, Poplar Bluff, Jackson and New Madrid County battling for the title.

Dec. 20: Notre Dame's boys basketball team hosts defending state champion Charleston in what is sure to be an intense battle.

Dec. 21: The Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team will host Missouri State at the Show Me Center.

Dec. 26-29: Sixteen boys basketball teams from around Southeast Missouri will complete in the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament, which was first hosted in 1945. The field includes past state champions like Scott County Central, Notre Dame, Jackson and Charleston.

Jan. 5: Defending Ohio Valley Conference champion Murray State will visit the Show Me Center to take on the Southeast men's basketball team.

Jan. 31: The Central boys and girls teams take the court at the Show Me Center for a doubleheader against cross-town foes Notre Dame.

Feb. 7: Jackson's boys and girls basketball teams face their counterparts from Central High School at the Show Me Center. Both schools' student sections will have the place rocking.

March 6: The men's and women's Ohio Valley Conference tournaments begin, with the winners earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament.