CHARLESTON AT TOP OF U-HIGH CHRISTMAS LIST

Charleston has been picked to win the University High Christmas Tournament.

So what else is new.

The Blue Jays, who have won 13 championships, including six in this decade, were seeded first Sunday for the upcoming 16-team Christmas Tournament. The tournament, which is held at the Show Me Center, is the biggest prep basketball tournament in this part of the state.

Charleston won the tournament last year, despite being seeded fourth.

Scott City, which has yet to taste defeat this season, was given the second seed and Jackson was seeded third.

Notre Dame picked up the No. 4 spot, despite its 2-4 record. The Bulldogs, though, have played a grueling schedule to this point.

Advance, the winner of the Woodland Tournament earlier this year, got the No. 5 spot, followed by Scott County Central at No. 6.

Cape Central, the only other team to win the U-High Tournament since 1991, got a No. 7, immediately followed by Leopold at No. 8.

The bottom half of the bracket has been seeded as follows: No. 9 Woodland, No. 10 Oran, No. 11 Kelly, No. 12 Bell City, No. 13 Delta, No. 14 Oak Ridge, No. 15 Meadow Heights and No. 16 Chaffee.

This is the 55th year of the tournament.

The first round will begin at 9 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 27.