DEFENDING CHAMPION CHARLESTON ONCE AGAIN CARRIES TOP SEED IN U-HIGH TOURNAMENT

You better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout and I'm telling you why:

Charleston is coming to town.

It seems like Charleston hoisting the University High Christmas Tournament trophy has become as much of an annual occurrence as Santa Claus hoisting his sack of toys.

The Blue Jays, who have missed just one final since 1988, have won 13 U-High championships, including six this decade. And Charleston has been picked to win it again, getting the No. 1 seed for the tournament which begins at 9 a.m. Monday, Dec. 27.

"We've played well the last couple of years," said Charleston coach Danny Farmer. "We really turned it on last year and we're hoping we turn it on again this year. I feel we get extra motivated. There are a lot of people are in the stands and it's a nice big arena."

But Charleston, which is just 5-3, is definitely not a lock for the tournament.

The general consensus among coaches is that any number of teams could win it.

"I think Charleston is deserving of the No. 1 seed," said Advance coach Jim Hall, whose fifth-seeded Hornets knocked off second-seeded Scott City after the seeding meeting took place. "The game revolves around quickness and jumping ability and they have that.

"And Scott City is tough. I think the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds would be the ones to pick, but there are two or three other teams, that if everything goes right, that could win it."

Scott City is certainly in the running at the No. 2 spot, but a recent loss to Advance night proved the Rams vulnerable.

Jackson got the third seed, followed by Notre Dame at No. 4. Advance is the only undefeated team in the pool and got the fifth seed. Scott County Central, featuring Southeast Missouri's leading scorer in Jreece Johnson, falls in at No. 6.

Even Cape Central, which got the No. 7 seed, could challenge for the title, but will have a difficult road. Central started off 0-4, but is coming off two straight wins, including an upset victory over previously unbeaten Farmington.

Central, the last non-Charleston team to win the tournament (1996), has won nine U-High titles.

If Central should beat No. 10 Oran and if Scott City beats No. 15 Meadow Heights, it will create an excellent matchup between two of the premier post players in the area Central's Ross Conner and Scott City's Ryan Weatherspoon.

Advance and Notre Dame could meet for another interesting second-round matchup.

After Cape Central, the rest of the field is rounded out by No. 8 Leopold, Woodland, Oran, Kelly, Bell City, Delta, Oak Ridge, Meadow Heights and Chaffee.

Notre Dame and Advance have moved up the most seeds from last year's tournament.

Advance was the ninth seed last year, but after a 6-0 start, the Hornets led by Garrett Broshuis are the No. 5 seed.

Notre Dame was seeded eighth last year and got the No. 4 seed this year. The Bulldogs are just 2-4 (prior to Dec. 20), but have yet to play a school their size. Notre Dame has already posted wins over Cape Central and Sikeston this season.

Kelly, which graduated two of the best players in the region in Jim Hulshof and Jason Glastetter last year, dropped the most seeds from last year from No. 3 to No. 11.

The championship game will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 30. In the first two days of the tournament, there will be more than 12 hours of basketball with the first game beginning at 9 a.m. and the last game starting at 9 p.m. On the third day (Wednesday), consolation games will begin at noon and the last semifinal will start at 7:30.