HALF-COURT U-HIGH SHOT COULD BE A WEALTHY ONE SATURDAY (PREP NOTES)

Teams and players at the U-High Christmas Tournament aren't the only ones that get their shots at a big prize.

Fans at the tournament that begins Wednesday will have a shot at $25,000 for making a half-court basket Saturday. The event -- the Halftime Shoot-Out Classic -- is sponsored by KZIM-AM of Cape Girardeau.

But there's a hitch.

Each contestant must make a lay-up, a free throw and a three-point shot before attempting the half-court shot. One miss along the way ends the shooter's chance.

One fan will be picked at halftime of each game during the first three days, using a preprinted number on the back of the tournament programs. From that group, four names will be randomly picked for the final chance Saturday.

Malden's KMAL-FM also will hold its second annual Loot Shoot at the Bloomfield Tournament this week. There, eight contestants will take their shot at $20,000 on Friday, but need only a half-court shot to win the prize.

Shoes oozing again

Leaking shoes were a problem again Tuesday for Poplar Bluff's boys basketball team. This time, though, it was only minor.

The Mules' game December 15 at Dexter was called in the third quarter after Poplar Bluff's Converse RAW Energy brand shoes began leaking gel.

Against Blytheville, Ark., on Tuesday, gel again was found to be leaking, although this time from Blytheville's shoes.

"I don't believe it was our shoes this time," said Poplar Bluff coach Larry Morgan. "Blytheville has that same kind of shoe. Apparently they weren't aware of the problem we had Friday."

Morgan said the team is awaiting new shoes, which should arrive in the next few days.

Another report of leaking Converse RAW Energy shoes was reported locally in a boys game in southern Illinois December 1.

The great Northwest

Former Scott County Central and Southern Illinois University standout Marcus Timmons this season is a rookie reserve with the CBA's Yakima (Wash.) Sun Kings, who won last year's CBA title.

Timmons started the first five games of the season, but has come off the bench in the team's last six games. He's averaging 8.0 points and 4.9 rebounds in 25 minutes per game for the Sun Kings.

His career game-highs are 20 points, 10 rebounds and 38 minutes.

This season, he's shooting 42 percent from the field and 48 from the line. He has 12 steals (second on the team), 21 assists and a team-high 28 turnovers.

Another local line

Shane Green scored 21 Wednesday for St. Francis (Ill.) in its 75-66 win over Ferris State.

Green is a former standout at Bernie and at Shawnee (Ill.) Community College.

St. Francis is 5-4.

Over the river

Perryville's boys team is seeded No. 2 in the Chester (Ill.) Invitational that begins January 8. The Pirates play No. 7 Marissa, Ill., at 6 p.m.

Perryville would play either No. 3 Steeleville or No. 6 New Athens in the second round at 6 or 7:30 p.m. January 11.

Trico (6-0) is the top seed.

Sikeston in Lincoln Land

Before Sikeston plays Champaign (Ill.) Centennial at 10 p.m. December 28 in the Carbondale Christmas Tournament, other games will be played during the day. In case you're going, they are:

Memphis University School vs. Herrin, 9 a.m.; Paducah (Ky.) Tilghman vs. Memphis CBC, 10:30 a.m.; Union City, Tenn., vs. Christopher, 1 p.m.; Springfield, Ill., vs. Marion, 2:30 p.m.; Carterville vs. DuQuoin, 4 p.m.; Carbondale vs. Murphysboro, 6:30 p.m.; and Pinckneyville vs. Cairo, 8:30 p.m.

Centennial is 7-0 and the tournament favorite.

Live on the air

If you can't see the holiday basketball games, you can hear almost all of them.

At the U-High Tournament, KZIM-AM 960 will broadcast all Cape Central, Notre Dame and Jackson games; KAPE-AM 1550 will air the Notre Dame games, and KYRX-FM 104.7 airs Jackson games.

KZIM also will air updates of all other games twice an hour.

KMAL-FM 92.9 in Malden will air most of the Bloomfield Tournament games, including every quarterfinal, semifinal and final.

Stats of the week

In a 70-69 win by Caruthersville (1-7) over Senath-Hornersville (6-3) on Tuesday, Caruthersville won the battle of the boards by a 38-19. But he Tigers won despite 28 turnovers and an 11-of-29 showing at the free throw line.

"If we had hit our free throws," Tigers coach Scott Bowlin, "we could have won by 15."

Some information from the Southeast Missouri News Service and regional media.