HEALTHSOUTH CLASSIC PROMISES A HEALTHY FIELD

Without question, the HealthSouth Holiday Classic brings together some of the top basketball teams in the region.

To give an indication of how tough this tournament is, Notre Dame is 5-1 and state-ranked, but is the fifth seed among seven teams.

"It's a good tournament and it's great for girls basketball in general," said Cape Central coach Darrick Smith, whose team got the third seed, just behind Jackson at No. 2. "You're looking at possibly three Missouri district champions in this group."

The tournament begins Monday with Jackson playing Scott County Central at 5 p.m. Second-round games will be played Tuesday and the championship game will be played Wednesday at 8 p.m..

Poplar Bluff is the slight favorite to win it and got the No. 1 seed in the seven-team field.

The No. 4 team this year is a new addition to the tournament Massac County from Illinois.

"We watched Massac County play and they've got a good team," said Notre Dame coach Jerry Grim. "Bluff has got an edge, but any team in the top five could win it.

"Poplar Bluff was the convincing choice (for No. 1)," Smith said. "But from the second seed and for the rest of the way was real close."

Jackson coach Ron Cook agrees.

"It's pretty balanced," He said. "Anybody down to the fourth and fifth place could win it. Notre Dame has got a tough game right off the start. I heard Massac County is big.

"We've got our work cut out too. Poplar Bluff is still the heavy favorite with the experience they've got coming back."

Perryville got the No. 6 seed and Scott County Central was seeded seventh.

"It's kind of nice to give all of us a chance to see each other," Smith said. "Even if you don't play a team, you get to watch them."

Poplar Bluff has won the tournament the last two years, while Jackson won it in 1996, the first year of the tournament.

Cape Central is expected to get its starting center, Heather Jenkins, back for the tournament, but Smith doesn't know how effective she'll be.

"We'll just play it by ear," said Smith of Jenkins, who injured her knee in the second game of the year. "I wouldn't look for her to play a lot and we're not going to take any chances. We want to win this tournament, but there's a bigger tournament at the end of the year."

The second-leading scorer in Southeast Missouri will be on display.

Vontrice Blackmon, who was ineligible last year after transferring back to Scott County Central from Cape Central, is averaging 21 points per game.

Andrea Koeper leads Jackson with 18 points per game.