It's last call for Christmas tourney

If you weren't at the Show Me Center this weekend ... where were you? Because you missed quite possibly some of the best high school games ever played. But you're probably tired of hearing about it.

You're tired of hearing your co-worker yap about his kid or about the horrendous officiating or the overtime game between Scott City and Jackson. And you're tired of seeing this 58th annual tournament plastered all over the Sports page every morning in a paper which happens to be the tournament's sponsor.

But sometimes overdone media coverage is like an overplayed song on the radio: You have to hear it again to get it out of your head.

So, if you still want to see your friend's son play or experience the deafening boos that rain down from the rafters on the zebras or see another missed dunk (more on that momentarily) -- you're in luck.

There are four games to be played today (as you might have already read) and with any luck they will be the best we've seen yet.

But I'm not tired of this tournament, nope. I'm just tired. After 30 hours of basketball and a grand total of 17 games in three days I'm exhausted. And we're not done yet.

What's the deal with all these kids botching dunks? I've seen four blown dunks in this tournament and I would like to see at least one good alley-oop before this thing is over. But I'm not complaining after all, I'm white, I can't even touch the rim.

Here's a definite slam dunk for you, your week ahead:

Today

It's championship Monday and the beginning of the end. It all tips off at 3 p.m. with Advance and Woodland, a game that has the potential for all the makings. Then at 4:30 it's Central and Jackson, two teams that are much improved after their first meeting, which Jackson won. This too exudes an overtime feel.

Bell City and Oran doesn't scream prominence but it does whisper intrigue. The third-place game between those two begins at 6.

Charleston and Notre Dame isn't exactly what I had in mind to begin with, but these two are the best in the tournament. The first-place game will be a lot closer than most might think, and I wouldn't be surprised to see a Notre Dame upset. The championship is in prime time at 7:30.

Missouri lost its braggin' rights but not its pride. I feel sorry for Valparaiso tonight when Mizzou takes out its frustrations from a week ago. The Tigers host Valpo in the final game of 2002 at 7 p.m.

Friday

Clippers at Grizzlies 7 p.m. The Grizz were 7-7 in December and a win Tuesday against the Magic would give them a new franchise record for a month.

Saturday

Southeast Missouri State's men's basketball team begins conference play this week. The Indians open against the defending Ohio Valley Conference tournament champions Eastern Illinois Panthers. It's a double header with the women at 5:30 and the men at 7:30 p.m.

Of course if you're more interested in men with sticks you can visit the Savvis Center. The Blues host the Lightning and with all this ice and snow you may be in need of some winter equipment. You're in luck: Dobbs will give away ice scrapers to the first 10,000 fans.

David Wilson is a junior at Central High School and a sportswriter for the Southeast Missourian. His column "The Week Ahead" appears every Monday.