Previewing the in-season basketball tournaments

When the Thanksgiving turducken is devoured and the football is finally finished, the high school basketball season emerges from hibernation to tip off the winter season.

As a tradition in Southeast Missouri, the early phase of the season is filled with tournaments from the beginning of December till the end. There are four tournaments, including some that start the week before December, that are pertinent to the Cape Girardeau area.

Here's a quick preview of them:

__SEMO Conference Boys Tournament__

There may not be a bigger way to begin the new season than the SEMO Conference Tournament in Sikeston, Mo. There are, as of the writing of this preview, three basketball players who have signed or committed to playing Division I basketball next year, and there is the potential for them all to play each other.

The host team won the Class 5 District 1 championship in a two-point upset over Cape Central last season. This time around, both teams enter the tournament at the top two seeds and are positioned to potentially play each other for the title on Dec. 8. Sikeston will be led by Dontrez Williams, who recently signed his letter of intent to play at Abilene Christian. The Bulldogs will start with a matchup against the winner between Kennett and Dexter, who play on Monday, Dec. 4th.

Cape Central will be led by Jay Reynolds, who recently signed to play for SEMO. The Tigers will start the tournament with an early edition of their rivalry against Notre Dame on Tuesday, Dec. 4.

New Madrid County Central, who won the Class 3 state championship last season, will be led by future Coastal Carolina two-sport star Jadis Jones, the reigning Semoball Male Athlete of the Year. The Eagles take on Charleston on Monday, Dec. 4, with the winner moving on to take on the winner between Cape Central and Notre Dame and its new head coach Jeremy Brinkmeyer.

Last but not least is Jackson, who finished last year in the Class 6 Final Four for the first time since the 1930s. The No. 4 seeded Indians lost a lot of seniors but return Judd Thoma and Blayne Harris and will take on Poplar Bluff on Tuesday, Dec. 5. The winner will likely play Sikeston in the semifinals.

__SEMO Conference Girls Tournament__

For many local teams, the girls' basketball season begins in New Madrid for the SEMO Conference Tournament on Monday, Nov. 27.

Notre Dame enters the tournament as the top seed after a Class 5 fourth-place finish last season. The Bulldogs will defend their conference championship with the Rubel twins, and Neveah Lucious, who made great contributions as freshmen last season. The Bulldogs will take on the winner between Poplar Bluff and New Madrid Country Central on Tuesday, Nov. 28.

Jackson, who went as far as the Class 6 state quarterfinals last season, will have a new head coach this year in Angela Fulton, who takes over the position after being an assistant on the staff. Before Jackson, Fulton was the head coach of the Perryville Pirates, where she went 66-58 record over five years including three JCAA conference championships and three selections as the JCAA Coach of the Year. The Indians will take on Sikeston on Monday, Nov. 27, with the winner advancing to play the winner between Saxony Lutheran and Dexter in the semifinals.

Cape Central improved under first-year head coach Aaron Lee last season but graduated several key players last year and is entering the new season with a young team. The Tigers will take on Kennett on Tuesday, Nov. 28, with the winner likely facing Notre Dame in the semifinals.

__Oran Invitational Tournament__

The boys' basketball season starts for the small schools at the 68th Oran Invitational Tournament from Nov. 27 through Dec. 1.

Two teams to keep an eye on are Kelly and Chaffee, who could be playing for the tournament. The top-seeded Hawks have a new coach in Noel Trimmer and returned a bunch of their core from last year, led by seniors Reece Eftink, Michael Dollins, Dalton Forck, and Gavin Dugan. Kelly opens with Westwood Baptist on Monday, Nov. 27.

Chaffee also has an experienced group of seniors that are stronger than ever, led by the sharp shooting of Levi McKinnie and the powerful paint presence of Blake Yarbro. The Red Devils open the tournament against Advance which has virtually a brand new team led by a new head coach.

Other first-round matchups include Oran vs. Bell City on Nov. 28. and Richland vs. Scott County Central on Nov. 27.

__Lady Red Devil Invitational__

Scott City finished second place in the Lady Red Devil Invitational last year but is the favorite to win this year. The Rams return four starters from last season and look like a team that could make a run at the Class 3 District 2 championship. They take on Advance in the opening round on Saturday, Dec. 2.

Another contender in the tournament is Woodland, who is coming off a third consecutive district title despite a below .500 record. Led by Mallory Barks, the Cardinals are still a team to be taken seriously, as they open against Puxico on Saturday, and will likely take on Scott City in the semifinals.

Chaffee and Meadow Heights will play on Saturday with the winner advancing to take on top-seeded Kelly on Monday, Dec. 4.