SCC awarded top seed for Christmas tournament

~ The defending champions will be the team to beat this year

Defending Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament champion Scott County Central has been awarded the top seed for this year's tournament at the Show Me Center.

The Braves will begin their quest for a sixth title when they play in the tournament's first game against No. 16 Kelly at 9 a.m. Dec. 26.

The tournament takes a break Dec. 27, but resumes with the final three rounds Dec. 28, 29 and 30.

The four-round tournament will conclude with a 7:30 p.m. championship game.

Scott County Central, the reigning Class 1 state champions, already has won the Oran Tournament this season. The Braves have compiled a 4-1 record behind the high-scoring combination of senior point guard Bobby Hatchett and junior center Otto Porter.

The Braves won last year's Christmas tournament title with an 80-62 victory against Notre Dame, which is the tournament's No. 2 seed for the second straight year. The Bulldogs last won the championship in 2005.

Rounding out the top eight seeds in the 16-team field will be Jackson, Charleston, Advance, Cape Girardeau Central, Oak Ridge and Oran.