Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament reruns could be riveting

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~ The plot could get familiar if potential matchups materialize.

The Christmas season is a time for holiday reruns on television.

In keeping with the holiday theme, this year's Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament is littered with potential reruns to entertain area basketball fans.

Three potential marquee matchups in this year's tournament have already taken place, including Scott County and Bell City, Charleston and Notre Dame and Jackson and Notre Dame.

Charleston, the top-ranked team in Class 3, is once again the top seed. The Bluejays will open the tournament at 9 a.m. today against No. 16 Oak Ridge at the Show Me Center.

The tournament will conclude Friday with the 7:30 p.m. championship game

The Bluejays won the SEMO Conference tournament earlier this month. Charleston defeated Notre Dame, the Christmas Tournament's No. 2 seed, in the semifinals of the SEMO Conference tournament. Notre Dame went on to beat Jackson, the No. 3 seed in this week's tournament, in the third-place game.

"It doesn't matter," Notre Dame coach Paul Hale said of the potential rematches. "We just take things one game at a time. We've had some tough games in the Christmas Tournament. It looks like our second round game, if we get there, could be tough."

Notre Dame, ranked No. 2 in the state in Class 4, is the defending champion. The Bulldogs knocked off Jackson in the championship game last year. Jackson had won the previous two Southeast Missourian Christmas tournaments.

Jackson coach Darrin Scott said he is not worried about potentially facing Notre Dame again.

"If we got a chance to play Charleston or Notre Dame, it will still be a big game for us," Scott said.

One rematch which never seems to grow old is the clash of Class 1 rivals Scott County Central and Bell City. The teams have already played twice this season, with Scott County coming out on top both times in a pair of exciting, close games.

The Cubs routed Scott County Central last year in the sectionals, which was the first meeting between the two teams since Scott County coach David Heeb left Bell City for his alma mater. Braves legendary coach Ronnie Cookson has been running the team this year while Heeb prepares to serve a second-half suspension, handed down by the Missouri State High School Activities Association in the spring.

"Any time you play a rival you want to beat them," Bell City coach Brian Brandtner said. "We have to try to figure out what we have to do [to beat them], and that's what we'll try to do if the opportunity presents itself."

The Braves are seeded fourth, their highest seed in recent years. Scott County is ranked No. 2 in Class 1. The Cubs, the Class 1 runner-up last season, are seeded fifth.

Bell City (4-4) has nearly matched its loss total from last season through eight games. The Cubs finished 28-5 last year but lost two starters and one of its top reserves to graduation. Tuesday's first-round game against Meadow Heights will be Bell City's first game since falling to Scott County at the Heartland Hoopfest Dec. 16.

"This is a big springboard to the second half of the season," Brandtner said. "We've had quite a few days off and we're sick of playing each other. It will be exciting to see other opponents. This time of year you want to start establishing your identity -- if you haven't already."

Advance, Scott City and Central round out the top eight seeds. The Tigers took the biggest tumble in the seedings, falling from their No. 4 seed last year after losing four of their top six players.

The Tigers will open with No. 9 Oran. A win would pit Central against top-seeded Charleston.

"That's out of our control," first-year Central coach Drew Church said of the seedings. "We have to play the game and see what happens."

Looking from the outside, the tournament appears to be tilting heavily toward the top seeds. While there have been plenty of upsets in recent years -- Kelly made the finals two years ago as a No. 7 seed and Notre Dame won it last year as a No. 5 seed -- it will be diffictult to prevent two of the top three seeds from reaching the finals.

And between the top seeds, there is no argument regarding Charleston's stature as favorite. Charleston (7-1) defeated Class 4 runner-up Sikeston in the conference finals and appears primed for a run at its first Christmas tournament title since 2002. The Bluejays have not found much success of late, failing to make the championship game the past three years. Overall, Charleston leads the field with 15 titles.

"Charleston's by far the favorite," Hale said. "They proved that in the conference tournament."

Added Scott: "I think Charleston clearly controls their own destiny."

The teams in the middle, led by Class 2 third-place finisher Advance, have all had their share of ups and downs so far this season. The Hornets returned two starters from last year's final four squad; the Rams have won three of four with a fairly young squad; and Central is in a rebuilding mode.

"Going into every game you try to respect everyone," Scott said. "The moment you don't respect your opponent you're asking for bad things to happen."

Whether the four-day tournament offers exciting new matchups or repeats of earlier battles, the tradition of the tournament should bring in the fans once again.

"It's a great environment, and a great atmosphere," Church said.