Spring state softball title to be addressed

~ Several hot topics will be debated at the MSHSAA regional meetings this month.

The number of spring softball teams in Missouri continues to dwindle, leaving Southeast Missouri one of the few regions of the state with as many spring teams as fall teams.

Conference and tournament championships have been the ultimate goal for spring softball teams -- there is no state tournament for spring softball -- but that could change if a proposal to add a spring softball tournament gains steam at the Missouri State High School Activities Association regional meetings.

The meetings will take place throughout the state over the next few weeks. The Southeast Region meeting will take place Jan. 17 at Dexter High School.

Teams that play in both the spring and fall would be eligible for both tournaments.

MSHSAA spokesman Rick Kindhart said the issue of a spring softball tournament has been voted on several times in the last decade. With fewer teams involved with spring softball, he doesn't know if it will have statewide support.

"It will be interesting to see where that one goes," Kindhart said.

Another topic of note is a proposal to shorten the length of the basketball season. Several years ago, the larger schools -- now classes 4 and 5 -- shortened their seasons from 20 to 19 weeks. Currently, classes 1, 2 and 3 still are playing a 20-week season.

"I think that's probably one of the more interesting topics out there, trying to determine if the season is too long," Kindhart said.

Somewhat connected to shortening the season is a proposal to move the Class 3 state basketball tournament to the same weekend as the tournament for classes 4 and 5.

"We're still trying to figure out where that fits into the mix," Kindhart said.

Topics that generate enough interest at the regional meetings could wind up on the annual questionnaire which comes out in April.

Tourney time again

For the second straight week, the Delta girls basketball team will be the top seed in a tournament.

The Bobcats have the No. 1 seed in the Scott-Mississippi Conference Tournament at Scott City. The tournament begins 8 p.m. today when No. 3 Oran plays No. 6 East Prairie.

Delta will kick off Wednesday's first-round action with a 5 p.m. tip-off against No. 8 Charleston. Second-seeded Kelly will play No. 7 Scott City at 6:30, and No. 4 Scott County Central will play No. 5 Chaffee at 8.

The semifinals will be played Thursday, with the final set for 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Finals rematch

Two weeks after packing the Show Me Center for the final of the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament, Notre Dame will host Jackson in a rematch of the championship on Friday.

The Bulldogs (13-1) already made it 2-for-2 against Charleston, following its semifinal win over the Bluejays in the Christmas Tournament with a SEMO Conference victory at Notre Dame on Jan. 3.

Notre Dame picked up a 65-52 win over MICDS at the Tiger Shootout in its only other game since winning the Christmas Tournament.

Jackson (12-3) lost to Berkeley at the Tiger Shootout.

Both teams will play on Tuesday, with Notre Dame at Ste. Genevieve and Jackson at home against Woodland.