THE LATEST LINE: SEMO HOOP TEAMS READY TO INCREASE THE INTENSITY

It's been a wonderful and exciting season for both Southeast Missouri State University basketball teams.

And Tuesday, the excitement level -- not to mention the intensity -- figures to increase a few notches.

That's because the start of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament is just around the corner. And, for the first time ever, both the SEMO men and women will be hosting first-round games.

Both squads will be favored to make it to Nashville for this weekend's OVC Final Four -- where anything can happen, and where each team could legitimately challenge for the title and an NCAA Tournament berth.

It definitely has been a remarkable season for both SEMO teams, who will be playing their final home games Tuesday. The Indians and Otahkians have each set records for victories since the school made the move up to Division I eight years ago. They've provided area fans with countless thrills.

And now that the postseason is here, they've got a chance to continue breaking new ground. Since the current OVC Tournament format began playing the semifinals and finals in Nashville, neither SEMO squad has ever made it there. Both stand a good chance this time.

And if that happens, the Nashville Arena is sure to be overrun by red-clad SEMO fans who will be partying hard in Music City.

But first things first. The Indians and Otahkians must win their opening-round tourney games Tuesday to get to Nashville.

It will definitely be a shame if the Show Me Center isn't packed to the rafters as fans witness the first-ever OVC Tournament contests played in Cape Girardeau.

* Congratulations to Cape Central's boys basketball team for winning its first SEMO Conference title in some time -- and with a perfect record no less.

The Tigers struggled early in the season and it might have looked like they were going no place, but credit coach Brett Reutzel and his players for continuing to improve and accomplishing a feat that some of Central's more talented teams in the past could not pull off.

* On the subject of prep hoops, 3A and 4A districts get under way this week -- and things have probably never been more wide open. The same goes for the 1A and 2A districts that begin the following week.

There might not be a dominant team in the area, but parity has sure made for some exciting basketball.

* And still on the subject of high school hoops: Tuesday's boys game pitting Scott City at Portageville certainly figures to draw plenty of attention.

Those are the two leading 2A contenders in Southeast Missouri -- and one of them might very well wind up in the Final Four.

* Former Cairo (Ill.) High star Tyrone Nesby has made it to the NBA as a reserve for the LA Clippers.

Nesby, who starred at UNLV and signed with the Clippers as a free agent, is averaging more than three points per game in limited minutes.

Clippers scout Jim Mitchell, who was at last week's SEMO-Eastern Kentucky game scouting Bud Eley, told me the 6-foot-6 Nesby has impressed the squad with his all-around athletic ability.

~Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian