U-HIGH TOURNEY WILL BEGIN TODAY

The 56th annual University High Christmas Tournament, which begins today, won't feature the type of teams it did some 10 years ago when three state champions were part of the 16-team field.

But this year's U-High field is as balanced as it's ever been.

With battle-tested Charleston entering the tournament with the top seed and a 1-5 record and with the top four seeds entering the tournament with a combined 13-12 record, the first-place trophy appears to be up for grabs.

Weather permitting, tournament games will begin this morning at the Show Me Center at 9 when Charleston takes on No. 16 Meadow Heights. The first day of basketball will conclude after No. 8 Woodland takes on No. 9 Oran at 9 p.m.

The four-day tournament will end Saturday at 7:30 p.m. with the championship game.

Ironically, neither first-seeded Charleston nor No. 2 Jackson (3-3) are above .500.

"I think there are a lot of teams who have a chance to win it," said Scott City coach Derek McCord, whose defending-champion Rams garnered the fourth seed. "There's a lot of balance throughout the bracket."

Perhaps it should have surprised no one that Charleston got the top seed, considering it has failed to make the tournament finals only twice since 1988.

But a 1-5 record is likely the worst ever by a No. 1 seed in this tournament.

"I don't feel bad at all (about the record)," said Charleston coach Danny Farmer. "We've played some super teams and we've played well against some super teams. We played Dexter tough at Dexter, we played Pine Bluff tough and we played Poplar Bluff and Doniphan tough without Lezcano Dean.

"I feel we've played three of the toughest teams in Southeast Missouri and we've played two other super teams. I think it can only help us. I'm not looking at our record at all."

Jackson went into the seeding meeting with a 3-1 record, but has lost twice since, including a 60-57 loss to Kennett last Thursday night. But Jackson has a well-balanced attack with four players averaging double figures and could make a run at the championship.

Notre Dame (5-2) got the third seed. Both Bulldog losses have come to solid teams, including a setback to Dexter in which Notre Dame led late in the third quarter.

Scott City, the defending champ, is coming into the tournament after a loss to Advance for the second straight year. The Rams lost a lot of talent off last year's squad, including four starters.

Last year's surprise team in the U-high Tournament was Advance, who comes in as the fifth seed and a 5-1 record. The Hornets, behind the sensational play of all-stater Garrett Broshuis, defeated Charleston in the semifinals last year before losing in a tough battle to Scott City for the championship. Advance, without Broshuis this year, could face Scott City again in the second round of the tournament.

Vertically challenged Cape Central (1-4) got the sixth seed, followed by Scott County Central, Woodland, Oran, Bell City, Leopold, Delta, Kelly, Chaffee, Oak Ridge and Meadow Heights.

Bloomfield Tournament

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Only four complete games were played Tuesday in the first round of the Bloomfield Tournament as the event was stopped halfway through the fifth game due to inclimate weather.

In the first game, No. 1 Dexter disposed of No. 16 Bloomfield 93-18; No. 5 Kennett defeated No. 12 South Pemiscot 54-31; No. 2 Twin Rivers downed No. 15 Malden 88-58; and No. 2 Doniphan beat East Prairie 62-35.

No. 11 Bernie was beating No. 6 Hayti 29-20 at halftime when play was suspended.

UNIVERSITY HIGH CRHISTMAS TOURNAMENT

First Round Games

At the Show Me Center

9 a.m. -- No. 1 Charleston vs. No. 16 Meadow Heights

10:30 a.m. -- No. 2 Jackson vs. No. 15 Oak Ridge

Noon -- No. 3 Notre Dame vs. No. 14 Chaffee

1:30 p.m. -- No. 4 Scott City vs. No. 13 Kelly

4:30 p.m. -- No. 5 Advance. vs. No. 12 Delta

6 p.m. -- No. 6 Cape Central vs. No. 11 Leopold

7:30 p.m. -- No. 7 Scott County Central vs. No. 10 Bell City

9 p.m. -- No. 8 Woodland vs. No. 9 Oran