Weather forces changes to Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament schedule

The Show Me Center won't be the only home for the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament this season.

Two games will be played at the Jackson High School gymnasium on Saturday after snow forced the postponement of games on Wednesday.

Tournament director Mitch Wood said it is the first time he remembers games being moved.

"Since I've been around the last 20, 21 years it has been," Wood said. "I'm not sure before that, but definitely in the last 20 years it is."

The move is necessary because the Southeast Missouri State men¹s basketball team is scheduled to open Ohio Valley Conference play against Tennesse-Martin at noon Saturday at the Show Me Center.

As a result, the consolation semifinal games will be moved to Jackson and played at 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on Saturday.

"I just kind of looked at it and looked at the dates," Wood said. "I really didn't want to play any late, late games, and Jackson's got a really nice facility. We've got some nice local gyms, and they're one of them. I don't mind trying to do that. Like I said, with SEMO playing, it's an NCAA thing it can't cancel."

The rest of Saturday's schedule will be played at the Show Me Center

beginning at 4 p.m. People who purchase tickets at Jackson will receive a free ticket to enter the Show Me Center later in the day.

Wood said Wednesday afternoon he was optimistic that the tournament would get underway this morning.

"I'm been on the road myself today," Wood said. "Everything's pretty clear even down towards Oran and our place except for a few side roads, so I'm thinking -- unless we get any ice or something like that -- I'm pretty sure we¹ll get to go at 9 o'clock in the morning."

Games will be played as scheduled at the Show Me Center today and Friday.

Defending champion and top-seed Charleston is set to face Delta in the tournament's opening game at 9 a.m. today.

The final day of play will take place on Sunday, a day the tournament typically takes off. Wood said he preferred to make an exception rather than play on Monday, which is New Year's Eve.

Games will begin at 2 p.m. on Sunday -- two hours earlier than the original schedule dictated -- with the consolation final. The fifth-place game will begin at 3:30, followed by the third-place game at 5 p.m. and the championship at 6:30 p.m.

At least that's the plan for now.

"It looks like it¹s calling for some more weather on Friday, so who knows what it¹s going to be like," Wood said.

Click here for complete coverage of the tournament, including live updates and a Day 4 webcast, from semoball.com.