Lots of holiday tournament basketball to watch
Christmas not only means family, food, gifts and good cheer, for many local basketball players and wrestlers it presents the opportunity to stay sharp over the holidays with tournament games and matches.
Most of the area’s boys and girls basketball teams are playing in a tournament somewhere, with a few hosting games.
The annual Lions Club King Coal Christmas Tournament hosted by Carmichaels opens play tonight with the host Mikes playing Jefferson-Morgan at 6 p.m. and the Mapletown-Beth-Center game to follow at 7:30 p.m. The consolation and championship games will be at the same times Friday night.
The Laurel Highlands girls holiday tournament has a full slate of games Friday with Carmichaels-Frazier at 9:15 a.m., Uniontown-Belle Vernon at 11, Jeannette-Albert Gallatin at 12:45 p.m., Thomas-Jefferson Connellsville at 2:15, and the host squad capping the eventful day against Upper St. Clair at 4 p.m.
The action continues then with the boys as the Mustangs host Waynesburg Central at 6 p.m., followed by Albert Gallatin-Avella at 7:30.
The Geibel Catholic girls are hosting a tournament beginning on Friday, as well, with the host Lady Gators playing Waynesburg Central at 7 p.m. with the lead-in game Southmoreland-Jefferson-Morgan at 5 p.m.
The Geibel boys are hosting a tournament, but one that began nearly a month ago. Weather forced the Gators’ tip-off tournament to be pushed back a day, causing the consolation and championship games to be postponed.
The consolation game Sunday will feature the host team against Mapletown at 3 p.m., with West Greene playing Frazier in the title game at 5.
Belle Vernon, Connellsville and Waynesburg Central will participate in the annual Powerade Tournament at Canon-McMillan High School on Friday and Saturday.
Most of the remaining wrestling programs travel to Southmoreland on the same days. Albert Gallatin, Laurel Highlands, Beth-Center, West Greene, and the host Scotties will work off the holidays in the Southmoreland Holiday Excela Classic Tournament.