Game pits Cape schools at Show Me Center

Every sports season comes with great moments. This year's high school basketball season has been no exception.

Jackson's boys, for example, won the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament and clinched a share of the SEMO Conference regular-season title Friday to go with their conference tournament championship. On the girls side, Notre Dame is ranked No. 9 in the state. Just last week, a player from Advance, Lane Below, scored 49 points while making more than 76 percent of the shots he took en route to leading the Hornets over Oran on his Senior night.

Tonight presents another opportunity for some basketball excitement as the Cape Girardeau Central High Tigers take on the Bulldogs from Notre Dame Regional High School at the Show Me Center. Central won last year's boys game 56-50, while the Notre Dame girls won in a rout.

The girls tip off at 6 p.m., and the boys are scheduled to begin at 7:30.

Central and Notre Dame are in-city rivals, and it's a great experience when the two schools can occupy the Show Me Center, the biggest basketball venue in the region.

If you live outside of Cape Girardeau, smaller schools are embarking on district playoff games. Check the sports section or semoball.com to find out matchups, times and locations.

If you're a fan of high-school basketball, tonight offers a good opportunity to get out and see the boys and girls represent their schools.

Remember to watch for the next round of Semoball Awards finalists for winter sports beginning in April. You can nominate athletes for individual sports awards and other awards online at semoball.com/awards.