Defending champion Jackson receives top seed for Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament

View the complete bracket and how each coach voted here.

The Jackson and Central basketball teams met for the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament title a year ago.

Jackson, which emerged with the championship last year after a 59-55 win, was named the favorite again this year after coaches voted to give the Indians the No. 1 seed at Sunday evening's seeding meeting. Central was picked to meet them in the title game again as the No. 2 seed, but the lead up to the start of this season has been radically different for the Indians and Tigers.

Jackson, which will debut at the SEMO Conference Tournament this week, has yet to play a game. Instead the complete Indians roster has been working together in practice for weeks.

"We've had about 29 practices, and we've only had one where I felt like it was not a good practice," Jackson coach Darrin Scott said. "This bunch has worked hard. They've got a really good work ethic, but, yes, they're ready to play a game."

Most Central players, meanwhile, have an equal number of games played and practices attended. The majority of the players on the team were on the school's football team that advanced to the state championship. The Tigers opened their season last week with three wins to earn the Lutheran South Tournament crown, but they're far from polished at this point.

"We're 3-0, but I think we have an opportunity to get a lot better if we can just get in the gym and practice," Central coach Drew Church said.

The Tigers are in familiar territory after the football team advanced to the semifinals last year.

"I can definitely see it helps," Church said of going through a short preseason for a second time. "All the guys that are playing this year have done it. Nine of my top 11 are football guys, so not only did they do it last year, but they're doing it this year. I can see in the first three games we're not fundamentally sound the way we need to be, but athletically and then kind of understanding what we've done in the past is there. Last year I drove myself crazy [going] 0-4, 0-5, but now it's a little easier for me because I know I've got to be patient. They've been on the gridiron for the past six months. It's easier having to do it the second year."

Notre Dame was given the No. 3 seed, followed by No. 4 Scott County Central and No. 5 Charleston.

Notre Dame defeated Charleston in overtime Friday, but both coaches said they were "delighted" with the outcome.

First-year Notre Dame coach Paul Unterreiner was happy to see his veteran team win a hard-fought game, while veteran Charleston coach Danny Farmer was happy to see his young team compete so well early in the year.

"We normally use our season as a practice anyway to get ready for the districts," Farmer said. "We play a tough schedule and the SEMO Conference Tournament, and we're delighted to have taken Notre Dame into overtime. They have a great team, a very experienced, great team. We feel we're going to be competitive before it's over."

Woodland was given the No. 6 seed after winning its own tournament last week. Advance is No. 7, Scott City is No. 8 and Oran is No. 9.

"I expect us to come out and play as hard as we can and as smart as we can," first-year Woodland coach Logan Nutt said. "We've got to improve from the beginning game. Every day we want to improve no matter what. Our competition every day is us. We want to beat us from the day before. I expect us to be very competitive. Hopefully we can get a few wins out of it."

Meadow Heights is the No. 10 seed, followed by No. 11 Bell City, No. 12 Leopold, No. 13 Kelly, No. 14 Oak Ridge, No. 15 Chaffee and No. 16 Delta.

Meadow Heights coach Mark Verticchio was one of the more enthusiastic coaches at the event, which was held at the Isle Casino Cape Girardeau for the first time.

"We're kind of a backwards team," Verticchio said about his 4-2 squad. "Our freshmen and sophomores have never lost in their lives, and our juniors and seniors have never won. ... Our freshmen and sophomores have actually had to teach our juniors and seniors what it takes to be good.

"Meadow Heights hasn't won a district in 29 years, and this group will win one. It might not be this year, but we're turning a corner. I'm really proud of them, and I'm just glad I'm their coach right now. I'm thrilled with them."

The tournament will take place Dec. 26, 27, 29 and 30 at the Show Me Center. Tickets cost will be $4 per session.

Jackson has advanced to the state quarterfinals the last two seasons. Scott said the tournament was a good place to get big-game experience in front of big crowds, but the title is just one of many goals for a team with hopes of another deep postseason run.

"I think they're excited. I think it's important to them," Scott said. "I think over the past maybe five or six years -- I don't want to say it's not important, but I think it's become not as important as how they play at the end of the year. It's just kind of a part of the process. At that time, at that part of the season, it's going to be really important."