U-HIGH HOOP TOURNAMENT TIPS OFF TODAY

All systems are go for the 55th annual University High Christmas Tournament, which tips off a four-day run bright and early this morning at the Show Me Center.

There will be eight games today, beginning at 9 a.m., followed by eight more games Tuesday, six Wednesday and four Thursday, capped by the championship contest at 7:30 p.m.

Charleston, as is so often the case, enters the boys basketball event as the No. 1 seed and solid favorite. The Blue Jays, who have won the past two championships, have missed just one final since 1988. All told, Charleston has won a record 13 U-High titles, including six this decade.

"We've played well (in the tournament) the last couple of years," said Charleston coach Danny Farmer. "I believe we get extra motivated because there are always a lot of people in the stands."

Despite its No. 1 seed, Charleston's 5-3 record is not the best in the tournament.

That distinction goes to fifth-seeded Advance, the tourney's lone unbeaten squad at 6-0.

Scott City is seeded second with a 6-1 record, the Rams' only loss coming to Advance after the seedings had been determined.

Rounding out the remainder of the top eight seeds are No. 3 Jackson (3-3), No. 4 Notre Dame (3-4), No. 6 Scott County Central (5-1), No. 7 Cape Girardeau Central (2-4) and No. 8 Leopold (5-2).

Heading up the bottom eight is No. 9 Woodland (4-3), followed by Oran (4-2), Kelly (4-2), Bell City (1-5), Delta (2-3), Oak Ridge (2-5), Meadow Heights (1-6) and Chaffee (1-3).

Cape Central is the last team other than Charleston to capture the title, the Tigers prevailing in 1996.

Today's schedule looks like this: Charleston vs. Chaffee, 9 a.m.; Scott City vs. Meadow Heights, 10:30 a.m.; Jackson vs. Oak Ridge, noon; Notre Dame vs. Delta, 1:30 p.m.; Advance vs. Bell City, 4:30 p.m.; Scott Central vs. Kelly, 6 p.m.; Cape Central vs. Oran, 7:30 p.m.; Leopold vs. Woodland, 9 p.m.

Tuesday, consolation quarterfinals will be played at 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m., noon and 1:30 p.m., with championship quarterfinals set for 4:30 p.m., 6 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Wednesday, there will be consolation semifinals at noon and 1:30 p.m., fifth-place semifinals at 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., and championship semifinals at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

The tournament concludes Thursday with the consolation final at 3 p.m., the fifth-place game at 4:30 p.m., the third-place contest at 6 p.m. and the championship battle at 7:30 p.m.