Christmas tournament starts today

The 58th annual Christmas basketball tournament begins today at the Show Me Center. If past tournaments are any indication, the fans who attend can expect to see some great basketball.

The popular event -- now called the seMissourian Christmas Tournament, thanks to the sponsorship of the Southeast Missourian -- continues Friday and Saturday and ends on Monday with the finals. It will be great for players -- especially smaller schools who get a rare opportunity to compete in a university arena -- but also for fans who will get to see nearly all of the teams in the immediate area in one day.

The event has been described by those in the know as exciting and unpredictable. Games often go down to the wire. Some coaches predict upsets. This is a slam-dunk for people who are looking for a fun and exciting time. The tournament begins at 9 a.m. with No. 1 Charleston taking on No. 16 Chaffee.