Plenty of holiday basketball

Prep basketball teams won’t take much of a break during the holidays this year with a long list of competitive tournaments around the state.
Even though school will be out for the Christmas holiday, most teams will face a challenging tournament schedule over the last two weeks of 2010.
Hartselle’s varsity girls will compete in the Huntsville Times Classic Dec. 21-23 at Bob Jones High School.
The Lady Tigers will open against Lee at 3 p.m. Dec. 21.
The tournament field includes some of the state’s top girls’ basketball programs, including Bob Jones, Jeff Davis, Madison Academy, Ramsey and Lincoln County, Tenn.
Also playing in the tournament will be Hartselle rivals Athens, Decartur and Austin.
Hartselle is also scheduled to participate in the Decatur Orthopaedic Clinic Invitational after Christmas.
Priceville’s girls will play in the Northwest Alabama Christmas Invitational at Lauderdale County Dec. 27-30.
The tournament is one of the longest-running girls’ tournaments in north Alabama and always draws a talented field.
The Lady Bulldogs will be in the upper division with several strong teams, including Deshler, Florence, Muscle Shoals and Giles County, Tenn.
Priceville’s junior varsity team will also play in the tournament. The JV games will be played this weekend.
Brewer’s varsity girls’ team will play in the DAR Invitational – a four-team tournament – Dec. 21-22 .
The girls’ teams won’t be the only ones hitting the floor during the Christmas break.
Hartselle’s varsity boys will play in the Scottsboro Invitational Dec. 21-23.
The Tigers will also play in the Oneonta Invitational after Christmas.
Brewer’s will again host the Big Blue Classic, which has proven every year to be one of the most competitive tournaments in the state.
Danville will join the Patriots in the Brewer tournament.
Priceville’s boys will participate in the West Point Christmas Invitational Dec. 27-29.

Sports editor Todd Thompson can be reached at 773-6566 or at todd.thompson@hartselleenquirer.com