Aside from “March Madness”, when it’s basketball night after night after night, this weekend is the best time of the season for the pure basketball “junkie”.  Why is that you ask?  Because it’s holiday tournament time, with wall to wall hoops in several locations.

On the girls side, the Amherst Holiday tournament will tip off Thursday with Amherst, Elyria, Avon and Sandusky Perkins all hitting the hardwood at the Comet gymnasium at Marion Steele High School in Amherst.  The first game Thursday (6p) will pit the Lady Pioneers of Elyria against Avon, followed by Amherst taking on Perkins.  The Amherst tournament will conclude on Friday night.

Also Friday night, for the boys, two long-time tournaments will get underway.  At Midview, the DiFranco Tournament will commence at 6p, with Amherst taking on undefeated Columbia, followed by Midview facing Cloverleaf.  Both games Friday, and both games Saturday from Midview, will be streamed on weol.com!  Over at Avon Lake, the Lorain County Holiday tournament will also tip off on Friday night when Elyria takes on Lorain at 6, followed by Avon Lake facing their border rival, the Avon Eagles.  Both games on Friday, and the consolation game and championship game on Saturday, will air on AM930 WEOL (and be streamed on weol.com).

Another local boys team involved in a holiday tournament will be Oberlin, as they will travel to Wickliffe for games on Friday and Saturday.

It’s as much a holiday tradition as Christmas music, time with family, and snow on the ground.  Holiday tournament basketball.  But for someone who loves the game (like I do), it might be the best present of all!