Hoops tourneys begin Monday

While most area high schools begin their 2013-14 season tonight or Friday, a full slate of “preseason” tournaments kick off next week.
Iola High’s Mustangs and Fillies basketball teams — who open Friday at home against Girard — will head to Baldwin Tuesday for the Bulldog/Wildcat Classic.
The Iola squads will be in Pool A, along with Chanute and host Baldwin, and will take on Chanute Tuesday in the Baldwin Junior High gymnasium. The girls tip off at 6 p.m., the boys at 7:30.
Iola returns to the junior high gymnasium on Wednesday to take on host Baldwin, again at 6 and 7:30 for the girls and boys, respectively.
Results from the first two rounds will determine matchups for the final round, which begins at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 13.
Schools in Pool B are Anderson County, Burlington and Louisburg.

PRESEASON tournaments also will keep other schools busy throughout the week.
Humboldt will host the Cubs’ presesaon tournament beginning Tuesday.
Crest kicks off the action at 4 p.m. Tuesday with a girls-boys doubleheader against Erie. Host Humboldt follows immediately thereafter with a doubleheader against Uniontown.
On Dec. 12, Crest takes on Humboldt in the round-robin tournament, immediately after Erie squares off against Uniontown.
The competition wraps up on Dec. 13 with Crest battling Uniontown and Humboldt against Erie. A junior varsity tournament with the same schools will be held simultaneously in Humboldt’s old gymnasium.

MARMATON VALLEY’S 16th annual preseason tournament tips off Tuesday when Howard plays Olpe. Marmaton Valley hosts Northeast-Arma.
On Dec. 12, Howard plays Northeast while the Wildcats take on Olpe.
On Dec. 13, Olpe plays Northeast and Marmaton Valley hosts Howard.
The Wildcat girls play at about 7 o’clock each night. The boys will tip off about 8:30.
A junior varsity tournament will occur simultaneously in Marmaton Valley’s auxiliary gym.

YATES CENTER hosts Southern Coffey County, Marais des Cygnes Valley, Cherryvale, Altoona-Midway and Sedan in the Wildcat Winter Classic.
The hosts Wildcats take on SCC at 6:15 p.m. Monday, followed by the boys at 8 o’clock in Norris Gymnasium. Meanwhile Marais des Cygnes Valley matches up against Cherryvale in the auxiliary gymnasium.
On Tuesday, Altoona-Midway and Marais des Cygnes Valley square off, as will Southern Coffey County and Sedan.
In the third preliminary round contest Dec. 12, Cherryvale takes on Altoona-Midway and Sedan faces Yates Center in the old gymnasium.
Results from the games will set up final round action on Dec. 13, beginning at 4:45 p.m.

IOLA HIGH’S wrestling team also is getting into the tournament spirit. Mustang wrestlers will head to Caney Saturday for their first invitational tournament of the season. Action begins at 9 a.m.