There was no snow on Christmas Day, but the forecast does call for rain this weekend – as in the raining of basketballs at boys holiday tournaments all around the state starting as soon as Friday, Dec. 26. All eight Little Illini Conference teams will be making the trip to five different sites over the weekend. Good luck to all LIC teams and athletes.

Casey-Westfield (8-1) will be the first to hit the hardwood at 12 noon on Friday at the Wabash Tournament in Terre Haute, Ind. The Warriors, who saw their eight-game season-opening winning streak come to an end in a 48-45 loss at Mt. Zion on Tuesday,  will face Bloomfield at Terre Haute South. Marshall (3-4) also plays in that tournament, with the Lions seeing Sullivan first at 8:30 p.m. on Friday.

Paris (4-6) plays on Friday at the Kansas/Tri-County Holiday Tournament. The Tigers play the host Titans at 5:30 p.m. Robinson (3-7)  is in the firls at Dieterich. The Maroons face Grayville in the first round at 4 p.m.

Mt. Carmel (5-5) and Olney (5-6) are both entered in the Duster Thomas Classic at the iconic Pinckneyville gymnasium, which gets underway on Saturday. The Golden Aces face Murphysboro in the tourney lidlifter at 9 a.m. while Olney matches up against Steeleville at 12:30 p.m.

Lawrenceville (11-0) and Newton wait until Monday to begin tournament play at the Effingham/Teutopolis Christmas Boys Holiday Classic.  The undefeated Indians face Dixon at 2:30 p.m. at Effingham while Newton (5-2) meets Oregon at 6 p.m. at T-town.

Please consult our Facebook page for scores and updated schedules involving league teams. Good luck to our teams and athletes!

WEEKEND SCHEDULE

Friday, Dec. 26
Casey-Westfield vs. Bloomfield at Wabash Tournament (Terre Haute South), 12:00 noon
Robinson vs. Grayville at Dieterich Holiday Tournament, 4:00 p.m.
Paris vs. Tri-County at Kansas Holiday Tournament, 5:30 p.m.
Marshall vs. Sullivan at Wabash Tournament (Terre Haute South), 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 27
Mt. Carmel vs. Murphysboro at Duster Thomas Classic (Pinckneyville), 9:00 a.m.
Olney vs. Steeleville at Duster Thomas Classic (Pinckneyville), 12 noon
Paris vs. Windsor-Stew Stras at Kansas Holiday Tournament, 1:00 p.m.
Robinson vs. South Central at Dieterich Holiday Tournament, 2:30 p.m.
Robinson vs. Sullivan at Dieterich Holiday Tournament, 5:30 p.m.