The holiday tournament season hasn’t been that great to our area basketball teams.

The Russellville boys’ team was 4-0 heading into the Arby’s/KFC Classic at McCreary Central. The tournament field was a tough one, however, and the Panthers dropped their first three games in the event before rebounding for a win against Pike County Central in their final game there.

The Logan County boys did no better at the Kentucky Machine and Engineering Classic at Trigg County. The Cougars are still winless on the year after losing to Larue County, Dawson Springs and McLean County in the Trigg County tournament.

The Logan County girls’ team won its first game at the Kentucky Machine and Engineering Classic, beating Fulton County 53-38, but then fell 53-36 to Hancock County.

The Russellville girls team did not play in an early Christmas tournament, but will be one of the participants in next week’s First Southern National Bank/Roy’s BBQ Classic.

The tournament, now in its fourth year, will feature all four local basketball teams and should give them all a chance to pick up some more victories.

The games begin on Monday, Dec. 29 and wrap up Wednesday, Dec. 31. All girls’ games will be played at Logan County High School, while all the boys’ games will be at Russellville’s Jim Young Gymnasium.

Other boys’ teams in the field include Butler County, Cumberland County, Hancock County, Mercer County, Murray and Pickett County, Tenn.

Girls’ teams traveling to Russellville to play include Estill County, John Hardin, Menifee County, Metcalfe County, Muhlenburg South, Russell County and Pickett County, Tenn.

Comfort Inn, Econolodge and Fairfield Inn are the hotel sponsors for the tournament. Trophies to Go is the trophy sponsor and the following businesses are meal and t-shirt sponsors – Circle C Construction, Electric Plant Board, Holder Automotive, James C. Milam, Jesse L. Riley and Son Real Estate and Auction, Kiwanis of Russellville, Lee Neon Signs, Logan Aluminum, Logan County Animal Clinic, Logan County Tractor, Logan Family Practice, Logan Telephone Cooperative, Moore Insurance, Riley-White, Sensus Precision Die Casting, Ventra Plastics and WRUS.

This annual tournament is a great opportunity for our local teams to get to play in an event close to home. It’s also a good opportunity for basketball fans and supporters to get out and see a lot of games right here in Russellville.

— OJ Stapleton is the editor of the News-Democrat & Leader. Contact him at edit_ndl@bellsouth.net or 726-8398.