Tournament is great way to start season

After a 39-year hibernation, the SEMO Conference Tournament returned this week with the traveling trophy first going to Charleston.

The Bluejays' 79-72 win ended a tournament that featured only three games decided by 10 or less points, and all three were played Friday night at a packed Sikeston Field House.

But can this tournament last longer than the eight years the previous edition did in the 1960s?

It's a great way to start the season.

Each team played at least twice this week, the final ended up being an epic game and coaches got a chance to scout each other, which should make the race for the regular season title even better.

"I really like how it's set up because you do get an opportunity to see all the teams play," said Sikeston coach Gregg Holifield before Friday's final. "From that aspect, I think it's going to be beneficial to all the teams." Of course, there are questions about the future of this event. Should it stay at Sikeston every year? Why not? It's centrally located, the Field House seats 3,000 and the school has held a December tournament in each of the last 35 years.

The first SEMO Tournament was held at Jackson twice, Dexter five times and Kennett once. The host won four of the seven titles. But this year, even as the top seed, Sikeston finished second -- so is there really an unfair advantage?

The final might need a bigger place -- fans were turned away Friday night -- but is there anything better than a standing-room only crowd?

Next question, should it be held later in the year?

Nope. I hate conference tournaments that break up a season. Either play it at the beginning or at the end.

I think by playing it early, games later in the season will be more competitive. Of the tournament winners between 1960-67, only one won the tournament and finished the season alone atop the standings.

Now we have something to look forward to Jan. 5 when Charleston hosts Sikeston for a rematch. And won't a Mules-Cape Central rematch on Jan. 26 be just a little more interesting?

(Side note: I've seen teams hold the ball like that before and I'm not even going to try to find the last time the Mules gave up 29 points and lost.)

"I didn't know if I would like it early, but from the experience we've had this week, I do like it just for the fact that you get to see teams early," said Holifield, the SEMO Coach of the Year last season.

Six of the 10 teams feature new coaches and none of them reached the semifinals. With a little more time, one of those teams could emerge from the pack to challenge Sikeston, Charleston, Notre Dame and Jackson.

The only downside to an early season tournament is seeding, but it seems that the coaches got that right this year.

But should there be changes to that bracket?

Teams that got stuck with the lowest four seeds had a tough break, some playing three straight days, but the bracket was pretty ingenious in that it squeezed the 14 games into five days.

The system worked. The two best teams played for the title, everybody played at least two games -- so critical during this time of year -- and, more importantly, a new tradition started.

Now, how about a girls tournament?

Brian Rosener is the sports editor for the Daily American

Republic.