Cattle Trail Tourney starts Tuesday in McCook

Eight Gazette-area basketball teams will battle for top honors in two divisions in a busy week of basketball in McCook.

The 2009 Cattle Trail Invitational Tournament is scheduled this week. The annual area small-school tournament is scheduled to open Tuesday with first-round games in both boys and girls divisions.

Games will be held at the McCook High School gymnasium and the McCook Junior High gym, located at 600 West 7th St. in McCook.

Teams entered in the tournament include Arapahoe, Dundy County-Stratton, Hayes Center, Hitchcock County, Maywood, Medicine Valley, Southwest, plus Decatur Community of Oberlin, Kan.

Eight first-round games are on tap Tuesday, with eight more games in championship and consolation semifinal rounds set for Friday, Dec. 11. The finals, from seventh-place games up to championship action in the boys and girls divisions, are scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 12.

Tuesday's threatening winter storm in southwest Nebraska may force a change in the tournament schedule. McCook Athletic Director Darin Nichols said Monday morning that the first-round games would be pushed back to Thursday under the same schedule if officials are forced to postpone Tuesday's action.

Nichols said a decision on Tuesday's schedule will be made either later Monday or Tuesday morning.

2009 CATTLE TRAIL INVITATIONAL

BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

Dec. 8, 11-12 at McCook

GIRLS DIVISION

Tuesday, Dec. 8 First-Round Games

At McCook Senior High School gym

Maywood vs. Dundy County-Stratton, 3:30 p.m.

Hitchcock County vs. Hayes Center, 6:30 p.m.

At McCook Junior High School gym

Arapahoe vs. Decatur (Kan.) Community, 3:30 p.m.

Southwest vs. Medicine Valley, 6:30 p.m.

BOYS DIVISION

Tuesday, Dec. 8 First-Round Games

At McCook Senior High School gym

Maywood vs. Arapahoe, 5 p.m.

Hayes Center vs. Southwest, 8 p.m.

At McCook Junior High School gym

Decatur (Kan.) Community vs. Medicine Valley, 5 p.m.

Dundy County-Stratton vs. Hitchcock County, 8 p.m.