By Bart Moss for the FCT

Most Franklin County basketball teams will be participating in holiday basketball tournaments this week. To catch to some good hoops action with local teams matched up against opponents they don’t usually face, there many options.

Girls

Locally, the Tharptown Lady Wildcats will host the Tharptown Invitational girls basketball tournament Dec. 28-30. The Wildcats will play Shoals Christian Dec. 28 at 1 p.m.

“We are pleased to be hosting this tournament,” said second-year Tharptown girls basketball Coach Marc Tracey. “I feel like we have some competitive teams, and there will be some good basketball.”

Eight teams are participating in the tournament: Tharptown, Belgreen, Shoals Christian, Carbon Hill, Hackleburg, Hamilton, Mars Hill and Brilliant. Each team is guaranteed at least two games. There will be a championship bracket and a consolation bracket.

“We hope to build on this each year and give people here locally a place to come watch some holiday basketball,” said Tracey.

Opening day games Wednesday include Belgreen versus Brilliant (10 a.m.); Hamilton vs. Mars Hill (11:30 a.m.); Tharptown vs. Shoals Christian (1 p.m.); and Carbon Hill versus Hackleburg (2:30 p.m.).

The loser of the Hamilton/Mars Hill game will play the loser of the Belgreen/Brilliant game Thursday at 1 p.m. The winners of those contests will play at 4 p.m. The loser of the Tharptown/Shoals Christian game will play the loser of the Carbon Hill/Hackleburg game at 2:30 p.m. The winner of those contests will play at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

The final round of games will begin at 1 p.m. Friday with the championship game beginning at 5:30 p.m.

The cost of admission is $5 per day or $12 for a three-day pass.

The Red Bay Tigers and Phil Campbell Bobcats are participating in what has become the premiere girls’ basketball tournament in North Alabama: the Lauderdale County Invitational. Some of the best teams from the state of Alabama and Tennessee travel to Rogersville to participate in this prestigious tournament. The Red Bay Lady Tigers have been mainstays in this event and will play will play at 1:30 p.m. or 3 p.m. Dec. 28 depending on outcome of their game against Montevallo. Phil Campbell drew the host team and played Lauderdale County at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. If they won, they were set to return that night at 7:30 p.m. and play. If they lost, they will return Wednesday, today, at 7:30 p.m. Game results were not available as of press time.

The Vina Lady Red Devils participated in the Waterloo Invitational Tournament Dec. 26-27.

Boys

The Belgreen Bulldogs are participating in the Bracey Invitational basketball tournament at Deshler High School. The tournament was slated to begin Dec. 27 and run through Dec. 30.

The Phil Campbell Bobcats will travel to Brindlee Mountain to participate in their Christmas tournament Dec-30.

Vina traveled to Waterloo to play in the Waterloo Invitational Tournament Dec. 26-27.

The Red Bay Tigers participated in the Hardin County, Tenn., tournament last week.

Tharptown’s boys are not participating in a Christmas holiday tournament this year.