Busy opening night of HS Hoops on tap Friday

The opening night of high school basketball in Southwestern Kansas is actually a weekend, thanks to Hugoton's entry into the RL Ballard Tournament in Springfield, Colorado, which runs through Saturday.

While some schools won't open until December 10th, most are opting to take advantage of the first play date of the 2019-20 season by getting a game under their belts before starting tournament play next week. In some cases, not only are teams opening with a game, they're jumping into play against a league opponent.

The best action could very well be in Southeastern Colorado, as the annual lidlifter of the Springfield season takes place. It will include two girls teams who earned CHSAANow.com preseason rankings - Class 1A No. 4 South Baca and No. 7 Springfield. Hugoton enters the boys tournament as the No. 8-ranked team in the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association preseason polls.

Bracket play in the four-team tournament continues on Saturday at Longhorn Gym.

Fri. Dec. 6

Hugoton vs. South Baca at RL Ballard Tournament – Springfield, CO

Goodland at Syracuse

Sublette at Kinsley

Wichita County at Scott Community

SWH at Lakin

Ingalls at Moscow

Deerfield at Hodgeman County

Stanton County at Greeley County

Meade at Elkhart

Ulysses at Cimarron

Liberal at Holcomb

Garden City at Guymon OK

Junction City at Dodge City

Burlington CO at Colby

Northern Valley at Weskan

Sat. Dec. 7

RL Ballard Tournament – Springfield, CO (Hugoton)