Prep Basketball Notebook: EHT returns after one year hiatus
The area's premier Christmas tournament will resume its rightful place among fans when the Eldorado Holiday Tournament gets underway at Duff-Kingston Gymnasium after having to take last year off due to the coronavirus.
For the last 56 years the EHT has always been more about renewing relationship with old friends and relatives during the holiday than it is for the action on the court and for Eldorado athletic director Greg Goodley, that's what the next three days are all about.
"This tournament has always been one of the best when it comes to crowds and basketball teams in this region and I think that's because of who is involved. We cater to the local crowd more so than other tournaments and give people an opportunity to see old friends and possibly make new ones.
"But, we also give them good basketball and that's always evident by how quickly we sell out of our chair seats and how packed this gymnasium is on championship day. You can usually always count on 26 quality games."
<b>First Time For Everything</b>
For Herrin Tigers head coach Sayler Shurtz, he's hoping this week is that time.
Herrin, the No. 1 seed in this year's Eldorado Holiday Tournament, have never taken home the title in the nine years they been involved with the EHT and are a combined 24-11, including a third-place finish back in 2019.
The Tigers (3-4) were second to Fairfield in 2018 and last had the No. 1 seed in 2016, but were upended by Eldorado 57-47 in the championship game that year.
Herrin opens up the tournament with coffee and doughnuts game against Gallatin County at 8:30 a.m.
<b>The Champs Are Back</b>
Massac County is the defending EHT champion, knocking off Fairfield in the 2109 title game 57-51.
The Patriots come in 8-3 and trail only Eldorado in EHT titles with eight. The Eagles have nine.
Like Eldorado, Massac County looks to become back-to-back champs since EHS turned the trick in 2016-2017.
<b>Do It Again</b>
In the 56 years, there have only been eight repeat winners. Cairo was the first to do it in 1978-1979. Right after, Pinckneyville won two straight in 1980-1981. Carmi-White County did it in 1985-1986 and Norris City-Omaha-Enfield was the first 3-peat winner in 1988-1989-1990. Massac County then won two in 1995-1996 and West Frankfort captured two straight in 2003-2004. Harrisburg is the only four-time winner of the EHT, racking up titles in 2010-2011-2012-2013. Eldorado was the last to do it in 2016-2017.
<b>Welcome To The Club</b>
Five new coaches will be making their EHT debut: West Frankfort's Braden Mayer, Carrier Mills-Stonefort's Austin Ferrell, Edwards County's Kevin Schnicker, Norris City-Omaha-Enfield's Jordan Johnson and Vienna's Stephen Dreher.
Spyder Dann covers prep and college sports for the Southern Illinois LOCAL Media Group. Follow him on Twitter: @spydieshooter.