2023 Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament coverage is presented by PC Medical Centers and Auto Tire and Parts.

GAME 1: Charleston crushes Delta in Christmas Tournament

Semoball.com

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

By Rachel Crader ~ Semoball.com

The 63rd annual Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament got off to a familiar start for Charleston.

Playing the first game of the tournament as the No. 1 seed for the fifth-straight year, the Bluejays rolled past the 16th-seeded Delta Bobcats 97-41

Senior Brian Parham scored 14 first-half points, leading his team to at 54-21 halftime advantage that would only grow as Charleston went on to defeat Delta 97-41.

Parham led all scorers with 22 points, while Donald Dixon added 15 and Terrell Smith had 13.

Delta senior Tyler Martin was impressive in defeat scoring 18 points, including four 3-pointers.

CHARLESTON 97, DELTA 41

DELTA	13	8	9	11	--	41
CHARLESTON	27	27	20	23	--	97

DELTA (41) -- Teddy May 2, Cody Helderman 2, Tyler Martin 18, Chase Rhodes 12, Cody Schremp 4, Jason Stevens 1, Gage Bowers 2. FG 16, FT 5-7, F 8 (3-pointers: Martin 4. Fouled out: none)

CHARLESTON (97) -- Antonio Riggens 7, Terrell Smith 13, Jeremy Spencer 8, Marquez Ware 12, Jerquawn Sherrell 3, Allen Hemphill 6, Deonte Jones 7, Fred Pratt 4, Donald Dixon 15, Brian Parham 22. FG 42, FT 8-13, F 11 (3-pointers: Smith 1, Spencer 2, Sherrell 1, Jones 1. Fouled out: none.)

Photo gallery

Video

Video of Alan Hemphill's dunk

Comments

View 7 comments

Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. Please note that those who post comments on this website may do so using a screen name, which may or may not reflect a website user's actual name. Readers should be careful not to assign comments to real people who may have names similar to screen names. Refrain from obscenity in your comments, and to keep discussions civil, don't say anything in a way your grandmother would be ashamed to read.

This is one of the best tournament of the year. Class act all the way around.

BlueJay Alumnus

-- Posted by lflore on Wed, Dec 26, 2007, at 10:54 AM
This is a pretty good tournament however, it would be a great tournament if you would split the tournament in half and play 8 larger schools against each other and 8 smaller schools. Every year Charleston comes in and plays a small weaker team and pads their stats and blows them out. Now you tell me does that do any good for either team and its players? NO!!

-- Posted by bugman23 on Wed, Dec 26, 2007, at 11:21 AM
I agree. This is one of the most exciting events in the area. The talent is always great and it is wonderful to see the spirit of the different schools. The event is very well handled by the ShowMe Center. It is a very exciting experience all the way around.

-- Posted by balllover on Wed, Dec 26, 2007, at 11:41 AM
I disagree with Bugman23. While the talent of the different teams is spread apart, the excitement is still there. I bet if you asked all of those smaller schools, they would still rather come to this tournament instead of others in the area. If coming to this tournament and being paired against a larger, better school is so bad, then their coach would not put them through it. Playing teams better than you always helps you get better.

-- Posted by balllover on Wed, Dec 26, 2007, at 11:44 AM
i'm sick and tired of seeing the same routine of this tournament everysingle year. Every year it's the same teams against the same opponents, why can't this tournament bring some new teams in to challenge some of these teams like charleston, jackson, notre dame, central and some of the big schools. People might as well not even go to the first 2 days of the tourney because it's all just blowouts when teams like charleston play delta or oak ridge for example. If the people that make this event happen, want a good turnout of corwds then they should bring in fresh teams and change the tourney up a bit so that fans would never know who could take the championship. That's what makes a tourney so great never knowing who can come out on top.

-- Posted by CHS_TIGER_FAN on Wed, Dec 26, 2007, at 3:31 PM
Sportsmom, I agee with playing better talent will make you better,but come on.There was one halfway close game ALL day. What does Delta get out of losing to Charleston by 50+ points? NOTHING! Except a short game with a running clock.

-- Posted by bugman23 on Thu, Dec 27, 2007, at 9:19 AM
The yin and yang of this debate.

Heads - It allow local teams to compete and against teams that they never would play. It improved the overall talent of the region by allow teams to see how much more they need to work and improve.

Tails - It does not improve the power house teams' level of competition. Bringing in new teams would improve this and a new crop of fans. This potential solution could also increase Southeast basketball visibility if the invited teams are selected properly.

Suggested compromise:

Of the bottom four seatings, these four teams should compete for 2 spots (pretournament game or current ranking). The remaining two spots should be given at large to another powerhouse team.

-- Posted by lflore on Thu, Dec 27, 2007, at 9:56 AM

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration:

If you already have an account, follow this link to login
Otherwise, follow this link to register