Winter break looms, but first, there are several holiday tournaments and showcases to play.
One of the marquee prep basketball holiday events in New England every December is the Rivers School Holiday Tournament. The 54th edition of the tournament takes place this weekend, starting Thursday and wrapping up on Saturday. It features six teams from NEPSAC Class B – host Rivers, Brooks, Beaver Country Day, Proctor Academy, Frederick Gunn and Governor’s Academy.
Rivers won this holiday tournament on its home court for a third consecutive year last season with a victory over Brooks on its way to a third consecutive Class B championship and second straight ISL title. But the Red Wings enter this season’s tournament after an unexpectedly adverse start. They have an 0-6 record – which includes three losses by five points or less – and lost star forward Andrew Alekseyenko (Brookline, Mass.) for significant time due to a fractured wrist. Can they turn their season around at their home tournament?
Brooks, meanwhile, has also struggled out of the gates, with star point guard Alex Wilkins (Boston, Mass.) missing the start of the season due to a wrist injury. Wilkins is unlikely to return for this tournament, and the Bulldogs enter the weekend 2-3, though it did have a season-opening win over Proctor.
That’s all to say that this season’s Rivers Holiday Tournament could be more wide open than in years past.
