Looking for surprises? So far, they're at Bloomfield

The Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament's first round was, at best, bland as burnt toast. The opening day of games at Park Hills produced a single upset, but a big one when 12th-seeded Ste. Genevieve knocked off fifth-seeded North County.

But the biggest eye-openers from Day 1 of Southeast Missouri's stretch of boys basketball Christmas tournaments came at Bloomfield, where three of the opening day's eight games ended with unlikely winners: fifth-seeded Dexter lost to Puxico, sixth-seeded Twin Rivers fell to South Pemiscot, and eighth-seeded Richland was knocked off by Portageville.

That sets up intriguing second-day matchups Thursday in the championship round, starting with top-seeded Hayti vs. Portageville at 4 p.m. Later games are ripe with rivalries: Bloomfield vs. league foe Puxico, and Bernie against nearby Malden. Thursday's other quarterfinal features Doniphan against South Pemiscot.

Predictions? Only about the weather, so take your umbrella if you're going to the night games. Aside from that, don't count out Portageville. Or, for that matter, underdogs Puxico, Bernie or South Pem. No tournament in Southeast Missouri is primed for an anything-goes finish like this one.

The Bob Sechrest Jr. Central Christmas Tournament at Park Hills might have produced the biggest surprise of the day when Ste. Genevieve bumped North County into the consolation round.

• In case Wednesday's opening-round games at Bloomfield, Park Hills, Saxony Lutheran, Cabool and the Show Me Center weren't enough, get ready for more today. In addition to a full day of games at each of those sites, tournaments kick off today for area teams at Poplar Bluff (which includes Poplar Bluff and Sikeston), Rolla (which features Festus and Salem) and Dyersburg, Tenn. (where NMCC's boys and Poplar Bluff's girls compete). Check out the links on our home page for the full schedules at each site.

• Check back throughout the day Thursday, Friday and Saturday for scores from each site updated as they come in. And thanks to everybody who already had helped us keep the latest scores posted, whether by sending them by e-mail (scores@semosportsweb.com) or by text message from a cell phone (send to 573-979-5929 any time, 24 hours a day).