By BETH ZUMWALT
Co-director of the Winchester Invitational Tournament Denny Vortman says his wish list for the oldest invitational basketball tournament in the state is short.
“No snow, 70 degrees and all games start on time,” Vortman said. “That hasn’t happened since 2016.”
Vortman said this tournament is the 99th tournament and would have been the 100th if COVID had not cancelled the event last year.
This year’s bracket is complete with 16 teams participating.
The Winchester team that won the tournament 50 years ago will be honored at the half time of the West Central game, 7 pm. Saturday, Jan. 8.
The Carrollton team that won the tournament 75 years ago will be honored at the half of the Carrollton game, which starts at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 8.
Buck and Jo’s former owners will cater the concession stand with a different special each evening.
Vortman said the school will follow COVID protocols as directed by the state for schools, meaning masks are required.
First day games start at 9 a.m. Matchup includes the seeding numbers: #1 Liberty vs. #9 Camp Point; at 10:30, #8 Carrollton vs #16 North Greene; at noon; # 4 Routt vs. #12 Calhoun; at 1:30, #5 Triopia vs.#13 Carlinville; at 4 p.m., #2 PORTA/A C Central vs. #10 Greenfield/Northwestern; at 5:30, #7 Payson Seymour vs.#15 Pleasant Hill; at 7 p.m. #3 West Central vs.#11 Griggsville-Perry, at 8:30, #6 Brown County vs. Barry/Western.
