High school hoops back in action

Need a break from the college football bowl scene before action really heats up on New Year's Day?

Four boys and girls basketball tournaments end Tuesday night in the Treasure Valley, and there are a handful of conference and nonconference games.

Here's a look at Tuesday's highlights:

The Mountain View boys team hosts Borah in the final 5A Southern Idaho Conference showdown before the new year at 7:30 p.m. Craig Spjute (18.3) and Boise transfer Dennis Mikelonis (16.8) lead the Lions (4-2, 3-1) in scoring. The Mavericks (4-2, 2-2) are paced by Brock McDermott (11.7) and Tyson Percifield (11.0).

Defending state champion Vallivue (3-3, 2-3 5A SIC) travels to Columbia (1-5, 0-1 4A SIC) for a nonconference boys game at 7:30 p.m.

In girls hoops, Skyview (9-2, 5-1 4A SIC), last year's third-place finisher at the state tournament, will play against Borah (4-7, 4-6 5A SIC) in the Lions' first season in their newly renovated gym. Tipoff is 7:30 p.m.

There are six championship games scheduled for Tuesday, including Payette's Walk the Plank Tournament (boys 7:30 p.m.), Wilder's Rolly Lincoln Memorial Tournament (girls 5 p.m., boys 7 p.m.), Fruitland's Christmas Tournament (boys 7:15 p.m.) and Marsing's Husky Holiday Classic (girls 4:30 p.m., boys 6:15 p.m.).

WRESTLING

Rollie Lane to be held at Jacksons track

"Walking with Dinosaurs - The Arena Spectacular" will take over the Idaho Center in Nampa on the same weekend as the Rollie Lane Wrestling Invitational.

The scheduling conflict means the tournament has been moved next door to the Jacksons Indoor Track.

The Rollie Lane tournament runs Jan. 9-10, beginning at 3:01 p.m. Jan. 9 and 9 a.m. Jan. 10. Championship matches are tentatively scheduled for 5 p.m. on Jan. 10.

This year's field is expected to include at least 44 teams from Idaho, Washington, Wyoming, Oregon and Nevada.

At the Idaho High School Activities Association's December meeting, the board approved a new format for the 2009 state wrestling tournament.

The event, held at Holt Arena in Pocatello this year, has been changed from a three-day to a two-day tournament. When the tournament is held at the Idaho Center in Nampa in future years, however, it will remain in the three-day format. The venue does not have enough room to hold the number of mats needed for a two-day event.

TRACK AND FIELD

Indoor season heats up at Nampa track

The 2009 indoor track and field season will be in full swing starting in January as many athletes begin preparing for the outdoor season.

Athletes will begin gearing up for the United Heritage Invitational at the start of the new year. The invite, which features college and high school athletes, runs Feb. 6-7 at the Jacksons Indoor Track.

The biggest indoor event of the season is the annual Simplot Games, which is scheduled for Feb. 19-21 in Pocatello. It includes athletes from throughout the United States.

For more information, visit www.simplotgames.com.