GIRLS' HOLIDAY TOURNAMENTS

Place to be

IAABO Board #134 Invitational Christmas Tournament

Where: C.H. Flowers.

Top teams: No. 8 Arundel, Blake, No. 12 Georgetown Visitation, No. 19 Riverdale Baptist, No. 10 Wise.

Players to watch: Arundel center Sherrone Vails (signed with Louisville) and Riverdale Baptist guard Ataira Franklin (Virginia) are the two biggest stars, but Blake has advanced to three straight Maryland 4A semifinals behind a deep, balanced roster. Senior guard Christine Weithman has been the lone holdover from those teams. Visitation, meantime, has won 83 games the past three seasons behind the senior trio of Nicole Krusen, Bridget Coakley and Kristen Haley.

What makes it so good: Annually one of the best-run holiday tournaments in the area. The field is consistently strong from top to bottom and games start on time. Plus, it brings together a good mix of public and private schools that don't typically meet.

Draw it up: Two fabulous semifinals on Tuesday night should pit Visitation against Arundel and Riverdale Baptist with Blake.

Tip-off: Monday, noon

Final: Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.

Place to go

Diamond State Classic

Where: St. Elizabeth, Wilmington, Del.

Local teams: Damascus, No. 4 Holy Cross, Paul VI, Theodore Roosevelt

What makes it so good: Holy Cross, a typically strong defensive team, opens Sunday at 2:15 p.m. against Central Dauphin (Pa.), which touts 6-foot-1 senior guard Alyssa Thomas, who has signed with Maryland. The Crusaders are part of an eight-team featured bracket, which also includes powers St. Frances (Md.), Sanford (Del.), Ursuline (Del.) and Prairie (Wash.). Paul VI, Damascus and Roosevelt will each play in one of three other four-team fields.