Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself. We're only two weeks into the boys basketball season and here I am blogging about in-season tournaments. Oh well. Sue me for being overly excited.

Here are a couple dates to keep your eyes on, including one that bears the name of Lower Merion's finest:

THE 9th ANNUAL GIRLS PLAY-BY-PLAY CLASSIC
(Jan. 17, at Archbishop Carroll H.S.)
Mt. St. Joseph vs. Spring-Ford, 12 p.m.
Cardinal O'Hara vs. Trenton Catholic, 1:30
Archbishop Carroll vs. Notre Dame, 3

THE 10th ANNUAL KOBE BRYANT PLAY-BY-PLAY CLASSIC
(Jan. 24, at Norristown H.S.)
Msgr. Bonner vs. Williamsport, 12 p.m.
Arch. Carroll vs. Norristown, 1:45
Chester vs. Academy of the New Church, 4
Penn Wood vs. Lower Merion, 5:45

THE 10th ANNUAL BOARDWALK CLASSIC
(Dec. 26 - 31, at the Wildwood Convention Center)
There aren't any Delaware County teams involved, but if the mood should strike you, you could make the 2-hour drive to see Lijah Thompson, the Monsignor Bonner transfer who is tearing it up for Communications Tech.

I have one wish for this holiday season, but I'm not sitting on Santa's lap to ask for it: Coaches, we need your help getting times, teams and dates together for holiday tournaments.

If you're participating in a holiday tournament, send the brackets to cvito@delcotimes.com. It will save us a ton of time and headaches. And look on the bright side - it's one present you DO NOT have to gift wrap.

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Poll updates: The USA Today and PrepNation.com polls have Penn Wood at No. 9 in the East Coast Region. But nationally, the Patriots are nowhere to be found. Off to a 4-0 start, that could change soon.

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History lesson: The Chester Clippers did something Wednesday they hadn't in a while. What's that? They lost. It had been 360 calendar days since they last had not won a game. That's a 27-game streak. Their last loss - prior to Reading's double-overtime victory Wednesday - was against top-ranked St. Benedict's Dec. 22, 2007, in the City of Palms Classic.