Sports Report: GAC Boys Basketball Shootout Highlights Busy Schedule

Every team in every sport is in action ahead of the winter break. The boys basketball players around the area will get a shot at to shine on the big stage at the St. Charles Family Arena at the GAC/Suburban South-West Shootout. 

Here are some games to watch this week around St. Charles County. 

• Who: (Girls basketball) Zumwalt North vs. Riverview Gardens
• When/Where: 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 12, at home
• Why the big deal?: Zumwalt North will head home to host the Fort Zumwalt North Tournament. North will open things up with a contest against Riverview Gardens.

• Who: (Boys basketball) Zumwalt West vs. St. Charles
• When/Where: 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 14 at St. Charles
• Why the big deal?: Zumwalt West is in the midst of a three-game losing skid. West will attempt to right the ship against St. Charles.

• Who: (Boys basketball) Zumwalt South vs. Francis Howell
• When/Where: 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 13, at home
• Why the big deal?: The 1-3 Bulldogs opened the season way back on Nov. 22. Three weeks later, South will have home-court advantage for the first time season during the home opener against Francis Howell.   

• Who: Wrestling at Zumwalt East Invitational 
• When/Where: 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 16 and at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 17, at Zumwalt East. 
• Why the big deal?: The Fort Zumwalt East wrestling team will get a chance to play host for a two-day meet. The Lions will hit the mats at home for the Friday-Saturday Fort Zumwalt East Invitational. 

• Who: (Girls swimming) St. Dominic vs. Incarnate Word
• When/Where: 4 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 16, at UMSL
• Why the big deal?: The St. Dominic swim team takes on Incarnate Word in an early-season dual. 

• Who: (Boys basketball) Christian vs. Parkway Central
• When/Where: 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 15 at St. Charles Family Arena
• Why the big deal?: O'Fallon's Christian gets to take a shot at the GAC/Suburban South-West Shootout. The Eagles will take on Parkway Central on Thursday.

• Who: Boys basketball at Cougar Classic
• When/Where: Dec. 15 to Dec. 17 at Lutheran
• Why the big deal?: The Lutheran boys have been on the road this season and will return home with something special. For three days this week, the Cougars will take part in the Cougar Classic—Lutheran's home tournament. 

Francis Howell Central

• Who: (Boys basketball) Howell Central vs. Kirkwood
• When/Where: 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 17, at the St. Charles Family Arena
• Why the big deal?: Francis Howell Central will get a chance to play in front of a big crowd at the St. Charles Family Arena as part of the GAC/Suburban South-West Shootout. The Spartans will take on Kirkwood as part of Saturday's action. 

• Who: (Girls swimming) Howell North at Fort Zumwalt North Panther Relays
• When/Where: 3:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 16 at the 
• Why the big deal?: The Lady Knights swim team will get an early season GAC showdown this week. Howell North will head to the Rec-Plex for a relay meet hosted by Zumwalt North. 

• Who: (Boys basketball) Duchesne vs. Marquette
• When/Where: 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 16, at St. Charles Family Arena
• Why the big deal?: The Pioneers cap off a busy week—three games in four days—with a Friday night tilt against Marquette in the GAC/Suburban South-West Shootout. Duchesne is 2-1 on the season.

Orchard Farm

• Who: (Girls basketball) Orchard Farm vs. Hazelwood West
• When/Where: 5 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 12, at Fort Zumwalt North
• Why the big deal?: The Orchard Farm Lady Eagles are heading into the Fort Zumwalt North Tournament riding a four-game winning streak. Orchard Farm will take on Hazelwood West in the tournament opener. 

• Who: (Girls basketball) St. Charles vs. Pattonville
• When/Where: 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 15, at home
• Why the big deal?: St. Charles is currently 5-1 and on top of the GAC North standings. The Lady Pirates will take on Pattonville on Thursday.

• Who: (Girls basketball) St. Charles West vs. Timberland 
• When/Where: 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 12, at Timberland
• Why the big deal?: The St. Charles West girls are 2-3 on the season, but have outscored the opposition 266-208. The Lady Warriors will attempt to get to .500 with a road game against Timberland. 

• Who: (Girls swimming) Timberland vs. Francis Howell Central
• When/Where: 8:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 12, at Howell Central
• Why the big deal?: The Timberland girls swimming team has two meets in two days to start this week. First up: a dual against Francis Howell Central. 

• Who: (Wrestling) Holt at KCI Wrestling Classic
• When/Where: 4 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 16 and on Saturday, Dec. 17 in Kansas City, MO
• Why the big deal?: The KCI Wrestling Classic is one of the biggest, most competitive wrestling tournaments of the season. The Indians will have a chance to show just where they stand against a large field.