The holiday season is rapidly approaching, and that means one thing for high school athletes, their fans and those who cover them – holiday basketball tournaments.

Yes, that time of year has arrived. With the three local schools who advanced to the high school football playoffs all losing their first-round games, it’s time to put away the helmets and pads and pull out the tank tops, high tops and shorts that are much longer than they used to be.

Basketball season is here, and while some teams have opened their season with a game or two, the season really begins around the Thanksgiving holiday.

Some teams use the holiday week to take the opportunity to shake the rust off and get several games in before they get into area play. It’s a good way to find out how they stack up against teams from around the area and showcase basketball in the community.

There isn’t much time between football and basketball season, so most of the boys teams don’t have a lot of practice time with the full team before the season has to start. That can lead to some slow starts to the season, which is why early season tournaments are important for many teams.

East Limestone’s girls are playing in a Thanksgiving tournament at Madison Academy, while the East Limestone boys are playing in a tournament at Priceville.

Athens High is playing in a Thanksgiving tournament at Hartselle, and James Clemens is participating in the Madison City tournament.

Several other local schools will be playing in the one local holiday tournament in the county, the Ardmore Thanksgiving Tournament.

Ardmore’s tournament will take place next Monday through Wednesday and feature local teams, teams from out of the county and teams from out of the state.

Ardmore, Lindsay Lane Christian and Clements will bring both their girls and boys teams while West Limestone’s girls team will participate in the tournament. Those local teams will be joined by Decatur Heritage, Brooks and St. John Paul II, as well as Tennessee schools Huntland, Cornersville and Fayetteville City.

It seems like schools just started a few weeks ago, and it’s hard to believe that high school football season is already over in Limestone County. But when you’re looking forward to each Friday night, the weeks tend to move by quickly, and before you know it, the season is over.

The basketball season will carry us through the winter months, with Thanksgiving holiday tournaments leading into games played in the weeks before the Christmas break. Those then lead into Christmas tournaments, usually played the week before and the week following Christmas Day.

Once the Christmas holiday is over, the teams will get into area play, and the push to the playoffs will begin.

It’s an exciting ride that will begin in earnest next week. While one season is over, another season begins, and it’s time to enjoy another sports season in Limestone County.